La Fenice protests: new musical director says ‘game not over’

La Fenice's new musical director Beatrice Venezi cited one of the best-loved maxims of late Serbian soccer coach Vujadin Boškov, saying "the game ain't over till the ref blows his whistle."

This came amid a protest by the storied Venetian opera house's orchestra and staff over her recent appointment due to her alleged ties to Premier Giorgia Meloni, CE Report quotes ANSA.

"I was busy with work on the other side of the world and haven''t paid much attention to the controversy," said the 35-year-old conductor Venezi, on the sidelines of a press conference for a production of the Bizet opera Carmen, which she is set to conduct in Pisa.

"I'll just say that I'm so well-connected that I work practically exclusively abroad, and that I'll talk about this matter in due course.

"For now, I'll limit myself to a football joke that coach Boskov often made: the game is only over when the referee blows the whistle." In particular, responding to those who asked her about the Fenice orchestra's proposal for her to take a step back amid a possible 'mix-up' in her appointment, Venezi replied: "What misunderstandings? I haven't even set foot in Venice yet." In Pisa, the conductor will be on the podium at the Verdi Theatre, leading the Florentine Chamber Orchestra in Bizet's Carmen, to be staged on January 23rd and 25th.

"This conducting in Pisa is a pleasant return to Italy for me," Venezi said, "and it will be a brief interlude, along with the next two weeks in Trieste, with The Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny.

"Then I'll return abroad, first to Montevideo for a Carmen and then to the Teatro Colon in Buenos Aires for the season opening with Cavalleria and Pagliacci.

"I haven't spoken about the Fenice affair until now, and I'm waiting for the right moment, but it's not yet that moment.

"There are many elements to discuss that haven't yet been incorporated into the narrative of this affair, which will certainly be analyzed and developed, but in due time." Venice Mayor Luigi Brugnaro insisted ahead of the New Year concert at the lagoon city's most famous cultural institution that musicians should give Venezi a chance amid continued protests against the allegedly inexperienced and government-sponsored conductor's recent appointment.

Venezi was appointed government musical advisor by Meloni shortly after she came to power three years ago and she has been praised by the premier on several occasions, also receiving an award from her rightwing Brothers of Italy (FdI) party.

Venezi, the daughter of a far-right militant, who also tosses her blonde mane in a popular TV shampoo ad, is seen as being part of the government's declared aim of ending an alleged left-wing cultural hegemony in Italy.

She has never led a major opera house orchestra before, and critics say her conducting record is too slim for a post like La Fenice's.

But she has been defended by Culture Minister Alessandro Giuli who said La Fenice's first female musical director won't make Venetians miss her predecessors.

Brugnaro, the mayor who also heads the foundation that runs La Fenice, said ahead of the New Year's Eve concert: "Beatrice Venezi? I think it would be appropriate to give her a chance.

I floated the idea the other day of a neutral venue trip so they can get to know each other, see if they can play together, and I'm working to make this happen." This new statement and renewed call for an agreement came before the 23rd New Year's Concert, which this year was conducted by Michele Mariotti.

As they announced, the orchestra and chorus didn't boycott or openly protest the historic event, but they nevertheless demonstrated their dissent by wearing a golden pin with a treble clef.

Maestro Mariotti also displayed it.

Venezi, who would be musical director for a four-year term, had previously not commented on the row, which broke out after her appointment on September 22.

Superintendent Nicola Colabianchi has said he does not understand the protest and defended Venezi's qualifications for the job.

"Venezi's resume is excellent, considering she has already conducted 50-60 operas, considering she is 35 years old," he said.

Britain's Daily Telegraph has said the Lucca-born pianist and conductor is the victim of sexism, misogyny and reverse ageism.

Responding to her citing Boskov's motto, the opposition 5-Star Movement (M5S) said it was "sorry for her, but the ref has already blown, the game is over and the two sides are back in the changing rooms".

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