On Sunday I was at the Fenice for Lohengrin, when at the second interval the news spreads about “Venice”. An explosion of joy, unimaginable! Hugs, cheer, great general satisfaction. I looked out into the orchestra pit and there was no one there; everyone had come out to enjoy the news together. Then they returned, picking up their instruments, to thunderous applause from the audience. The conductor took up his baton again and the opera music began.
The Beatrice Venezi case, from the beginning
Il Superintendent Nicola Colabianchi, in September, had appointed teacher Beatrice Venezi, music director, starting October 1, 2026. An appointment effectively ordered by Ministry of Culture, as he had claimed Mayor Luigi Brugnaro. It was important Gianmarco Mazzi who was responsible for the opera houses as undersecretary, now promoted to Minister of Tourism in place of Daniela Santanchè. The Fenice steering committee had approved the proposal, except for one member who resigned. Critic Alberto Mattioli maintains: "You certainly can't parachute in a mediocre director: not catastrophic, but mediocre, in a complex reality such as that of an orchestra which is among the best”.
The behaviour of the spectators and the city was exceptional and they demonstrated a strong will to help musicians in their fight to prevent the arrival of Venezi in October 2026. Last October, in Campo Santangelo there was a first demonstration to raise awareness among citizensOpera pieces were played, interspersed with a series of speeches regarding the current situation. Some subscribers, the regulars, set up a committee that produced, first, flyers which are then thrown from the stages and the gallery. At the New Year's concert, musicians and choristers will wear a "pin against Venice", another idea from the committee. A pin that many citizens will wear very prominently. At concerts, when the musicians come out, they are overwhelmed by applause that can last more than ten minutes. This activity by season ticket holders and theatergoers has now been going on for eight months.
The dismissal of Beatrice Venezi
The enthusiasm when the news arrived is understandable. The document released by the Superintendent states that "The decision was also made following the rrepeated and serious public statements of Venezi, offensive and detrimental to the artistic and professional value of the La Fenice Theatre Foundation and its orchestra”. Venezi had, at the time, accused the Phoenix of anarchy because it was effectively governed by the unions.
The last act that puts an end to an already compromised situation is the interview given by Venezi in recent days to the Argentine newspaper La Nación in which accuses the orchestra of cronyism since positions are passed down from father to son. With this statement he suggests that he has wanted to provoke his dismissal.
The superintendent, in agreement with the Minister of Culture Alessandro Giuli, has made this decision. As always, there is now a trail of positions being taken. Currently, the theater staff has called a meeting to evaluate whether to proceed with theprotest, this time against the superintendent who at the time had imposed the nomination of Venezi.
