Directing La Bohème blindfolded? The controversy takes on a political dimension in Italy

55 years later, May-68 still arouses debate, including on the other side of the Alps. On Friday July 14, Alberto Veronesi appeared blindfolded to conduct his orchestra at the opening of the 69th edition of the Puccini festival in Torre del Lago in Tuscany. At the direction of La Bohème, the conductor wanted to protest against the artistic choices of the festival and of Christophe Gayral. The French director had chosen to place the events of La Bohème, which takes place in 19th century Paris, within the revolt of May-68.

According to the conservative daily Il Tempo, Alberto Veronesi would have justified his gesture by denouncing, "in the forced form of an opera production, the resurgence of communism defeated by history and by elections". "I wanted to read and illuminate the work in a modern way in a contemporary setting, at a time full of artists and bohemians in search of new ideals such as we find in the work of Puccini and in the novel by Murger", retorted Christophe Gayral. The public agreed with the director by whistling and booing copiously the gesture and the performance of the Italian conductor.

Can Alberto Veronesi's position be explained by his closeness to Giorgia Meloni's party? Former candidate of the Democratic Party (center-left) for the elections of 2016 and 2020, the conductor had chosen this year to register on the lists of the far-right party, Fratelli d'Italia, behind the current President of the Council. A few days before the concert, the Italian Secretary of State for Culture, Vittorio Sgarbi, had invited the conductor "not to conduct the orchestra" as a sign of "respect for the art and the memory of Puccini."

Veronesi's gesture did not please the festival management any more than the spectators. The chef should no longer be at the helm for the next three performances of the play scheduled in the coming weeks.