The Teatro Olimpico is one of the three Renaissance theaters that have survived to this day. Its design is the oldest decoration in the world. The theater is located in the city of Vicenza, in the Italian region of Veneto. History of creation The construction of the theater began in 1580. The architect was one of the most famous masters Renaissance Andrea Palladio. Before proceeding to the creation of the project, Andrea Palladio studied the structure of dozens of Roman theaters. He does not have land for a new theater ...
Teatro Massimo is one of the largest opera houses not only in Italy, but throughout Europe, and is famous for its excellent acoustics. ...
Most travelers know in advance which sights of Italy they want to visit. If we talk about Milan, then the number one point for ...
Teatro San Carlo in Italy is one of the oldest opera houses in the world, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Read also: Italians propose to contribute...
The Goldoni Theatre, formerly the Teatro San Luca and the Teatro Vendramin di San Salvatore, is one of the main theaters in Venice. The theater is located...
Cultural holidays in Italy, of course, will not be complete without a visit to the theater. Do you prefer cultural holidays and would like to know more about theater life in Italy? Have you been dreaming of watching Italian opera in the birthplace of the genre for a long time, but don't know how to organize it? Then you have come to the right site. Under the heading theaters of Italy, your attention is invited to useful information about the work schedule and repertoire of Italian theaters. Also here you can find many interesting facts about the theaters of Italy, about the history of their construction and the legends that envelop the famous buildings.
Did you know that in the role theater stage in Italy, even ancient amphitheatres, which are more than two thousand years old, can perform? But the fact that opera houses Italy such as La Scala and San Carlo are rightly called the best existing in the world? Interested in learning about the history of their construction? Would you like to know about the repertoire and the cost of tickets to the world-famous opera theaters in Italy? Then this section of the site was created especially for you.
If you are planning a trip to Italy, be sure to go to one of the Italian opera houses. After all Italy is the birthplace of opera and the most famous productions and the best musical performances in the world take place on Italian stages. This genre of musical and dramatic art was originally intended for court entertainment, but later became available to the general public. Today, going to the opera is a great way to spend an unforgettable evening and join the great art.
It's better to take care of it in advance. The opera season lasts from October to the end of March, but performances are also held on some outdoor stages in the summer.
Even if you do not have the opportunity to get to an opera performance or a ballet, the architecture and history of theaters deserve some attention and a separate visit.
La Scala Theater (Teatro alla Scala)
The most famous opera house in the world (and certainly the most famous in the world) was opened in 1778. Puccini's operas Madama Butterfly and Turandot were first presented to the public on the stage of this theater. Verdi's opera Nabucco was also performed for the first time from this stage. During World War II, the theater was destroyed and then completely rebuilt. After the last restoration, the theater was opened in 2004.
Such illustrious masters of the opera stage as Maria Callas And Luciano Pavarotti. And today the theater continues to attract the best opera performers and orchestras of world renown. The opening of the season at La Scala is one of the most anticipated social events in Milan.
Teatro La Fenice (Teatro La Fenice)
Teatro La Fenice (Source: Wikimedia)La Phoenix – "Phoenix"- one of the most famous theaters Europe. It was opened in Venice in 1792 and was twice destroyed by flames, and then "risen from the ashes". After a fire in 1996 and eight years of restoration, thanks to the donations and support of many celebrities, including the American director Woody Allen, the theater reopened its doors to the audience in 2003. First performed on stage Opera by Giuseppe Verdi "La Traviata".
by the most important event in the theater is New Year's concert , in which the stars of the world stage take part.
San Carlo Theater (Teatro di San Carlo)
Most oldest operating opera house Italy was opened in 1737 in Naples by order of King Charles III. The earliest ballet performances in Italy were staged on the stage of the theater. At one time, the theater was managed by Gioacchino Rossini and Gaetano Donizetti.
If you love ballet, keep in mind that one of the leading ballet academies in the world operates here.
Teatro Massimo (Teatro Massimo)
Located in Palermo, Sicily, the Teatro Massimo is the third largest opera house in Europe. domed the building is considered an architectural masterpiece and is famous for its excellent acoustics. Scenes were filmed in the theater for the third part of " Godfather» Francis Ford Coppola. To all lovers of cinema and architecture, fans of opera and classical music it is worth including the Teatro Massimo in the list of places to visit.
