After Lorin Maazel and then Franco Zeffirelli slammed, in Corriere della Sera, a long list of the directors they don't like (and the Salzburg Festival guilty of hiring them), the directors today strike back in the same paper (online today for subsribers only; for free starting tomorrow, in the paper's digital archives).
Today, an entire page is devoted to their response.
Graham Vick says:
"I am deeply saddened by this pathetic inability to accept that art is inextricably linked to change. Unfortunately one of Italy's problems is that power -- in politics, music and otherwise -- is always firmly in the hands of old people. Who ignore everything that has been accomplished by younger talents. I find this gross lack of generosity and humanity simply pitiful: these artists have received everything from music but I want to reassure them: we'll go ahead, following our path, knowing very well that after us new people will come with ideas thatwill innovate even more".
Giorgio Battistelli, composer and former artistic director of Verona's Arena:
"I'm appalled. Their ideas aren't even conservative, they're reactionary and provincial".
Jurgen Flimm, Intendant of Salzburg's Festival is laconic:
"Maestro Maazel says he's escaping from Salzburg? He hasn't been invited to conduct here since 2001".
Director Denis Krief:
"Apparently Zeffirelli and Maazel are confused: the fact that they don't like certain things doesn't change the fact that the resume of the directors they don't like is unimpeachable. It's not wise to innovate at all cost, for the sake of innovation: but the theater, to survive, needs to be open to new ideas and experimentation and freedom, it can't become a cult".
Opera Chic's suggestion for a peaceful resolution of the conflict: what about a nice game of Army of 2?