in San Carlo musicians on strike, prima donnas sing without orchestra

Sunday in San Carlo was spent on a swing: strike yes, strike no: the prima donnas concert was going to be staged Nadine Sierra and Pretty Yende with the orchestra conducted by Pablo Mielgo.

In the end the agitation was confirmed, the orchestra folded its arms and the two opera stars took the stage accompanied only by a pianist. Luis Angel Maresca, who is not part of the theater staff. At the announcement of the voice in the room that instead of the orchestra there would only be a pianist, the audience – the room was almost full – roared.

Nadine Sierra and Pretty Yende

Coherent conclusion of a day that began as a sign of uncertainty: two days ago the unions had announced the mobilization of personnel in the face of insecurity about the announced hiring and stabilizations, some forty between artistic and technical departments, also due to uncertainties about the management of the theater that as of June 1 will be without the superintendent Stephane Lissner and with the unknown about the successor Sources, for now announced only by boomos. The strike began at 4:15 p.m., making it impossible for the musicians to participate in the concert.

However, late on Saturday afternoon, it seemed that the intervention of the mayor of Naples Gaetano Manfredi, president of the San Carlo management committee, could reassure the social partners and workers about the agreements reached, promising a prompt meeting with the unions, scheduled for tomorrow afternoon: «The unions, in gratitude to the president of the cdi, declare their willingness to revoke the agitation» note from yesterday morning, then the change of course in the afternoon with the confirmation of the strike. The reasons? “We set out to confirm the strike, despite the meeting called by the mayor, to respect the decision of the company representatives who are sovereign for us and express the will and requests of the workers. They don’t trust that,” he said. Massimo Taglialatela, general secretary of Uilcom Campania.

However, the success of the divas Sierra and Yende was clear, even without an orchestra, even with only a piano to accompany famous arias, chosen on purpose to show off their voices.

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in Il Mattino