Teatro Regio (Teatro Regio)
Teatro Regio or " Royal Theater”- another opera house restored after a fire. Built in Turin in 1740, this theater has hosted many distinguished guests, including Napoleon. In 1973 Teatro Regio reopened after a fire in 1936 and today offers about ten productions per theater season which lasts from October to June.
Arena di Verona (Arena di Verona)
Arena di Verona (If you have ever been to Italy, then you know what the inhabitants of the Apennine Peninsula are proud of. Uffizi Gallery and the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore in Florence, the Colosseum and the Trevi Fountain in Rome, St. Mark's Basilica and the Grand Canal in Venice. Does this list seem to be missing something? That's right, Milan's La Scala, one of the most famous opera houses in the world, is missing.
affectionate name
Those who are somewhat familiar with Italian, the name of the La Scala theater may surprise you. Indeed, the Italian word skala, translated into Russian, means, oddly enough, an ordinary staircase. But in fact, the theater got its name from the church of Santa Maria della Scala, on the site of which it was built. And the church was so christened in honor of the powerful patroness, one of the rulers of Verona, who bore the surname Scaliger.
One million lire for a new theater
In the 70s of the 18th century, the Royal Ducal Theater already existed in Milan. But in 1776 it was consumed by fire, so the inhabitants of the city had to think about creating a new theater - they did not want to lose the glory of the capital of the Italian opera. With the consent of Empress Maria Theresa of Austria famous architect Giuseppe Piermarini was commissioned to design a new building on the site of the church.
In the 18th century, the Royal Ducal Theater already existed in Milan.
The theater cost the city almost a million lire, which by the standards of that time was a huge amount! 90 of the city's most eminent aristocrats divided the costs among themselves and forked out. It took the architect Piermarini and his assistants two years to create a brilliant example of the neoclassical style, and already in 1778 the theater was opened to visitors.
La Scala theater building
Center of Milanese life
From its very opening, La Scala fell in love with the audience. The theater hall, made in the form of a huge horseshoe (100 by 38 meters!), Equipped with almost two hundred boxes, each of which could accommodate up to 10 spectators, richly decorated with gilding, has never been empty.
The theater hall, made in the form of a huge horseshoe
True, not all citizens came to the theater to listen to the opera. At that time, La Scala became the real center of Milanese life. It was equipped with gambling rooms and buffets, gambling evenings, balls and even bullfights were held within the walls of the theater!
La Scala Theater Hall
Rossini, Verdi and Tchaikovsky
The first work staged on the stage of the newborn theater was Antonio Salieri's opera Recognized Europe, which the composer wrote specifically for the baptism of fire at La Scala. Interestingly, after the reconstruction in 2004, Known Europe reopened a series of productions on the stage of the theater. Probably, the inhabitants of Milan see something symbolic in this.
Masterpieces by eminent composers were continuously staged on the stage of the theater
Masterpieces by eminent composers were constantly staged on the stage of the theater. Over the many years of his work, La Scala managed to collaborate with Cherudini, Paisiello, Rossini (experts even talk about a special Rossini period in the history of the theater). Not to mention Donizetti, Bellini, Puccini and, of course, Verdi! True, the latter did not immediately make friends with the Milan theater. After staging his Joan of Arc, the composer terminated the contract with La Scala and left. A little later he returned again, already head over heels in love with this theater. On the stage of the "Milanese" works of Russian classics were staged more than once. For example, they were enthusiastically received " Queen of Spades” Tchaikovsky, “Boris Godunov” and “Khovanshchina” by Mussorgsky, “Love for Three Oranges” by Prokofiev and “Katerina Izmailova” by Shostakovich.
Giuseppe Verdi
Clash of the Titans
Of course, is there a theater without performers? Among the famous opera singers who performed on the stage of La Scala, you can call Caruso and Ruffo, de Luca and Skip, Gigli and Benzanzoni, Canilla and Del Monaco, as well as the famous Russian singer Chaliapin! Opera lovers remember the middle of the 20th century as a legendary confrontation between two prima donnas - Tebaldi and Callas. Each of the singers has its own real fan club. Passions sometimes ran so high that fans of opera divas had to be separated by the police. It is impossible to say who won this rivalry, but in 1955 Callas earned the title of "divine" by performing the part in La Traviata.
