An appeal has been launched to save the Orchestra and Choir of Rome Opera House. Please help us to spread the word. We hope that by gaining as much support as possible we may be able to convince Rome's mayor, Mr Marino, and the Board of Directors of Rome Opera to reconsider their decision. 182 musicians who were awarded their positions following public auditions and who as a whole are considered by Riccardo Muti as one of the world's finest institutions are to be made redundant. This decision is based on financial reasons which can be directly linked to poor management by an administration elected by the Italian government in recent years to manage Rome Opera and the operatic sector in Italy in general. We need everybody's help: please forward this message to all your colleagues, friends and family, including everyone who may not necessarily be directly involved in the world of classical music. Thank you so much for all your support. Here is the link: https://www.change.org/p/sindaco-di-roma-annulliamo-la-decisione-del-consiglio-di-amministrazione-del-teatro-dell-opera-di-roma-che-ha-licenziato-in-data-2-ottobre-2014-tutti-gli-artisti-dell-orchestra-e-del-coro The translation of the petition is as follows: "On October 2nd 2014 the Board of Directors of the Rome Opera Theatre, headed by the Mayor of Rome, dismissed all the musicians of the Chorus and Orchestra! We are asking Mayor Marino to revoke this decision! The group firing, one of a kind in the history of Italian theatres, places the blame for the effects of several administrations’ disastrous management on 182 musicians. The musicians of the Rome Opera have been subject to a shameful media campaign that represents them as lazy, privileged workers demanding the impossible and striking irresponsibly. The intent of this portrayal is to justify the group firing to public opinion. These musicians were hired through competitive auditions. They have dedicated their lives to high level performances for the Rome Opera and have received excellent reviews from national and international press including their recent tour to Japan with Maestro Muti (May 2014). The Chorus and Orchestra of the Rome Opera Theatre have now been described by the national press as worthless irresponsible musicians who merit the group firing as a punishment! The real intentions of the management and the government seem to be that of emptying Opera Theatres and turning them into containers. They will thus be free to outsource to cooperatives forced to work at reduced costs at the expense of quality. Long term contracts are not, as portrayed by the management, the cause of poor quality. An Opera Theatre is made of artists not walls! PLEASE SIGN THIS PETITION ASKING THE MAYOR OF ROME, MR. MARINO, TO WITHDRAW THE ORDINANCE TO FIRE THE MUSICIANS OF THE ROME OPERA CHORUS AND ORCHESTRA AND TO REORGANIZE THE THEATRE PRESERVING ITS ESSENCE: THE ARTISTS." If you would like to add your support to this petition please complete the following information which you will see on the far right of the screen when you click on the link: Nome = Name Cognome = Surname Email/Country CAP = Zipcode/Postal code Perché è importante per te (facoltativo)? = why is this important for you (optional)? IMPORTANT!!! PLEASE DON'T FORGET TO CLICK ON "FIRMA". Your details will then be added to the petition. Thank-you from the musicians of Rome Opera Orchestra and Chorus