Teatro dell'Opera

The Rome opera house

After years of languishing without funding or respect, Rome's Teatro dell'Opera started the 21st century with a new Superintendent and a new Musical Director who turned the outfit around, attracting fine musicians, conductors, and performers for their opera and ballet seasons.

Since 2009, Riccardo Muti has operated as the de facto musical director.

Most performances of operas and ballets are in the restored 1880 opera house called "Teatro Costanzi," located between the Via Veneto and Termini areas.

Though never as great or famous as the storied operas of Milan and Naples, in its 19th century heyday the Rome opera house hosted the premier of operas like Pietro Mascagni's Cavalleria rusticana (May 17, 1890), and it rang in the 20th cenury with the world permier of that most Roman of operas, Puccini's Tosca.

Though they do not perform it every year, the Rome Opera production of Aïda is a classic, complete with a cavalcade of real animals, including horses galloping onto the stage at top speed. Impressive, if nothing else.

The season at Rome's Teatro dell'Opera

The pre-season runs October to December.

The official season is January to June.

During the summer season of July and August, perfomances take place agaisnt the evocative backdrop of the ruins of the Baths of Caracalla.

The Teatro dell'Opera also sponsors an October-to-December season of symphonic concerts held in intriguing performance spaces across the city, like the medieval Santa Maria in Trastevere church or the Teatro Olympico.

 

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