The Teatro La Fenice has canceled its opening night performance of Berg’s “Wozzeck” on Oct. 17 due to a strike caused by the election of Beatrice Venezi as the company’s new music director.

The workers‘ unions of Teatro La Fenice announced the strike and stated it was in protest of Venezi’s new position.

According to La Repubblica, the strike was called after the union leaders met for a three-and-a-half-hours with Superintendent Nicola Colabianchi and Venice Mayor Luigi Brugnaro, where the union reiterated “the request to revoke Maestro Venezi’s appointment as music director, as resolved by the last general assembly.”

Mayor Brugnaro proposed “initiating a meeting with the new director-designate,” but also confirmed her appointment.

Since Venezi was named the new Music Director, the workers of the Teatro La Fenice have called for a permanent strike and have been supported by all the major opera houses in Italy as well as subscribers. According to the workers, Venezi has never conducted at the Teatro La Fenice and the appointment was made without any transparency.

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