ItalianoThose who really know Italy, and love its culture, are always keen on having a night at the opera. Italy is the country where the idea of merging music and theatre first arose, in the XV century, creating the genre of opera, whose success steadily carried on and even increased until our times. The Great Italian Opera is still the leading protagonist of the most beautiful theatres in Italy. Operas like La Traviata and Rigoletto by Verdi, or Tosca by Puccini, are still greeted with exultation and appreciated as one of the greatest tradition that the Italian peninsula was able to found.
Opera in Venice
Venice first dared to bring the opera to theatres, instead of jealously reserving it for the royal courts, as it was customary at the time. Consequently, the first Opera Theatre in Italy was erected there in 1637. Over a hundred years later, La Fenice Theatre started to host a number of premieres of the greatest Italian operas.
Opera in Florence
Florence, the heart of the Renaissance and of the artistic fervour leading to the creation of the opera, hosts opera and ballet seasons in numerous historical theatres. In particular, in May the city vibrates with lyrical notes, on the occasion of the Florence May Music Festival (Maggio Musicale Fiorentino) that presents opera, ballet and theatre.
Opera in Rome
The Rome Opera Theatre hosts top musicians and, during the summer, it moves to the historical open-air venue of the Baths of Caracalla. In the eternal city and other large Italian cities, there are also opportunities to listen to the opera from close up, in more intimate and evocative places, like historical churches and oratories.
Opera in Naples
Naples is the city of singing. It is no wonder that the San Carlo Theatre in Naples is the world’s most ancient theatre to be still active. Neapolitans love and nurture their traditions, with a passion that reaches every heart and engages a worldwide audience.