Opera singers are considering legal action following the cancellation of the Fondazione del Teatro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino’s production of Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg just six weeks before rehearsals were due to start.

In a letter to cast members dated 21 March 2023, the Maggio wrote of the ‘situation of unpredictable emergency’ facing the Foundation stating ‘production costs (of Die Meistersinger) are no longer sustainable for the Foundation’. A revival of Falstaff was announced as Meistersinger’s replacement bringing across just four of the original 17 cast members. The Foundation claims to be ‘exercising the right to withdraw the current contract’ due to force majeure, and therefore ‘has the right not to pay any compensation to the artist.’

‘I have to work as much as I can within the EU regulations - most of my career is abroad.’ Tenor Paul Curievici, originally contracted to the production of Meistersinger, told Opera Now, ‘This would have kept my family with our heads above water for about four or five months. That's what one of these projects means to us.

‘It's a big hit for the agencies as well. One agency booked six or seven different singers in the production. That's the sort of thing that that sees an agency through Christmas. But it's always the “least important” freelancers who suffer.’

The cuts at the Foundation come following the resignation of Alexander Pereira, former superintendent of Florence’s Maggio Musicale, following an ongoing fraud investigation. The company is attempting to recover an 8.5 million euro deficit by July 2023, cancelling productions of Cosi fan Tutti and Le nozze di Figaro in the autumn and allegedly looking into selling-off part of its extensive archive.

‘Of course we want the institution to be there to support younger singers.’ Curievici explained, ‘When any of these institutions go goes down It's saddening but also emblematic of long term mismanagement in that specific institution and of a worrying trend in the sector as a whole.’

Independent Society of Musicians Chief Executive Deborah Annetts said, ‘The reported treatment of musicians by Maggio Musicale Firenze is a shocking example of the precarious world in which so many professional musicians work – although unfortunately it is far from unique.’

She continued, ‘No musician deserves to be left in the lurch without the work and the pay that they were expecting and budgeting for. This can have a really damaging impact on the individual and the reputation of the sector as a whole, particularly during a cost-of-living crisis. We of course implore companies to do the right thing and treat their artists with the respect they deserve. Musicians who are in difficult situations such as this should always contact the ISM if they are a member to receive legal advice and support.’

The Fondazione del Teatro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino has been contacted for comment.