Venice opera house fires incoming music director who made nepotism claims

Teatro La Fenice, the prestigious Venice opera house, has fired its incoming music director after she insinuated its hiring practices were nepotistic, with jobs “practically passed down from father to son”. After months of controversy over the appointment of Beatrice Venezi , La Fenice Foundation said on Sunday it had decided to “cancel all future collaborations” with the 36-year-old conductor and pianist. Venezi, who was to become the theatre’s first female music director, said in a newspaper interview that La Fenice’s bosses were afraid because she was young, female and wanted to bring about change. “I don’t have any godfathers, that’s the difference,” she told the Argentinian newspaper, La Nacion . “I don’t come from a family of musicians, and this is an orchestra where positions are practically passed down from father to son.” Orchestra members “never leave the island” of Venice, Venezi added, and didn’t know how to attract younger audiences. “They’re afraid of change, of renewal,” she said. La Fenice Foundation said Venezi’s “repeated public statements” were “offensive and detrimental to the artistic and professional value” of the opera house and its orchestra. The musician previously accused La Fenice’s management of being “anarchic” and too influenced by unions, and said season ticket holders were all “over 80”. Her appointment last September was strongly opposed by La Fenice’s orchestra musicians and staff, who voted to strike over the matter. …