Strike @ La Scala Kills Barenboim's Requiem For Toscanini; La Prima Of Dec. 7 Much More At Risk Now

As previously reported by Opera Chic, tomorrow's strike at la Scala will cancel the performance of Verdi's Requiem conducted by Daniel Barenboim in memory of Arturo Toscanini (the great maestro and humanitarian who, besides his awesome musical achievements, gave in secret a monster donation -- several million euros in 2007 money -- to the theatre in 1945 in order to rebuild the bombed-out opera house).

The Scala workers are on strike because their unions are working out a new contract with Scala management and a deal seems to be very far at the time being.

The Dec. 7 season premiere, Tristan Und Isolde conducted by Barenboim and directed by Patric Chéreau, is much more at risk.

Personally we think that such a slap in Toscanini's face is much worse than a slap in Wagner's -- we'd have happily traded the Dec. 7 performance with tomorrow night's, because Toscanini, when you consider all he has done for la Scala, artistically and financially and in terms of PR, should be worshiped by anybody connected to the Milanese opera house the way Catholics worship their saints.

Instead.

***update***

Have you been so naive as to buy those very expensive tickets for the performance assuming that the concert would actually happen? If you bought your ticket online you need to mail them back to La Scala's Box Office, Galleria Del Sagrato, Piazza Del Duomo, Milan "by November 17", according to la Scala's instructions (good luck with that unreliable Italian post office by the way!). Your credit card will then -- hopefully! -- be refunded. If you've bought them in person at the box office, you have to go back there, give back your ticket(s), and you'll be refunded on the spot. If you cannot show up in person, mail them back and you'll receive in the mail (hopefully!) a check.

If you're a ticket holder and you need more info -- or just feel like expressing your opinion re: this cancellation -- la Scala's switchboard is (+39) 0288791

Comments

[number five alive]

That's lame for all those ticket holders, and here's hoping that Opera Chic hadn't already brought herself a ticket. What do they do with all those refunds, by the way?

And beware, dear Opera Chic: the streets of Milan will be unsafe tomorrow, with the masses of cranky and rude La Scala employees who don't have to work, who will be running around Duomo kicking dogs and eating babies. :D

[willym]

For what I understand there will be a general strike tomorrow - not just the Scala staff. Good day to sit in listen to my old Beecham Boheme, make a large pot of coffee and blog. Don't recall them having this problem with the Muti-Requiem in Parma. By the way OC any word on how that went - my Italian is still too beginners level to read most of the reviews.

[Fat Chance]

SCIOPERO! SCIOPERO!

LOL