Beatrice Venezi fired from La Fenice after insulting orchestra

Beatrice Venezi, the conductor appointed as musical director of Teatro La Fenice in Venice in September 2025 (effective October 2026), has been fired after calling the orchestra a place where "posts are passed from father to son." The remarks, made to Argentine newspaper La Nación, were deemed "false, serious and offensive" by the theater's workers' representatives. Superintendent Nicola Colabianchi announced the cancellation of all future collaborations, with support from Culture Minister Alessandro Giuli. Venezi, born in Lucca in 1990, trained as a pianist in Siena. She gained media visibility as co-host of Sanremo Festival in 2021 and received the Atreju award from the Brothers of Italy party. In 2022 she was appointed music advisor to then-Culture Minister Gennaro Sangiuliano. She also served as guest conductor of the Orchestra della Toscana and the Puccini Festival, and artistic director of the Taormina Arte Foundation. The firing caps months of tension: orchestra professors had previously criticized her nomination, citing lack of experience leading operas or symphonic concerts at La Fenice and limited presence in major international opera houses. Conductor Silvia Massarelli called the appointment "political and demeaning," while former superintendent Cristiano Chiariot noted a contradiction between political support for Venezi and reluctance to give her major artistic responsibilities.