Domenico Muti, an art administrator and the son of conductor Riccardo Muti, has announce the termination of his three-year contract as advisor to the Teatro La Fenice.
In a letter to director of the Teatro La Fenice, Nicola Colabianchi, Muti said, “Unfortunately, the climate that has been created does not allow me to continue my work with the necessary composure. I have therefore decided to terminate our existing contract with immediate effect as I no longer believe it is possible to operate in this situation.”
In response of the announcement workers of the Teatro La Fenice released a statement noting, “The resignation of Dr. Domenico Muti from his position as a consultant to the Teatro La Fenice Foundation, motivated by a ‘climate’ that would prevent him from operating with peace of mind, closes yet another chapter in a story that has exposed the theater to tension and public controversy in recent months. From the controversial appointment of Beatrice Venezi as music director starting in October 2026, which met with much opposition due to the manner of the decision, to the tensions with employees over the issue of welfare payments blocked as apparent retaliation, up until the current Dr. Muti affair, the management of the La Fenice Theater Foundation continues to produce internal fractures and damage to its reputation.”
The statement added, “At this point, a simple and inevitable question arises: is the problem really the difficult climate and alleged political biases, or is it rather the way Superintendent Nicola Colabianchi manages positions and appointments, never managing to build consensus, transparency, and authority?”
The news comes as the Teatro La Fenice is experiencing unrest due to the name of Beatrice Venezi as Music Director.The orchestra and its employees have claimed the conductor obtained the job because she was a close friend of prime minister Giorgia Meloni.
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