La Scala strike derails concert

Daniel Barenboim and his fellow musicians received shouts of “bravi” after the open dress rehearsal, but the ticket-buying public in Milan, Italy, won’t get to enjoy Verdi’s “Requiem”: La Scala’s 800 employees are going on strike.

With apologies to the audience, La Scala announced that today’s long-awaited performance, capping a year of commemorations marking the 50th anniversary of the death of Arturo Toscanini and marking one of Barenboim’s first appearances in his new role as La Scala’s principal guest conductor, was called off. The theater did not indicate whether the concert would be rescheduled.

Musicians interviewed after Thursday’s dress rehearsal said La Scala had not raised wages in seven years, and they had been pressing for months for resolution.