Venezi accuses La Fenice of bullying after dismissal as row deepens

Venezi said she had learned of the decision through news reports before later receiving a formal termination letter, adding that the theatre’s move would have to be “clarified in its motivations” and answered “in an appropriate manner”, hinting at possible legal action.

The dispute centres on remarks Venezi gave in an interview to the Argentine newspaper La Nacion, in which she said she did not come from a family of musicians and described La Fenice as “an orchestra where positions are practically handed down from father to son.”

Those comments prompted superintendent Nicola Colabianchi to sever ties with the conductor, saying her remarks were incompatible with the principles of the foundation and failed to show due respect to orchestra members.

After months of protests and opposition from sections of the workforce, Venezi hit back, saying she had never disrespected theatre workers but had instead been the target of sustained hostility over the past eight months.

“I have been constantly and systematically defamed, slandered, insulted and bullied,” she said.

Venezi also suggested she was being targeted because of her age, gender and outsider status.

“In Italy being young is a handicap, and being a woman makes it worse. Mine is the success of a provincial girl who made it on her own. The caste does not like that,” she said.

The controversy has drawn in national politics after reports suggested Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni had approved the move. Palazzo Chigi firmly denied any involvement, saying the premier “was not involved in any way” and that reports to the contrary were groundless.

Culture Minister Alessandro Giuli said the decision was an autonomous act by La Fenice’s management, albeit one he fully shared, and stressed that the government neither could nor wished to interfere.

Opposition politicians seized on the affair. Irene Manzi of the Democratic Party said government denials had the flavour of excusatio non petita, while Five Star senator Vincenza Aloisio claimed the Venezi case showed the collapse of Meloni’s appointments policy.

Colabianchi acknowledged the decision had come at a cost, but said Venezi had made statements damaging to the dignity of the institution and that this could no longer be tolerated.

Venezi, meanwhile, found support from League MEP Susanna Ceccardi, who described her as a free artist and victim of an intolerant climate, pledging to continue backing her.

 

PS