The union representatives of Milan's Teatro alla Scala have expressed "deep concern" about what has been going on at the Gran Teatro La Fenice in Venice, calling the incident "a signal that concerns the entire world of theaters, orchestras, and Italian cultural production". The open letter, released on the evening of October 24, comes after days of tension between La Fenice employees, who demanded the superintendent's resignation, and Venice Mayor Luigi Brugnaro, president of the foundation, who harshly criticized the unions for opposing the appointment of Beatrice Venezi as music director. "In recent decades, we have witnessed continuous attacks on the cultural sector, with inadequate laws and cuts to public funding", the Milanese workers wrote, claiming that the appointment of a musical director "driven by media visibility rather than artistic competence" is just the tip of the iceberg of an increasingly weakened system. The letter further underlines that the issue comes at a sensitive time, "on the eve of the renewal of the national contract and the new entertainment code, which risks reducing the autonomy of opera houses". "Whoever leads a public institution must know how to listen, communicate, and value collective work", the letter says, denouncing "authoritarian and opaque management methods" that cause conflict rather than collaboration. The La Scala unions conclude by expressing their support with their Venetian counterparts: "La Fenice does not require political platforms, but rather respect, participation, and truth. On these principles, we will never take a step back".