Workers at Venice's la Fence opera house on Friday announced a permanent strike against this week's appointment of young conductor Beatrice Venezi, seen as close to the Meloni governmemt, as musical director.
    Workers at the Teatro La Fenice declared "a permanent state of strike" and said they "reserve the right to undertake all necessary union action—including strikes, demonstrations, and sit-ins—to defend the professionalism of its artists and respect for democratic rules in the management of the Foundation," against Venezi's appointment.
    The workers "demand the immediate revocation of Beatrice Venezi's appointment as music director, which occurred in a manner and manner that violated every principle of dialogue and transparency," according to a statement from the union's representatives.
    Conductor and pianist Venezi was appointed new musical director of Venice's storied opera house by the governing foundation on Monday.
    Venezi, 35, from Lucca, was unanimously approved by the foundation's president, Venice Mayor Luigi Brugnaro, and all the board members.
    Venezi will officially take up her post in October 2026, with a term extending until March 2030.
    Brugnaro and the Board expressed "great satisfaction with the choice," noting that the appointment "represents significant added value for the Theater's work in terms of professionalism, international visibility, energy, and renewal.
    The significance of this appointment was also highlighted, as it sees one of the few female figures assume a leading role in the panorama of major international opera houses, confirming La Fenice's global and innovative vocation." Venezi will soon meet with the Superintendent and the Theatre's staff to begin defining the strategic guidelines for her musical direction.
    Culture Minister Alessandro Giuli said in a statement: "I welcome the unanimous decision by the Board of Directors of the Venice Teatro La Fenice Foundation to appoint Beatrice Venezi as the opera house's music director, a well-deserved appointment.
    "I am confident that Venezi will contribute the dedication, professionalism, and creativity required by her role.
    "My heartfelt congratulations to Superintendent Nicola Colabianchi for his farsighted decision." Venezi, who has received an award from Premier Giorgia Meloni's right-wing Brothers of Italy (FdI) partyand has appeared at FdI events, said on her Instagram profile: "I welcome with emotion and gratitude the choice of my name as the new music director of the Gran Teatro La Fenice, an institution I have always regarded with great respect and admiration for the quality and prestige it embodies.
    "First of all, I would like to heartily thank the Teatro Foundation and the institutions represented on the Board for their trust in me.
    "I am deeply honored to receive this prestigious position, which I will strive to honor both nationally and internationally, with the goal of leading all the Teatro's permanent bodies to ever greater success.
    "I look forward to beginning this human, artistic, and musical dialogue with the Teatro, the city of Venice, and its audiences," Venezi concluded in her post.

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