Tenor Injured During Rehearsals for Falstaff at Teatro Carlo Felice

It was recently revealed that during rehearsals for Verdi’s Falstaff—currently being performed at Genoa’s Teatro Carlo Felice—tenor Cristiano Olivieri suffered a serious rib injury due to a stage trapdoor that was part of the production’s design. Following the incident, the trapdoor was removed. Olivieri was taken to Galliera Hospital for treatment.

The Italian trade union Slc Cgil issued a statement urging the theater to prioritize safety measures: “We extend our sincerest wishes for a speedy recovery to the injured artist and await further details on what happened. However, Slc cannot ignore the fact that safety issues at the theater are not new.”

The statement also pointed out that just a few days earlier, a stage technician had been injured in a workplace accident. Sonia Montaldo, Secretary of Slc Cgil Genoa, stressed: “The theater’s staff must be able to work in a safe environment. If such incidents continue to occur, it is clear that safety is a real issue and must be addressed with determination.”

Slc further stated: “Our concerns about safety are not new. We have repeatedly urged the theater to adjust staffing levels to ensure that all tasks are carried out under conditions that respect workers’ rights.”