More chaos at Rome Opera which is struggling to overcome its grave economic woes, yet Riccardo Muti, his daughter Chiara Muti who is directing a new production of Manon Lescaut for the theatre, and the sets and costumes are likely to dig the theatre further into its grave with a €1 million price tag.
And the curtain may not even rise. Strikes – not uncommon at Rome's opera house – are threatening not only the usual victim, the first night, but the whole run. If it goes ahead, Muti has told theatre workers that he will leave his post in Rome and the city's mayor, Ignazio Marino, says that there will be no alternative than to put the organisation into liquidation. Unions are desperately trying to find alternative solutions, and want a meeting with Marino, which he is refusing to organise. They have ten points they want answered concerning the cuts of staff and salaries.
If Marino doesn't meet with us, the opening night will be cancelled. We don't want to strike, but at this time we have no alternative… we want him to hear the desperate voices of the theatre workers,
said union representatives. Il Sole 24 Ore quoted Marino as saying,
I think everyone needs to be responsable. In this moment of economic crisis, with fifty thousand families who risk losing their home, and 40% of the country's youth unemployed, Rome has nevertheless upheld its support for culture dedicating 16.5 million euros to the theatre during the current year. This is an enormous sum when compared with the subsidies received by the other opera theatres in Italy, and this is because we believe that it is a centre of excellence. But those who work at Rome Opera must realise that at this moment there are tens of thousands of people who are without a job, and find it impossible to pay their rent.
The production was to have marked Anna Netrebko's début in Manon Lescaut, and it is also the first time she has worked with Muti (or, in this case, the Mutis). Chiara Muti, at the press conference, said,
I have nothing to do with all this, I can't do anything else but to get on with my job… I've been here working for more than a month to give the audience an opera of the standard they deserve. In any case, work is never wasted.
Her father has not commented.
UPDATE 26/02/2014 16:16 – One of the biggest Unions says it would be “a serious error” to strike
Raffaele Bonanni, head of one of Italy's biggest unions, Cisl, says,
We won't let anyone sink Rome Opera which is an important cultural institution for Rome and for this country. We will proceed with the other unions along the difficult path to save the theatre while protecting its professionality and workers. The political and cultural institutions must to more to sort out the finances and avoid the closure of this important artistic centre. Striking tomorrow [the opening night of Manon Lescaut] would be a serious error, further worsening the position of the theatre's workers and their families.
UPDATE 27/02/201407:38 – Strike called off – Manon Lescaut to go ahead
Late yesterday evening the unions Cgil, Fials and Libersind who were threatening strike action cancelling the first night, and possibly the entire run, of Manon Lescaut, have called it off, saying they will be seeking serious proposals for the restructuring of the Rome Opera.
Graham Spicer is a writer, director and photographer in Milan, blogging (under the name ‘Gramilano') about dance, opera, music and photography for people “who are a bit like me and like some of the things I like”. He was a regular columnist for Opera Now magazine and wrote for the BBC until transferring to Italy.
His scribblings have appeared in various publications from Woman's Weekly to Gay Times, and he wrote the ‘Danza in Italia' column for Dancing Times magazine.
What effect do you think this might have on the ballet. Is it to in danger of being closed down?
Yes, it affects the ballet too. I don’t imagine that they will go through with it: a European capital without an opera house? But the place is badly run, and it’s a good moment to clear the mess up a little.
I am not a big supporter of the Unions frankly, they are one of the main reasons why New York City Opera closed down but the Mayor not sitting down with the Unions to try to find a solution is pathetic, it’s beyond “Italiano”. Now, I know the Italians “invented” opera, and Glory Hallellujah for that, but for Heavens’ sake, why do they always act like the world owes them something? Callas herself had problems in the fifties with the apathy of some of the members of the chorus, years ago Jessye Norman gave a recital and suddenly they decided not to pay her, I mean their arrogance and selfcenteredness are destroying the things they created, and did they create!!! But of course in a country where you have over 1,000 politicians (more than the entire US government), more than 1,000 generals who carry their medals with typical Italian pride and have never fought anything, and most of what they do is NOTHING, pardon they do something, STEAL, ROB the people, so the people who vote them into office have become apathetic, indifferent. The preferred word in Rome is PAZIENZA! Just imagine. I bet you in Rome only a handful of people give a damn about losing the Opera House, many might even think that will resolve some of their economic woes. Sad world we live in when the most creative people have become the biggest destroyers of all they created!!!
I agree about Unions, but here it seems to be about maladministration. Muti is also famously extravagant, and the waste would not be tolerated elsewhere. However, the theatres are full of great creative talents, but they get worn down after seeing the less talented being promoted above them because they are the friend/lover/relative of someone ‘high up’. It is dispiriting. As I read elsewhere on this blog, Alessandra Ferri says – In Italy, there is something negative in the atmosphere, and also in the people – and I think that’s what happens when leaders and managers let down those who have voted for them, or work for them. Italians feel impotent.
I agree about some unions .. in this case they are “cutting off collective noses to spite their collective faces” But I do worry not only because of larger cities like New York but because the closures are happening in smaller cities as well .. Recently we not only got rid of our symphony but also our chorus. Friends of mine are out of work and so are the unions .. I wish that some of us online could do something about this — there must be enough of us worldwide ..tourism is a powerful economic tool