A Cultural Symbiosis
Again Italy. Again Venice. And an encounter with a unique cultural site in several artistic respects equally: the Teatro la Fenice, which unites architecture, interior design and music in a wonderful way.
Located right in the heart of the city, the superlatives for the theater ‘Gran Teatro la Fenice di Venezia’ are numerous. On one hand it represents Venice’s most famous opera, at the same time its greatest one, and last but not least it is considered as one of the most beautiful opera houses of the world. The reasons why are understandable.
An eventful history
In 1774 the most important opera house of Venice at that time, the Teatro San Benedetto, fell victim to a fire. Construction work on the new theater began in April 1790, and in May 1792, just in memory of the fire disaster, the opera was named ‘La Fenice’, in English ‘the phoenix’. Even called ‘the sunbird’, this mystic symbol stands for ressurection and thus refers to a fundamental theme of the Age of Enlightenment.
Even in 1836 the house was damaged by a fire, however, the defects could be repaired within one year.
In January 1996 another heavy incident happened: An arson attack was carried out on the building, and it burned down to its foundation. Both national and international architects were invited to submit plans for an opera house that pleases the guest’s eyes and ears. Aldo Rossi ultimately won this competition and was commissioned with the new building. He largely adhered to a true-to-original reconstruction based on architect Gian Antonio Selva from 1790, thus many lost historical characteristicss were rebuild.
Today the theater is owned by the municipal council of Venice, its historical heritage is managed by the private corporation ‘Fondazione Teatro la Fenice’.
The house today
By the two fires in the years 1774 and 1996 nearly unscatched remained the facade of the opera house as well as the theater’s foyer.
Its exterior architecture, the white marble and the columns, reminds of the typical Italian villa architecture. And so does the entrance.
The auditorium’s magic
You enter the Teatro la Fenice’s hall – and you are overwhelmed.
An exceptional shine fills the room, predominately due to the color of gold of all its numerous stuccos, accompagnied by countless lights. And because of the blaze of color of its paintings on the ceiling, walls and boxes.
This entire interior was destroyed by the fire of 1996 and then carefully reconstructed in the former Rococo style.
The ceiling gives the optical illusion of a vault. Its paintings feature the three graces and female musicians. The boxes are decorated with cherubs, portraits of classical poets and floral scenes.
The stage: richly decorated. Not least the legendary acoustics of La Fenice were brought back to life, the wood having undergone a special treatment ensuring a particularly long echo. Followed by the most modern stage machinery in the world installed here.
The lodges’ fascination
La Fenice counts more than 1000 seats and can call 166 boxes its own.
A true eye-catcher means the magnifically ornated ‘imperial lodge’, representing the boxes’ center, and is accessible via a separate entrance. Incorporated at a later time, it originally honored Emperor Napoleon.
.. You absolutely feel invited to sit down for a moment to enjoy the beauty of this unique place.
La Fenice and its contribution to the genre of classical music
Three centuries of opera, concert and ballet – connected to its illustrious tradition of producing the most important oeuvres of the Italian and, beyond that, the international opera repertoire, the Teatro la Fenice has never lost anything of its attractiveness.
Since the beginning of the 19th century the theater experienced first performances of works of Gaetano Donizetti, Vincenzo Bellini and Gioachino Rossini.
Giuseppe Verdi in particular often chose the house for the world premieres of its operas. His association with La Fenice began in 1844 and lasted for the next thirteen years.
There the Italian premiere of Richard Wagner’s opera cycle ‘the Ring of the Nibelung’ took place in 1883.
In 1930, the ‘Venice Biennale’ newly initiated the ‘Festival for Contemporary Music’, and thus for the first time the house performed international oeuvres, of Sergei Prokofjev, Igor Strawinski or Benjamin Britten.
In December 2003, after the house’s last restoration’s termination, the Teatro la Fenice was reopened with a concert under the direction of Ricardo Muti. The first restaged opera was a production of ‘La Traviata’ in November 2004.
Since 2004 even the new year concert of Venice, ‘Il Concerto di Capodanno di Venezia’, takes place here.
Let the curtain raise for ‘La Primadonna Assoluta’
Closely linked to the Teatro la Fenice’s triumphal premieres and productions in the post-war period was the beginning of the artistic career of Maria Callas.
Here she debuted in 1947 with Richard Wagner’s ‘Tristan and Isolde’. Her roles as Turandot in Giacomo Puccini’s eponymous oeuvre of the same name and as Brunhilde in Wagner’s ‘Walküre’ were followed by her great performance as Elvira in Bellini’s ‘I Puritani’ in 1949, which also meant the start of her international unique success as ‘soprano drammatico d’agilità’. In 1954, with her magnificient representation of Luigi Cherubini’s ‘Medea’, Maria Callas ended her time in Venice.
Closely linked to the Teatro la Fenice’s triumphal premieres and productions in the post-war period was the beginning of the artistic career of Maria Callas.
Here she debuted in 1947 with Richard Wagner’s ‘Tristan and Isolde’. Her roles as Turandot in Giacomo Puccini’s eponymous oeuvre of the same name and as Brunhilde in Wagner’s ‘Walküre’ were followed by her great performance as Elvira in Bellini’s ‘I Puritani’ in 1949, which also meant the start of her international unique success as ‘soprano drammatico d’agilità’. In 1954, with her magnificient representation of Luigi Cherubini’s ‘Medea’, Maria Callas ended her time in Venice.
With a small constant exhibition the house is honoring the famous star, focused on these Venetian years of hers between 1947 and 1954. Located on the third floor, in front of the boxes, it includes programs of productions in which she appeared, scene photos from the stage, as well as charming private pictures from the fifties.
With a small constant exhibition the house is honoring the famous star, focused on these Venetian years of hers between 1947 and 1954. Located on the third floor, in front of the boxes, it includes programs of productions in which she appeared, scene photos from the stage, as well as charming private pictures from the fifties.
And if now the voice of ‘La Divina’ resounded ..
