Opera workers strike at La Scala

La Scala was opened in 1778 after its predecessor burned down

Workers at Milan's famous opera house La Scala have gone on strike, leading to a performance of Verdi's Requiem to be cancelled.

La Scala, one of the world's best-known concert venues, apologised on its website for the cancellation.

The 800 workers, including 135 musicians and 107 in the chorus, walked out in a row over pay and contracts.

They last went on strike in 2005 in protest at musical director Riccardo Muti, who later resigned.

La Scala's workers want salary increases and better working schedules, arguing that between 2001 and 2007 the number number of performances staged had increased from 164 to 273.

'Unacceptable'

While unions only called a one-day strike on Friday, the dispute raised questions about the opening of the 2007-2008 season.

Stephane Lissner, La Scala's artistic director, described the strike as "serious and unacceptable".

Some of the salary demands were out of proportion he said, because while the theatre's finances were in profit, they remained fragile.

Silvio Belleni, general secretary of the CISL union, said discussions on a new contract had begun in July but management had since informed workers that talks could not continue until a national contract was in place.