Teatro La Fenice, the renowned Venice opera house, has dismissed its incoming music director, Beatrice Venezi, following her controversial statements suggesting that the orchestra's hiring practices were nepotistic, with positions "practically passed down from father to son."
The La Fenice Foundation announced on Sunday that it had decided to "cancel all future collaborations" with the 36-year-old conductor and pianist, ending months of turmoil over her appointment.
Venezi, who was set to become the theatre's first female music director, made the remarks in an interview with the Argentine newspaper La Nacion. She claimed that La Fenice's management was afraid of her because she was young, female, and sought to bring change. "I don't have any godfathers, that's the difference," she said. "I don't come from a family of musicians, and this is an orchestra where positions are practically passed down from father to son."
She further criticised the orchestra members, stating they "never leave the island" of Venice and lacked the ability to attract younger audiences. "They're afraid of change, of renewal," she added.
In response, the La Fenice Foundation condemned Venezi's "repeated public statements" as "offensive and detrimental to the artistic and professional value" of the opera house and its orchestra. The musician had previously accused the management of being "anarchic" and overly influenced by unions, and described season ticket holders as all being "over 80."
Her appointment last September faced strong opposition from La Fenice's orchestra musicians and staff, who voted to strike in protest. They argued that she lacked sufficient experience for the high-profile role and was selected solely due to her close ties with Italy's far-right government, led by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
Audience members also demonstrated their dissatisfaction by throwing dozens of leaflets bearing the slogan, "Music is art, not entertainment" into the air at the end of several performances.
Venezi, whose father is a former member of the neofascist political party Forza Nuova, currently serves as a music adviser at Italy's culture ministry. She was scheduled to begin her tenure at La Fenice in October, conducting three times a year. Although she has worked with orchestras across Europe and beyond, her detractors noted that she had never conducted at La Fenice—except for a brief promotional event—or at any other major opera house. She is also known in Italy for appearing in television advertisements for a shampoo brand.
Meloni's office issued a statement denying a report in Corriere della Sera that she supported the decision to fire Venezi, calling it "completely unfounded" and emphasising that she "was not involved in any way, and so could not have given any green light to the decision."
Italy's culture minister, Alessandro Giuli, stated that La Fenice's decision was made independently and expressed hope that it would "clear the field of misunderstandings, tensions and exploitation of any kind."
