Ai Weiwei's Turandot postponed to March 2021 at Teatro dell'Opera di Roma

The Teatro dell'Opera di Roma has postponed Ai Weiwei's production of Puccini's Turandot, originally scheduled for spring 2020, to March 2021 due to COVID-19 restrictions. Superintendent Carlo Fuortes explained that the government decree requiring one meter of space between spectators made performances impossible in the theater's galleries and stalls. The cancellation also affects the ballet Il Corsaro, currently in performance. Combined ticket revenue for both productions was €1,200,000, which must be refunded. Fuortes stated the production was nearly finished rehearsals. The theater also canceled its "R/Esistere" weekend events (March 13-15) featuring the Orchestra and Chorus of the Teatro dell'Opera and the Fabbrica Young Artist Program performing works by Mozart, Rossini, Bellini, Verdi, and Puccini. Mayor Virginia Raggi had previously emphasized the events would follow all regulations. Fuortes ruled out streaming the opera due to high production costs, but the theater is exploring alternative productions that comply with decree constraints. The postponement is part of a broader wave of Italian cultural event delays, including miart moving to September, the Architecture Biennale to August, and Salone del Mobile to June.