Helga Schmidt is ‘in line for Italian job’

Our gola profonda reports:

The sacked artistic director of the opera house in Valencia, Spain, could be up for a plum job in Italy.

A round of musical chairs is being staged in the next few days at Bologna, Cagliari, Napoli, Genova, Bari, Parma, and possibly Florence.

Parma, Verdi’s home town opera house, looks likely to be run by a pair of populist Beppe Grillo’s pals. Neither has opera experience.

Maurizio Roi is tipped to be confirmed in Genova and Nicola Sani in Bologna, both good calls. 

Florence is contemplating Daniele Gatti as music/artistic director, with Zubin Mehta as lifetime honorary conductor. Mehta is best mates with Helga Schmidt.

Watch this space – if Helga misses out on Florence, she may get another house. At 73, she’s not done yet.