Renata Tebaldi
Maria Callas
Twenty year old genius
For many opera lovers, the name La Scala is strongly associated with the name of its most famous conductor, Arturo Toscanini. For the first time, he appeared on the stage of the Milan theater in 1887 at the age of 20, already being famous then - he became famous by performing Aida in Brazil. The young conductor made his debut with a resounding success, took the reins of the theater in his hands and introduced iron discipline. Toscanini was tireless, he spent many hours rehearsing, despite the fact that many actors almost collapsed from fatigue. In the early 30s, the genius had to leave Italy due to disagreement with the ideology of the government, and the conductor went to America. When Toscanini learned in 1943 that the theater had been destroyed by bombs, he became disheartened. In 1945 he donated a million lire for the restoration of his beloved brainchild, and already in 1946 he arrived in sunny Milan to conduct again in the renovated theater.
Arturo Toscanini
Hand in hand with ballet
In addition to the opera, the La Scala theater is famous, of course, for its ballet. The most eminent European choreographers worked on the stage of this theater: Rossi, Franchi, Clerico, Vigano, Taglioni, Casati - this is not a complete list.
In addition to the opera, the La Scala theater is famous, of course, for its ballet.
A whole galaxy of beautiful dancers and dancers grew up on the stage of La Scala: Vulcani, Pelosini, Fabiani, Franchi, Cerrito, Salvioni and many others. Among the productions and still known are "Creations of Prometheus", "Vestal", "Giselle", " Swan Lake”, “The Nutcracker”, “Daphnis and Chloe”, “Romeo and Juliet”.
Ekaterina Astafieva
We present the second part of our selection of the most beautiful theaters in Italy.
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Rome Opera House
The first building of the Rome Opera House, known as the Teatro Costanzi, was built in 1874. The main hall of the theater was connected by an underground passage to the Quirinale Hotel, built in 1865, precisely at the time when, as a result of the unification of Italy, Rome was intensively built between the central station and Piazza Venezia.
In 1926 the theater was purchased by the administration of Rome. Completion, expansion and redevelopment were entrusted to the architect Marcello Piacentini, who completely changed its appearance, increasing the number of tiers to four auditorium and installing the world's largest Murano crystal chandelier. The theater received the name "Royal Opera House" and was inaugurated on February 27, 1928 by Nero di Arrigo Boito.
After the Second World War in 1956, the theater began to expand and rebuild again. Among other things, it was decided to create a hall for guests of honor and a foyer. The work was completed in 1960. Thus, the capacity of the theater was 1700 seats.
Puccini's Tosca premiered at the Costanzi Theater in 1900. It also hosted the Italian premiere of his "Girl from the West" with the participation of the conductor Arturo Toscanini in 1911, as well as "Gianni Schicchi" in 1919. In 1910, the theater hosted the premiere of "Maia" by Ruggero Leoncavallo, ten years later, the premiere of "Romeo and Juliet" by Riccardo Zandonai took place here.
Pietro Mascagni was a frequenter of the Roman opera, was her artistic director in 1909-1910, in the same theater there were such premieres of the composer as "Country Honor" in 1890, "Friend Fritz" in 1891, "Iris" in 1898 with the participation of Enrico Caruso, and "The Lark" in 1917 .
In addition to the premieres, the audience remembered such performances as Mozart's The Marriage of Figaro (1964), Giuseppe Verdi's Don Carlo (1965, conductor Carlo Maria Giulini, director Luchino Visconti).
Neapolitan Opera House San Carlo
The opening of the theater, built by order of Charles III, took place in 1737 with the opera Achilles auf Skyros by Domenico Sarro based on a libretto by Pietro Metastasio. This is the oldest opera house in Europe and one of the largest in Italy. Its capacity is 2000 spectators. Soon the theater becomes the heart of the Neapolitan opera school and the center of culture international level: in 1751 Gluck's "Mercy of Tito" was staged on its stage, in 1761 - "Cato in Utica" and "Alexander in India" by I.K. Bach, subsequently Handel, Haydn and the young Mozart, who first visited the theater as a spectator in 1778, collaborated with the theater.
