La Scala cancels opera Macbeth due to strike
AFP
MILAN- Striking opera house workers at Milan's prestigious La Scala have forced the cancellation of a performance on Sunday of Giuseppe Verdi's "Macbeth" conducted by Russian maestro Valery Gergiev, the theatre said in a statement.
The strike was called by the three main trade unions at the opera house and ticket holders were told Thursday they could attempt to change their booking for a later date or seek a reimbursement.
![Image by Stevage, Wikipedia user. Image by Stevage, Wikipedia user.](https://en.hdhod.com/photo/art/default/5387685-8037330.jpg?v=1365119879)
Image by Stevage, Wikipedia user.
La Scala has seen months of industrial action and was forced to cancel the first night of Hector Berlioz's "Romeo et Juliette" in December last year when the chorus went on strike.
La Scala director Stephane Lissner and conductor Daniel Barenboim last year took a 10-percent salary cut to help the company slash costs.
Italy has slashed culture budgets in recent years in several rounds of austerity measures.
Since taking over in 2005, Lissner has managed to increase takings by doubling performances and has reduced the company's debts despite dramatic cuts in public funding.
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