Opera Houses in Italy
If your love of multi-tasking extends to your European travels, then going out to see the opera is a no-brainer. Where else can you experience some of the continent’s most magnificent architectural gems from the inside and be entertained at the same time? And you even get to dress up! Here are five of Italy’s most notable opera houses.
Teatro alla Scala, Milan
Let’s start at the top. The top of Italy (Milan) and, after the Paris Opera House, perhaps the second most famous opera house in the world: La Scala. Opened in 1778 as the Nuovo Regio Ducale Teatro alla Scala (New Royal-Ducal Theatre at La Scala), it has long since shed its long name. Since opening night’s presentation of Europa Riconosciuta by Antonio Salieri (you’ll remember him from “Amadeus”), Italy’s greatest operatic artists, and many from the rest of the world, have appeared on this stage over the last 233 years. And La Scala is still going strong. Home to the La Scala Theatre Chorus, La Scala Theatre Ballet and La Scala Theatre Orchestra, it’s still one of the world’s leading opera and ballet theatres. If you can’t make it to a performance, you can still experience La Scala through its Museo Teatrale alla Scala (La Scala Theatre Museum), which is actually attached to the theatre’s foyer and features paintings, drafts, statues and costumes relating to the theatre’s history. If you plan to stay in Milan, there are many hotels that make visiting La Scala most convenient.
Teatro della Pergola, Florence
Known as one of the planet’s foremost cities of Renaissance art, it’s no wonder that Florence would boast such an amazing Renaissance opera house. The Teatro della Pergola dates back to 1656 when it was built by the architect Ferdinando Tacca, son of the sculptor Pietro Tacca. Like many Florentine icons, the Teatro della Pergola was revolutionary in its design, as it was the first opera house with superposed tiers of boxes rather than the Roman-style raked semi-circular seating that all others used at the time. Considered to be the oldest opera house in the country, the Teatro della Pergola features two auditoriums, the 1,500 seat Sala Grande and the 400 seat Saloncino, which started out as a ballroom and provides a much more intimate experience. Important in the history of Florence, the theatre is also important in music history. This is where the great operas of Mozart were heard for the first time in Italy and was also the site of premieres of the work of Donizetti, Verdi and many others. Set in the centre of the city on the Via della Pergola, La Pergola is also close to many of Florence’s best hotels.
Teatro dell’Opera di Roma, Rome
Rome. The Eternal City. Ironically, the Teatro dell’Opera di Roma is one of the newer opera houses on our list, dating only to the year 1880. Still grand by any accounting, the 1,600 seat Rome Opera House started life as the 2,212 seat Costanzi Theatre and has undergone many modifications and improvements along the way. Many of its performances of note occurred more recently than the Florence and Milan opera houses, from Maria Callas’s controversial performance of Norma in 1958 to the Carlo Maria Giulini-conducted performances of Mozart’s Le nozze di Figaro in 1964 and Verdi’s Don Carlos in 1965. If you happen to be in Rome in the summer, you can take advantage of the Opera’s summer venue: The outdoor theatre at the Baths of Caracalla, which feature Roman ruins in the background. No matter what time of the year you visit, there are many Rome hotels from which to choose.
Teatro Massimo Bellini, Catania
Nearly 200 years in the making, plans for what was to become the Teatro Massimo Bellini were first discussed following the devastating earthquake of 1693. Construction began in 1812 and ended in 1890, and now you get to reap the benefits by visiting this 1,200 seat masterpiece. Named for local composer Vincenzo Bellini, it opened with his famous opera “Norma.” The opera house’s relationship with Bellini has continued through the years, with nearly all of his work having been performed here, with Maria Callas performing “Norma” for his 150th birthday in 1951. From the outside, the opera house appears to match the 17th century Sicilian Baroque style of its neighbors, and classic detail continues inside with the plush red interiors and the ornate stucco and marble foyer. Once in the auditorium, look up to see four of Bellini’s most famous operas depicted on the ceiling. After the show, you can retire to your choice of nearby Catania hotels.
Teatro La Fenice, Venice
In addition to being one of Europe’s most famous theatres, the Teatro La Fenice (The Phoenix) is one of its most aptly named. That’s because the theatre has burned down and been rebuilt twice, most recently in 2003, after a 1996 fire. Of course, you’d never know it, gazing up at what seems to be a magnificent 19th century treasure. That’s because a talented team of two hundred plasterers, artists, woodworkers, and other craftsman recreated the original theatre’s ambience in just 650 days… with €90 million. It was well worth it, and the theatre represents Venice’s fierce determination to survive in spite of the elements. Like the other opera houses, the original 1792 Teatro La Fenice also played a major part in musical history, premiering works by Giovanni Paisiello as well as Bellini and Donizetti. Many of the Venice hotels in the area were around to witness this history.