“The eyes are blinded, the soul is defeated. […] There is not a single theater in Europe capable of not even approaching it, but only making up its pale shadow.” (Stendhal, 1817).
In the 19th century, when Naples shone among European capitals and was an obligatory stage " Great trip"children of noble families, the golden age of San Carlo began, where Rossini and Donizetti then conducted. Everything famous artists of that time it was considered an honor to perform on the stage of this theater. In 1819, Nicolo Paganini gave two concerts here, and in 1826, Vincenzo Bellini's Bianchi and Fernando, written especially for San Carlo, premiered on its stage.
Later, its audience enjoyed the operas of Puccini, and at the turn of the 19th-20th century, the music of the “young school” of Mascagni and the Neapolitans by birth and education, Leoncavallo, Giordano, Cilea and Alfano.
Venetian Grand Theater "La Fenice"
The construction of the theater began in 1789 according to the design of the architect Giannantonio Selva and ended in 1792. Venice's main opera house is located in the Sestiere di San Marco. The theater came into being thanks to the Venier family, as the previous theater of San Benedetto, one of the most elegant and prestigious in the city, was destroyed by fire. The name of the new theater (“Phoenix”) symbolizes the rebirth of art from the ashes. The name became prophetic, as subsequently the theater was repeatedly burned and restored. The last revival took place in 2003 after the strongest fire in 1996, which completely destroyed it.
It took seven years to restore and reconstruct. At its opening on December 21, 2003, Riccardo Mutti conducted the overture "Consecration of the House", Stravinsky's "Symphony of Psalms" (the composer is buried on the island of St. Michael in Venice) and "Te Deum" by Antonio Caldara, a prominent Venetian composer of the 17th-18th centuries, were also performed. . The ceremony ended with the performance of "Three Symphonic Marches" by Wagner, a composer with close ties to Venice.
It is impossible to list all the premieres of La Fenice. In the 19th century, these were operas by Rossini, Bellini, Donizetti and Verdi. No less is the list of conductors, singers and directors who have risen to his stage. Since 1930, the stage of La Fenice has hosted the Department of Contemporary Music Venice Biennale. As part of the Biennale, some works by Stravinsky, Britten, Prokofiev, Nono, Maderna and Malipiero were performed for the first time.
Turin Royal Theater
The theater was built by order of King Charles Emmanuel III in just 2 years by the architect Benedetto Alfieri. The opening took place on December 26, 1740. It accommodated up to 2500 spectators in a spacious stalls and five tiers of boxes and galleries, the most interesting performances with luxurious decorations. Since 1997, the theater has been included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. The names of Giacomo Puccini, who entrusted the premiere of Manon Lescaut and La bohème to the Teatro Regio, as well as Richard Strauss, who conducted Salome during its Italian premiere in 1906, are closely associated with the theater.
On the night of February 9, 1936, the theater was destroyed by fire. It took almost 40 years to restore it.
The re-opening of the theater took place on April 10, 1973 with Giuseppe Verdi's opera "Sicilian Vespers" staged by Maria Callas and Giuseppe di Stefano. Theater again becomes a significant center cultural life Piedmont and Italy. In 1990, the theater celebrated the 250th anniversary of its founding, in 1996 - the centenary of the world premiere of La bohème. In 1998, the 25th anniversary of the restoration of the theater was celebrated, and in 2006 - XX winter Olympic Games and the Cultural Olympiad. Since 2007 music director theater is the composer Gianandrea Noseda.
Petruzzelli Theater in Bari
The Petruzzelli Theater is the fourth largest in Italy and the largest private theater in Europe. It owes its appearance in 1903 to the Petruzzelli family, who wished to completely gild it from the inside, as well as equip it with heating and electric lighting.
