Turin musicians back embattled maestro

Players in the Teatro Regio have issued a unanimous letter of support for their music director, Gianandrea Noseda, who has threatened to resign unless the theatre appoints a more compatible manager. The orchestra plays tomorrow night at the Edinburgh Festival. Rumour has it that Noseda has already resigned.

Here is the players’ letter:

The Teatro Regio Torino Needs Maestro Noseda

The news of Maestro Noseda’s withdrawal from the Music Directorship of Teatro Regio Torino is forcing us to clarify our position.

The orchestra hereby states that the artistic and cultural value of an opera house is the fundamental element for its existence locally and internationally. Only the quality and the international profile of our theatre (and consequently of the city of Torino) will allow – in a new strategically driven vision – to attract the financial support, which the political institutions of our country are unable to grant. Our theatre shall continue to pursue the program that has been designed and executed by Gianandrea Noseda, to export its performances, now highly requested worldwide.

Today, facing the news of the departure of our Music Director, the alternative is no longer to perform in Torino instead of in New York, but to stop performing at all.

The Teatro Regio Torino has been suffering a while from a lack of sufficient public funding, which is essential for its activities. Despite the accurate administration of the resources, the financial situation of our theatre is now close to a state of emergency. Time is of the essence, if it has not already expired.

It is an essential and urgent project of further development, which will blend the fund raising activities with a cultural vision of the highest profile.

The Orchestra of the Teatro Regio Torino, based on the results so far achieved with Maestro Noseda, believes that his presence is needed to achieve these goals and urges Mayor Fassino to intervene and make sure that Maestro Noseda’s requests will be met and his stay granted. There is no longer room for additional delayed answers.

Statement approved unanimously by the Orchestra of the Teatro Regio Torino