Teatro Carlo Felice facts for kids
Teatro Carlo Felice on the side of Piazza De Ferrari
|
|
| Address | Passo Eugenio Montale, 4 Genoa Italy |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 44°24′29″N 8°56′06″E / 44.408°N 8.935°E |
| Capacity | 2000 (hall), 200 (auditorium) |
| Construction | |
| Opened | 1828 |
| Architect | Carlo Barabino (original building) Aldo Rossi (reconstruction) |
The Teatro Carlo Felice is a famous opera house in Genoa, Italy. It's a place where people enjoy opera, ballet, and orchestral music concerts. You can find it next to Piazza De Ferrari, a big square in Genoa.
Contents
History of the Teatro Carlo Felice
.jpg)
The theater is named after King Carlo Felice. Its story began on December 24, 1824, when a special department for theaters was created. On January 31, 1825, a local architect named Carlo Barabino presented his design. The new opera house was planned for the site of the San Domenico church. The friars living there were moved, and construction started on March 19, 1826.
Opening Night and Early Years
The first show at the Teatro Carlo Felice was Bellini's opera Bianca e Fernando. This happened on April 7, 1828, even though the building wasn't fully finished. The main hall could hold about 2,500 people. It had five levels of boxes and a gallery. People thought the sound quality was excellent for its time. In 1829, a free singing school was started. This school helped train singers for performances at the theater.
Verdi and Renovations
For almost 40 years, starting in 1853, the famous composer Giuseppe Verdi spent his winters in Genoa. However, he didn't work much with the Teatro Carlo Felice. In 1892, Genoa celebrated 400 years since Christopher Columbus discovered America. For this special event, the Carlo Felice theater was updated and redecorated. Verdi was asked to write an opera for the celebration, but he said he was too old. Instead, Alberto Franchetti's opera Cristoforo Colombo opened at the theater on October 6, 1892.
World War II Damage
The theater was changed many times between 1859 and 1934. It stayed mostly safe until February 9, 1941. During a British naval attack, a shell hit the roof. This made a large hole and destroyed the beautiful ceiling inside. The ceiling had amazing 19th-century decorations with angels and other figures.
More damage happened during air raids on Genoa. On August 5, 1943, bombs caused a fire backstage. This fire destroyed all the scenery and wooden parts. However, it did not reach the main part of the theater. Later, people stole metal from the back of the theater. Finally, an air raid in September 1944 destroyed the front of the building. Only the outside walls and corridors were left standing. The once beautiful opera house became a ruined shell.
Rebuilding and Reopening
After the war, opera shows were held in a temporary place for over 40 years. This was at the Cinema Teatro Margherita. Plans to rebuild the Carlo Felice started right away. The first design in 1951 was not chosen. A second design was approved in 1977, but the architect, Carlo Scarpa, passed away.
Finally, Aldo Rossi created the design used today. Parts of the original outside walls were rebuilt. However, the inside is completely modern. The theater officially reopened in June 1991. It has a main hall with up to 2,000 seats. There is also a smaller hall that can hold up to 200 people. The theater is now the main place for concerts by the Giovine Orchestra Genovese, a music group started in Genoa in 1912.
Gallery
-
An aerial view of the theater and its surroundings
-
The theater in the setting of Piazza Ferrari
-
The theater's facade in the evening
See also
- Music of Liguria
