As Opera Chic told you on Nov. 27, the strike that was threatening this year's prima of Tristan Und Isolde has been revoked: Scala GM Stéphane Lissner -- who has just lost the sponsorship of tyre maker Pirelli, that was worth 2 million euros a year, thus making the bloated Scala budget all the more dependent on government subsidizing -- nevertheless has managed to raise 3.2 million euros for the end of the year bonuses to the more than 1,000 Scala workers (obviously it averages more than 3,000 euros for each worker -- about 4,700 dollars).
But about 40 of the 138 orchestra players are unhappy with the deal, because their union wanted much more money: hence, they have decided to play at la prima with a black armband, as sign of mourning.
OC supposes that since black armband on black jacket is very difficult to see, they'll play in their shirtsleeves.
OC will probably wear a black armband as well, in sign of mourning for the scandalously bad playing of the orchestra this past July for Traviata.