Labor Issues

Posted: Mon., Mar. 21, 2005, 9:00pm PT

Wailing at La Scala

Opera house woes continue

A mediator appointed by Milan's mayor and Teatro alla Scala chairman Gabriele Albertini met striking workers Monday in the hope of ending their dispute with the opera house.

Milan city official Bruno Ferrante is charged with resolving the crisis after workers demanded the resignation of music director Riccardo Muti.

La Scala's governors fired general manager Carlo Fontana on Feb. 24 and replaced him with Mauro Meli, La Scala's former theatrical director and Muti's choice for the job. La Scala's workers vowed to strike for every premiere until Fontana was rehired. Muti has since refused to conduct, but La Scala denied that he had resigned.

On Friday, many of the orchestra's musicians performed a free concert at Milan's conservatory to draw attention to the problem.

Contact the Variety newsroom at news@variety.com

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