La Fenice, the first protest: seven minutes of applause and a shower of leaflets against Venice

First win for Tito’s pardon From Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart at the Teatro La Fenice in Venice, which tonight inaugurates the 2025/26 opera season. Applause for 7 minutes for the cast, Orchestra and Choir, the maestro Ivor Bolton and director Paul Curran. Between applause, the audience showered the audience with leaflets from boxes distributed by musicians and workers at the entrance to mobilize protests against the maestro’s appointment. Beatrice Venezi as Theater music director starting October 2025.

Half an hour before the debut, workers turned Campo San Fantin into a symbolic stage, distributing leaflets and reading protest statements aloud. Mobilization, starting on September 22 and coordinated by the unions Slc-Cgil, Fistel-Cisl, Uilcom-Uil, Cisal-Fials and Usb, expressed dissent against Venezi’s appointment, which was judged by orchestra members as “forced” and the result of “wrong methods”.

These leaflets are prohibited indoors by the managementreads: «We are here so you can see the faces and hear the voices of those who make this theater come to life every day with passion and dedication. La Fenice is the common good, the heritage of the city and the country, and the fundamental choice must emerge from dialogue, achievement and sharing.” The musicians underlined that “culture is not imposed from above: culture is built day by day together” and that “music only lives if those who create it are respected”. The reading, entrusted to the choir Emiliano Espositogreeted with applause and shouts of support from the audience.

Despite tensions, the union gave up on striking out of responsibility to the public and artists. Ahead of the premiere, the Foundation’s Board of Directors was chaired by the Mayor of Venice Luigi Brugnaroconfirms full confidence in the supervisor Nicola Colabianchi and in Venice, hoping for an end to the upheaval and a resumption of dialogue. Colabianchi explained that the ban on reading brochures in the hall was due to the fact that “the reasons for the protest are already known” and hypothesized that there would be a meeting between Venezi and the orchestra at the end of the year.

Marco Trentin from Fials Cisal emphasizes: «For a role like music director of the Fenice you need a common path, a curriculum worthy of those who lead this theater, like Maestro Chung». Outside the theater, a group of passionate “Sconcerto Grosso” residents handed out flyers in support of the workers: “La Fenice is not for sale. Culture cannot be bought.”

Colabianchi commented: «We are having difficulties with Venezi, but I am sure we will be able to find the necessary balance. He is a good director, very polite, and we will have the opportunity to introduce him to all the employees.”