La Fenice Theater in Venice is one of Italy’s most famous opera venues. Classic works by Bellini, Rossini and Verdi had their premieres there, and it regularly hosts some of the world’s top conductors.
When theater officials announced last week that La Fenice’s new music director would be the conductor Beatrice Venezi, some members of the company were outraged, saying she hasn’t had enough experience. Venezi had not conducted at La Fenice before, save for a brief, promotional event, and many staff members only knew her from TV appearances and from an ad for a hair product.
La Fenice workers are now threatening to strike.
In addition to what some critics call a lack of experience, other critics have said that Venezi, 35, is close to Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and her hard-right Brothers of Italy Party, and suggested that may have played a role.
Venezi has never hidden that her political sympathies lie with the right. In a 2023 interview in the newspaper La Stampa, she said she identified with the right’s conservative values, but added that she was offended when people called her a “fascistella” (little Fascist) because her father, Gabriele Venezi, had held a regional leadership role in Forza Nuova, another hard-right party.
Meloni has praised Venezi on social media as “a courageous and talented artist who refuses to bow to the dictatorship of thought and language” of “ideological fanatics.” Shortly after Meloni came to power, Venezi was named as the government’s official councilor for music.
“Venezi is not a famous conductor who happens to be right wing,” said Alberto Mattioli, a classical music critic. “She’s famous because she is right wing.”
Thank you for your patience while we verify access. If you are in Reader mode please exit and log into your Times account, or subscribe for all of The Times.
Thank you for your patience while we verify access.
Already a subscriber? Log in.
Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
The post Strike Threats Greet Appointment of Venice Opera’s New Conductor appeared first on New York Times.