From the very beginning, the greatest musicians of their time have performed on its stage, including composer Pietro Mascagni, tenors Benjamin Gigli and Mario del Monaco, conductors Herbert von Karajan and Riccardo Muti, singer Renata Tebaldi and Luciano Pavarotti. In the eighties, the theater hosted two high-profile premieres: Niccolo Piccinni's Iphigenia Taurida, which was never performed again after the Paris premiere of 1779, and Bellini's Neapolitan version of the Puritani, written especially for Maria Malibran and never performed.
On the night of October 27, 1991, the theater was damaged in a fire. The restoration took almost 18 years. The re-opening was marked by the performance of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony conducted by Fabio Mastrangelo. The opera season opened in the same year with Turandot by Puccini.
Giuseppe Verdi Opera House in Trieste
The Giuseppe Verdi Opera House is one of the oldest operating opera houses in the world. Its construction began in 1798 according to the design of the architect Gian Antonio Selva (he also designed the Venetian "La Fenice"). Construction was completed in 1801 already under the leadership of Matteo Pertsha. The structure of the building resembles Milan's La Scala. The first production was "Genevieve of Scotland" by Simon Mayr.
During the 1843-44 opera season, Giuseppe Verdi's Nabucco was a resounding success with the public. In 1848, the premiere of Verdi's Le Corsaire took place at the theater, and in 1850, Stiffelio. In honor of the great composer, the city council of Trieste decided to name the city's opera house after him.
Teatro Massimo in Palermo
Teatro Massimo Vittorio Emanuele in Palermo is the largest opera house in Italy and the third largest in Europe after the Paris Opera and Vienna State Opera. Its area is 7700 square meters.
The building was built in neoclassical style on the land of the Church of the Stigmata and the monastery of St. Julian, which were demolished to build a theater. Work began in 1875, designed by the architect Giovanni Battista Filippo Basile. The opening took place on May 16, 1897 with the opera Falstaff by Giuseppe Verdi directed by Leopold Mugnone.
Curious fact: in 1990, the theater became the filming location for Francis Ford Coppola's The Godfather III, starring Al Pacino, Andy Garcia and Sofia Coppola. The scene was filmed here when Michael Corleone, who arrived in Palermo, is present at his daughter's debut in Pietro Mascagni's Rural Honor.
In the first opera season, the theater gave "Aida" (15 performances), then "Lohengrin", "La Traviata", "Manon Lescaut" were staged. Huge success in those years enjoyed the opera "King of Lahore" by Jules Massenet. It was played 17 times in one season.
1906-1919 fell on the heyday of the "Palermo Liberty", marked by local premieres of Wagner's operas: "Valkyrie", "Siegfried", "Twilight of the Gods", "Tristan and Isolde", "Parsifal". Four operas were staged world premieres: Lost in the Dark by Stefano Donaudi, Venice by Riccardo Storti, Month of Mary by Umberto Giordano, Baroness Carini by Giuseppe Mule.
Parma Teatro Regio
The building of the Reggio Theater in Parma began to be built in 1821 according to the project of the architect Nicola Bettoli on the initiative of the Duchess Marie-Louise of Austria, Napoleon's wife, who was appointed to govern the Duchy of Parma and Piacenza after the Congress of Vienna. The Duchess upheld the great traditions of Italian music and found the existing Farnese Theater unworthy of the needs of the city. The opening of the new theater took place on May 16, 1829 with the opera Zaira, specially composed for this event by Vincenzo Bellini. The first opera season continued with Moses and Pharaoh, The Death of Semiramide and The Barber of Seville by Gioachino Rossini.
From the very moment of its foundation, the Teatro Regio has witnessed and participated in profound changes in the operatic genre, which marked the decline of the Rossini era and the heyday of Verdi, the growth of interest in German and French opera, the movement towards realism in the works of Mascagni, Leoncavallo and Puccini.
The theater is still considered to be the real custodian of the Italian operatic tradition, not inferior to the Milanese La Scala and the Venetian Fenice, although, of course, it is less known in the world.
Italy, which gave the world such the greatest composers like Paganini, Vivaldi, Rossini, Verdi, Puccini - the country of classical music. Italy also inspired many foreigners: for example, Richard Wagner created his "Parsifal" during his stay in Ravello, which brought this city, where the famous music Festival, international fame. The musical seasons open, depending on the theatre, from November to December and are an important event of the Italian and international musical life. TIO.BY and the Italian National Tourism Agency have prepared a selection of which of the many Italian theaters to choose. We have attached a link to the program for each theater.
