Venice opera house staff to strike over hiring of Meloni-linked conductor

La Fenice’s musicians and staff claim Beatrice Venezi lacks experience and was picked because of government ties

Staff at Venice’s La Fenice opera house have voted to strike over the appointment of a conductor with ties to Giorgia Meloni’s far-right government.

The strike will be held on Friday 17 October, the date of the opera house’s first performance of a run of Alban Berg’s Wozzeck, which will close its 2024-25 season.