MILAN (AP) - Daniel Barenboim is conducting “Die Walkuerie” for La Scala’s gala season premiere, but offstage drama is expected to punctuate the musical performance at Milan’s famed opera house.
A union officials says Barenboim is expected to make a statement about cuts to Italy’s cultural budget before the national anthem is played.
The CGIL labor confederation also is planning demonstrations outside the opera house as guests arrive. Labor official Giancarlo Albori said workers from opera houses in Genoa, Rome, Florence and others will attend the protests on Tuesday.
Albori said the government slashed euro5 million ($6.64 million) from La Scala’s budget in 2010 _ part of large-scale cuts to Italy’s cultural institutions. He called it a “tragedy” for Italian culture.
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