A massive strike at one of Italy's biggest opera houses causes cancellations.
Those who want to attend a production of Verdi's Requiem at La Scala Opera House will have to come back another day. A strike involving 800 workers, including 135 musicians and 107 chorus members, necessitated the cancellation.
The strike was staged in an effort to obtain better pay and work schedules for workers at the Italian opera house. Over the course of six years, the number of performances has increased by over 100. The workers have gone on strike twice this week, putting the 2007-2008 season opening into doubt.
Strikes have been successful in the past: in 2005, a strike was staged to protest musical director Riccardo Muti. The director later resigned.
However, the outcome of the current strike is in doubt: La Scala's artistic director Stephane Lissner feels that the demands for salary increases are unreasonable.
The workers, however, want Lissner to reopen discussion and negotiation.
The situation
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