2005-07-12

Managerial Rhetoric in the Transformation of Italian Opera Houses

Much Ado About Management

This paper analyses the transformation of Italian opera houses from public institutions to private foundations. This reform was imposed by legislation calling for a more managerial approach, including the introduction of private capital.

The authors, focusing on the rhetorical nature of management, examine the results of this transformation, both at an aggregate level and with reference to one of Italy's 13 national opera houses, the municipal theatre of Bologna. The findings show that the results have been very modest and have not included the introduction of managerial practices; moreover, some of the results can be seen as perverse effects of the reform.

source: http://www.hec.ca/ijam/735.htm

an article by Luigi Maria Sicca & Luca Zan in: International Journal of Arts Management (Spring 2005)