More Beef Than a Texas Burger Joint: Zeffirelli's Threat to Florence's Mayor

 

Firenze non avrà la mia eredità artistica! Florence will not have my artistic legacy, says Franco Zeffirelli.

Between his body of work including opera productions, writings, films, and television works, Florence can suck it! 

Frengo's diss list keeps getting longer. After publicly criticizing a slew of opera singers and opera directors and houses in the past couple years, the Italian maestro of hyper-realistic opera productions (and yeah, some movies) lashed out at Florence's Mayor, Matteo Renzi, in an open letter (and an exclusive interview) to be published in tomorrow's Florence-based daily, La Nazione. 

Franco's shopping around a new school devoted to the art of theater -- and he's trying to figure out which city -- and which institution -- will inherit his massive archives (a memorabilia bukkake of papers, sketches, costumes, letters, his library of art books, scores).

Florence seemed to be the front-runner (Moscow, New York, and Rome are apparently part of the game, too).

But now Zeffirelli laments that there are too many unpredictable obstacles and Florence's city hall is not helping. He's therefore threatening to move his school -- and his stuff -- to another city, maybe overseas.

We're sending the cranky Maestro some much needed hugs, and additional pages for his burgeoning ban book!

Comments

[puck swami]

Curious, and perhaps a little naive, I just googled 'Bukkake'since it sounded like kind of a cool new word...

Seems the primary usage is definitely NSFW...

Always learning here...

[WILLYM]

"a memorabilia bukkake" - what an incredible phrase... and then you wonder why we love you?

Poor old Zia Zeff, he really is getting deeper and deeper into it isn't he?

[Randy]

I feel bad for him at this point, now that he's alienated everyone that supported him in the past. He only sees enemies and hurdles. What a stressful life for him to live after all his years of success. OC, please go give him a hug for me!

[Bill Philin-Ploplis]

Now, he's just sounding like an old uncle threatening to disinherit everyone. After a load of that, he usually ends up being ignored and then abandoned. Old people should be nicer if they want to keep family and friends--even if the last will and testament expresses bitterness. LOL.

[El Cajon]

The ultimate in childish behavior. Such things should be handled quiety, out of the public eye and an announcement made when and if appropriate. This guy really has lost it.

[Constantine A. Papas]

Let's be more pragmatic and historically correct: Florence is the berthplace of opera and deserves Uncle Franco's body of work. Persnonal feelings of pride and ego should be set aside for the sake of art! FZ, wether you like his work or not, has been a tour de force for the greater part of last century and has worked with all the important artist of his time. He is and will remain a legend.

[Constantine A. Papas]

Sorry; I meant "birthplace."

[bobman]

The Zeffi Archives should be in NYC, maybe at Lincoln Center perhaps annexed to the MET.

[Sheri]

Some of the materials he has accumulated must be incredible! Of course he would want it to go where it would do the most good and be most appreciated, and is impatient with obstacles and beauracratic wrangling. I tend to think a lot of Franco's tendency toward uncensored, cranky blurting is due to chronic pain. The man must be suffering a fair amount, with the high irritability/low tolerance agitation that goes with it.

[Rogier]

It was supposed to open in Florence last summer? No wonder Franco's pissed!

[Bill Philin-Ploplis]

It might as well be Verona after the commemoration there this summer. Would give tourists something to do there in addition.