Photo by Reuters
Riccardo Muti, 73, one of the greatest living conductors, has not only been artistic director of the 134-year-old Teatro dell'Opera di Roma, currently its honorary conductor for life, but also the company's heart and conscience as recently demonstrated by his denounciation from the podium of government cuts for the arts.
"We are in house, quite at home, let us speak together," he said. "'Va pensiero', in old days, was a political symbol. I'm not a politician but I can say that if our culture goes on being slain, our Italia will be 'si bella e perduta' (so lovely and so lost)". He then conducted chorus, orchestra, and the audience in an encore of "Va pensiero," leaving no dry eye in the house.
For Muti to pull out of productions in Rome and leave his position, it must have been personally painful, and the for the organization, a gesture of great significance.
In a letter to the mayor of Rome and the opera's general director, Muti wrote the decision had caused him “very great sorrow” and had come only after “long and tormented thoughts.” He went on to say:
Unfortunately, despite all my efforts to help your cause, the conditions to guarantee the serenity which I need for the productions to turn out well are not there.
The Naples-born maestro said he would not take part in a production of Verdi’s Aida, which is scheduled to launch the opera’s next season in November, nor in upcoming productions. Many Rome productions have been hit by strike threats and protests.
In February, threats of industrial action almost prevented the opening night of Puccini’s Manon Lescaut — conducted by Muti and directed by his daughter, Chiara Muti — from going ahead. In July, the audience attending several productions of La bohème at the ancient Roman Caracalla Baths were greeted only by a piano and offers of reimbursement.
Italy’s culture minister, Dario Franceschini, said: “With a profound bitterness, I must say I understand the reasons that have led to this decision, which is painful to everyone. I hope, at least, that this will open the eyes of those who obstruct … the commitment to engender the change for which Italian opera has for too long been waiting.”
Earlier this month, Vienna State Opera General Music Director Franz Welser-Möst, abruptly resigned and withdrew from all his scheduled performances there, citing “irreconcilable differences of opinion regarding the company’s artistic planning and profile.” Last week, French conductor Bertrand de Billy joined Welser-Möst, canceling his upcoming performances because of differences with the company’s management.
Both Muti and Welser-Möst remain music directors in the U.S., Muti in Chicago and Welser-Möst in Cleveland.