Teatro Regio di Parma
Encyclopedia
Teatro Regio di Parma is a famous 19th century opera house
and opera
company in Parma, Italy
. The theatre was originally known as the Teatro Ducale.
The construction was begun in 1821 by Marie Louise, Duchess of Parma
on the location of the former Monastery of St. Alexander. The design was by Nicola Bettoli
. It was inaugurated in 1829 with Vincenzo Bellini
's Zaira
.
The theatre is closely associated with the composer Verdi
(who lived in nearby Busseto
) and conductor Arturo Toscanini
, who was born in Parma.
Its season runs from mid-December to mid-April and the company mounts some four productions per year, but since 2004 it has mounted an annual "Festival Verdi" each October with the aim of presenting every Verdi opera by the bi-centennial year of the composer's birth. The Festival includes associated discussions and other relevant presentations.
Opera house
An opera house is a theatre building used for opera performances that consists of a stage, an orchestra pit, audience seating, and backstage facilities for costumes and set building...
and opera
Opera
Opera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text and musical score, usually in a theatrical setting. Opera incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre, such as acting, scenery, and costumes and sometimes includes dance...
company in Parma, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
. The theatre was originally known as the Teatro Ducale.
The construction was begun in 1821 by Marie Louise, Duchess of Parma
Marie Louise, Duchess of Parma
Marie Louise of Austria was the second wife of Napoleon I, Emperor of the French and later Duchess of Parma...
on the location of the former Monastery of St. Alexander. The design was by Nicola Bettoli
Nicola Bettoli
Nicola or Niccolò Bettoli was an Italian architect. Born in Parma, he is best known as the designer of the Neoclassicist Teatro Regio of that city, for Duches Marie Louise ....
. It was inaugurated in 1829 with Vincenzo Bellini
Vincenzo Bellini
Vincenzo Salvatore Carmelo Francesco Bellini was an Italian opera composer. His greatest works are I Capuleti ed i Montecchi , La sonnambula , Norma , Beatrice di Tenda , and I puritani...
's Zaira
Zaira (opera)
Zaira is a tragedia lirica, or tragic opera in two acts by Vincenzo Bellini set to a libretto by Felice Romani which was based on Voltaire's 1732 tragedy, Zaïre. The story takes place in the time of the Crusades and the opera's plot involves the heroine, Zaira, struggling between her Christian...
.
The theatre is closely associated with the composer Verdi
Giuseppe Verdi
Giuseppe Fortunino Francesco Verdi was an Italian Romantic composer, mainly of opera. He was one of the most influential composers of the 19th century...
(who lived in nearby Busseto
Busseto
Busseto is a comune in the province of Parma, in Emilia-Romagna in Northern Italy. It was the capital of Stato Pallavicino. Opera composer Giuseppe Verdi was born in the nearby village of Le Roncole and he moved there in 1824...
) and conductor Arturo Toscanini
Arturo Toscanini
Arturo Toscanini was an Italian conductor. One of the most acclaimed musicians of the late 19th and 20th century, he was renowned for his intensity, his perfectionism, his ear for orchestral detail and sonority, and his photographic memory...
, who was born in Parma.
Its season runs from mid-December to mid-April and the company mounts some four productions per year, but since 2004 it has mounted an annual "Festival Verdi" each October with the aim of presenting every Verdi opera by the bi-centennial year of the composer's birth. The Festival includes associated discussions and other relevant presentations.