Franco Zeffirelli, never the most diplomatic of men, is on a warpath: the octuagenarian director, who is supposed to direct "Pagliacci" at Teatro dell'Opera di Roma next month (opening night: May 19, but the general strike voted by the opera house's unions after the General Manager Francesco Ernani has been ousted by Rome Mayor Gianni Alemanno, who has put the company into receivership and is now the provisional administrator of the opera house), slams the Mayor in an interview with Corriere della Sera:
"I blame the politicians, amateurs who don't know anything about this business, who want to take it over even if they don't understand it... I think of Mayor Alemanno, he doesn't know the issues we're talking about here, my respect for him is disappearing: I don't know about politics, but what does he know about opera?... they think the theater is a factory where every worker is the same and you can replace anyone at will. This is not the case... I don't want to do this opera at all cost, either we do things the way I want to, or we pull the plug, I can't be at the mercy of someone's whims...
I approve of this strike, the workers have my complete support, this is intolerable... they're not fighting for their money, they're fighting because they love the opera".
I approve of this strike, the workers have my complete support, this is intolerable... they're not fighting for their money, they're fighting because they love the opera".
Frengo has kind words for ousted GM Ernani:
"I know him very well, I worked with him in the past and I can say he's an excellent pro. He made mistakes, of course, like that 3-million-euro Aida (directed by Robert Wilson --ed) but the way he's been replaced is a scandal: they conspired to fire him using this global financial crisis as a pretext".
Now, tell us what you really think Frengo!