La Scala theater in Milan
One of the most famous theaters, no doubt - Milan's La Scala Theatre. Every year, the opening of its season becomes a high-profile event involving famous people from the world of politics, culture and show business.
The theater was created at the behest of the Austrian Queen Maria Teresa after the fire that destroyed the city's Royal Theater of Reggio Ducale in 1776. The seasons of La Scala are one of the most significant events in the cultural life of Milan. The program alternates opera and ballet, as well as the names of Italian and foreign composers.
The program of the season is available here.
Teatro La Fenice in Venice
Not far behind La Scala and the Venetian opera house La Fenice, built on Campo San Fantin square in the San Marco quarter. Translated from Italian theater It is called "Phoenix" - precisely because it was reborn twice after fires, like a fabulous phoenix bird, from the ashes. The last restoration was completed in 2003. 
It hosts an important opera salon and International Festival contemporary music, as well as the annual New Year's concert. Each of the seasons is rich and interesting, and its program combines works of classical and modern repertoire. Please check the season's schedule before visiting.
Royal Theater in Turin
The Royal Theater of the Teatro Regio in Turin was built at the behest of Victor Amadeus of Savoy. The facade of the building of the XVIII century, along with other residences of the Savoy dynasty, is recognized as a UNESCO monument.
The opera and ballet season begins in October and ends in June, and every year you can find all kinds of musical events in the poster: concerts of choral and symphonic music, evenings chamber music, productions at the Teatro Piccolo Regio, intended for new audiences and for family viewing, as well as the festival "MITO - Musical September".
Rome also offers opera and ballet lovers many beautiful encounters. The most important center of classical music is the Rome Opera, also known as the Costanzi Theater, after its creator, Domenico Costanzi. Pietro Mascagni was a frequent guest of this theater, as well as the artistic director of the 1909-1910 season. Ballet lovers will be interested to know that on April 9, 1917, the Italian premiere of the ballet The Firebird by Igor Stravinsky, performed by the artists of the Russian Ballet troupe Sergei Diaghilev, took place here.
There are many opera performances on the playbill of this theater, but great attention is also paid to ballet.
If the winter seasons of the Rome Opera are held in the old building in Piazza Beniamino Gigli, then since 1937 the venue for its summer seasons has been open sky became a stunning archaeological complex of the Baths of Caracalla .
Opera performances staged on this stage are a huge success with the public, especially with tourists who are delighted with the combination of this wonderful place with opera performances.
Teatro San Carlo in Naples
The most important theater in the Campania region is, of course, the San Carlo Theater in Naples. It was built in 1737 at the behest of King Charles of the Bourbon dynasty, who wished to create a new theater representing royal power. San Carlo took over small theater San Bartolomeo, and the project was entrusted to the architect, Colonel of the Royal Army Giovanni Antonio Medrano and the former director of the San Bartolomeo Theater Angelo Carazale. Ten years after the theater was built, on the night of February 13, 1816, the building was destroyed by fire, which left only the outer walls and a small extension intact. What we see today is a reconstruction followed by redevelopment.
This wonderful theater always welcomes opera lovers with a very rich program, which often represents a journey into the Neapolitan operatic tradition and the return of the great classics of the symphonic repertoire, including those read through the prism of a new perception and with the participation of world celebrities. Each season, bright debuts and wonderful returns take place on the stage of Europe's oldest opera house.
Of course, it is simply impossible to describe all the splendor of theatrical Italy. But we want to advise you a few more theaters with programs that deserve attention.
Philharmonic Theater in Verona; season's program at the link.
Teatro Comunale in Bologna; programs of opera, music and ballet seasons.
Theater Carlo Felice in Genoa; programs of musical, opera and ballet seasons.
Royal Theater in Parma; season program link
Teatro Comunale in Treviso; season program link
Giuseppe Verdi Opera House in Trieste; season program link
Concert Hall Auditorium in the Music Park in Rome; season's program