Newsgroup: it.politica
Titolo: La Scala responds to Berlusconi attack

Last Updated Wed, 19 Oct 2005 12:50:13 EDT
CBC Arts
 
Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi stirred up trouble with La Scala  
Tuesday, accusing the famed opera house and theatre of being overstaffed  
and saying certain employees are overpaid.
During a government speech Tuesday, Berlusconi declared that La Scala  
employed thousands of people "when 400 would be enough." He also  
criticized the salary for dancers, who "work up to the age of 40 but are  
paid until the age of 65."
Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi. (CP file photo) 	
In July 2004, the Italian parliament passed a law raising the minimum  
retirement age beginning in 2008, with Berlusconi declaring at the time  
that "because people are living longer, they should work longer." Under  
the law, dancers would be required to dance until their 60s.
Berlusconi's statements Tuesday came amid vocal protests from the Italian  
arts and culture sector against arts funding cuts proposed by his  
government. Last week, most Italian performing venues – including La Scala  
– staged a one-day strike to protest the budget, which has yet to be  
approved by parliament.
The cultural community has said that the proposed cuts would be  
far-reaching, influencing everything from opera houses to the Venice  
Biennale contemporary art fair to the Venice Film Festival.
La Scala shot back at Berlusconi's allegations with the Milanese theatre's  
artistic director, Stéphane Lissner, saying in a statement that the  
organization employed 800 people – in line with a governmental decree  
passed in the late 1990s.
Of this workforce, more than half are part of the artistic staff, working  
in the orchestras, choruses, ballet and so on, the statement said. In  
response to Berlusconi's gibe at La Scala's dancers, Lissner proposed to  
amend the retirement age to better reflect standards across Europe. He  
also clarified that, currently, female dancers retire at 47 while male  
dancers retire at age 52.
Roberto Bolle, a principal dancer with La Scala, also struck back at  
Berlusconi in an interview with Italian daily Repubblica. Bolle said that  
if the premier had these issues with the organization, perhaps he should  
have consulted with his son-in-law Maurizio Vanadia, a former La Scala  
dancer who now serves as assistant director of the theatre's school of  
dance.
The current commotion adds to a troubled year for the revered La Scala.  
After completing its intensive renovation and restoration last December,  
the organization was involved in labour strife early in the year when  
employees revolted against longtime musical director Riccardo Muti. He and  
other top managers were ousted in April, after an acrimonious strike by  
the theatre's workers.
http://www.cbc.ca/story/arts/national/2005/10/19/Arts/lascala_berlusconi_051019.html
-- 
Ralph Barker
«Il voto a Bolzano ha portato la città ad assumere una funzione  
emblematica,
è il simbolo della riscossa partita da Catania e che ci riporterà, noi
dell'Italia moderata, a tornare in testa alle prossime elezioni».
  berlusconi silvio 30.05.2005

Anche il Teatro alla Scal di Milano , tempio mondiale della Lirica ,
ividiato da tutto il mondo, è nel mirino del Presidente del Consiglio
Berlusconi. L'Attila del 2000 non vuole lasciare in piedi nulla che non
gli appartenga.
Ogni giorno si chiarisce sempre più il modo con cui s'è arricchito:
prendi ciò che è pubblico e intascalo.
Altro che imprenditore.
V.