Italy is a country that has played one of the most important roles in the history of opera. It was here that the most famous operas and the most famous opera composers were created. We can still admire the legacy of centuries of great Italian opera in many opera theaters around the world. When in Italy, it is worth hearing Italian opera in places that are steeped in Italian history, climate and unique character.
Teatro alla Scala in Milan
It is the most famous opera theater in Italy and one of the most recognizable in the world. The inaugural performance took place on August 3, 1778. It was an opera by Antonio Salieri, Europa riconosciuta, with a libretto by Mattio Verazi. Since then, Teatro alla Scala has played a significant role in the history of opera. The name itself comes from the surname of Princess Beatrice Regina della Scala, wife of Prince Bernabo Visconti, founder of the church of Santa Maria alla Scala built in the 14th century, which once stood on the construction site of the new opera house. The theater building designed by Giuseppe Piermarini initially accommodated 3,000 spectators. Currently, the audience can seat 3,600 people.
Many composers wrote their operas with this exact theater in mind. These include Norma by Bellini, Madame Butterfly and Turandot by Puccini, and Nabucco, Otello and Falstaff by Giuseppe Verdi.
The building itself can be visited. The theater's offer includes tours of the theater hall and guided tours of the entire theater. We can also go to the theater museum.
Undoubtedly, a visit to this extraordinary place, steeped in opera, will be a wonderful experience. In addition to visiting the building, it is best to go to one of the many operas that Teatro alla Scala has in its repertoire. The offer for the 2023/2024 season includes famous operas such as Simon Bocanegra by Verdi, Don Pasquale by Donizetti, Turandot by Puccini and William Tell by Rossini.
Teatro dell'Opera in Rome
The opera theater in the Italian capital was opened in 1880 as the Costanzi Theater. The name comes from the name of the contractor who built it, Domenico Costanzi. The inauguration took place on November 27, 1880 with the performance of Semiramide by Gioachino Rossini. The architect - Achille Sfondrini - paid particular attention to the acoustics of the hall, imagining its interior as a "resonance chamber", which is especially visible in its horseshoe shape. The building could accommodate 2,212 seats, and currently, after many reconstructions, it has 1,600 seats.
Many world premieres of famous opera works took place at Teatro Costanzi. On May 17, 1890, the premiere of Pietro Mascagni's Cavalleria rusticana took place, and on January 14, 1900, the premiere of Giacomo Puccini's Tosca took place.
In 1926, the Costanzi Theater was bought by the Rome City Council and changed its name to Teatro Reale dell'Opera. After the fall of the monarchy, the name was simplified to Teatro dell'Opera, although the original name still remains in use.
In the 2023/2024 season at the Teatro dell'Opera we can see, among others: Mozart's The Magic Flute, Strauss' Salome, or Donizetti's Les L'Amore.
Teatro di San Carlo in Naples
The opera theater in Naples was established on the initiative of the Bourbon king, Charles III. The inauguration took place on November 4, 1737. Achilles in Sciro by Pietro Metastasio was performed with music by Domenico Sarro and "two dances as intermezzo" by Francesco Aquilante and scenes by Pietro Righini. The building with a 1,379-seat auditorium was designed by Angelo Carasale.
The theater had strong connections with the Nepolitan School, whose artists not only provided the repertoire for the stage, but also in 1787 the master of the Neapolitan School, Giovanni Paisiello, took charge of the theater orchestra and undertook many reforms.
In the 2023/2024 season, the repertoire will include operas such as Verdi's Sicilian Vespers, Mozart's Don Giovanni and Bellini's Norma.
Teatro La Fenice in Venice
Its name refers to the mythical phoenix, which is a symbol of the theater. This is not a coincidence, because Teatro La Fenice was built after the fire of the San Benedetto Theater. The opening took place on May 16, 1792, and the first performance was the opera I Giuochi d'Agrigento by Giovanni Paisiello. Feniks also refers to fires that broke out several times since the opening and caused enormous destruction.
The repertoire for the 2023/2024 season includes operas such as: Rossini's Il barbiere di Siviglia, Puccini's La bohème, Mozart's Don Giovanni and Puccini's Turandot.
Teatro Regio in Turin
Teatro Regio, or the Royal Theater, was built during the reign of Charles Emmanuel III. The opening took place on December 26, 1740 with the performance of Arsace by Francesco Feo. However, construction plans date back to 1713, when architect Filippo Juvarry began creating them. The history of the theater is extremely turbulent. It was closed many times, went through many owners, and was destroyed by fires. However, this did not prevent the premiere of Puccini's La Boheme in 1896 and the Italian premieres of Wagner in 1895-1898.
We owe the current appearance of the theater to the architect Carlo Mollino. The building has a capacity of 1,750 people and the inauguration of the current theater took place on April 10, 1973. a staging of Verdi's I vespri siciliani directed by Maria Callas and Giuseppe Di Stefano.
The repertoire for the 2023/2024 season includes operas such as Don Pasquale by Donizetti, Un ballo in maschera by Verdi, Vila by Puccini and Der fliegende Holländer by Wagner.