Italy's famed La Scala opera house will immediately return 3 million euros (US$3.4 million) sent to an escrow account by Saudi Arabia in what Milan's mayor on Monday termed a badly handled fundraising deal. But he did not rule out future dealings with the kingdom.
Conductor Riccardo Chailly and La Scala theatre manager Alexander Pereira meet the media during a news conference at La Scala theatre in Milan, Italy, Wednesday, May 18, 2016. Last Updated Monday, March 18, 2019 12:40PM EDT
While the current procedure aimed at making Saudi Arabia an official financial backer of the opera house was officially closed, Sala refused to rule out future talks with the kingdom. He said a planned tour by La Scala's orchestra in 2020 will go ahead as planned. While announcing the return of the money, the mayor noted that the Italian government and financial institutions continued to have dealings with Saudi Arabia.
Other Western cultural institutes have also grappled with how to handle financial contributions from Saudi Arabia following the murder of Jamal Khashoggi. Saudi Arabia, which has been making moves to open culturally to the West, participated for the first time in last year's Biennale architecture exhibit in Venice.
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