philharmonic theater

The Teatro Filarmonico is the main opera house of Verona and one of the most important historical theatres in Italy. Inaugurated in 1732 by the Accademia Filarmonica (from which it takes its name), the theatre has been for almost three centuries the heart of Veronese musical life, hosting world premieres of operas, symphonic concerts, recitals and all the greatest performers in the history of classical music, from Mozart to Maria Callas. The current building is a 1975 reconstruction after the destruction caused by the bombings of the Second World War in 1945.

The architect in charge of the reconstruction faithfully respected the original eighteenth-century design, creating a theatre that is modern in its installations but faithful to the neoclassical aesthetic with its three orders of boxes in horseshoe shape, the upper gallery and the stalls. Today the Filarmonico hosts the opera and symphonic season of the Arena di Verona Foundation during the winter months, when the Arena is not usable, and concerts of the prestigious Verona Philharmonic Orchestra.

The Philharmonic Academy and the construction of the eighteenth-century theater

The Accademia Filarmonica di Verona was founded in 1543 by a group of Veronese nobles and intellectuals passionate about music, with the aim of cultivating the musical art through concerts, theoretical studies and composition. For almost two centuries, the Academy met in various private palaces without having a permanent home. In 1720, the members of the Academy decided to build their own theatre that could host their musical activities and worthily represent the importance of music in Veronese cultural life.

The project was entrusted to the Veronese architect Francesco Galli Bibiena, member of the famous Bibiena family who had designed theatres throughout Europe. Bibiena designed an Italian-style theatre with the typical horseshoe plan that ensured excellent visibility and acoustics. Construction began in 1729 and ended in 1732 with the solemn inauguration during Carnival.

The theatre could accommodate about 1,400 spectators distributed between stalls, three orders of boxes and upper gallery. The interior was sumptuous: gilded stucco decorations, ceiling frescoes by the Veronese painter Antonio Balestra, red velvets for the box curtains, a magnificent central chandelier. The stage was equipped with sophisticated stage machinery that allowed rapid scene changes and spectacular effects, according to the tradition of Italian Baroque theatre.

The acoustics were considered among the best in Italy, so much so that even whispering from the stage one could be clearly heard in the last box.

During the 18th and 19th centuries, the Teatro Filarmonico lived its golden age hosting the greatest European composers and performers. In 1770, the young Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, just fourteen, conducted one of his concerts at the Filarmonico during his trip to Italy. The event was memorable: Mozart, already considered a prodigy, impressed the Veronese audience with his mastery and was awarded the honorary title of Maestro Compositore of the Accademia Filarmonica.

This episode is still celebrated today as one of the most glorious moments in the history of the theatre. Gioacchino Rossini personally conducted several of his operas at the Filarmonico in the early nineteenth century. Italian melodrama found in the Veronese theatre one of its temples: operas by Donizetti, Bellini and Verdi were performed with the best singers of the time. The Veronese audience, notoriously demanding and passionate, decreed the success or failure of operas and artists.

A triumphal evening at the Filarmonico meant the recognition of artistic quality by a competent audience. In the 20th century, the theatre continued its tradition hosting the great performers of the era: Arturo Toscanini conducted memorable concerts, Maria Callas sang at the Filarmonico in the early years of her career, before becoming the greatest soprano of the century. The theatre also became the venue for symphonic concerts with internationally renowned orchestras, expanding the repertoire beyond opera to include symphonic, chamber and contemporary music.

On the night of 23 February 1945, an Allied bombing hit the centre of Verona and a bomb directly hit the Teatro Filarmonico. The building collapsed almost completely: of the magnificent eighteenth-century theatre only the perimeter walls and a few fragments of decorations remained. The frescoes, the stuccoes, the historical furnishings and the stage machinery were lost.

The loss was a trauma for Verona, which saw one of its most beloved monuments destroyed. The post-war period was marked by debate on reconstruction: some proposed faithfully rebuilding the theatre as it was, others suggested building a completely modern theatre. The line of historical reconstruction with modern technical adaptations prevailed.

The architect in charge, Ettore Fagiuoli, carefully studied the original drawings by Bibiena, the historical photographs and the archive documents to faithfully recreate the eighteenth-century appearance while maintaining modern stage, acoustic and safety installations. The reconstruction lasted over twenty years and the new Teatro Filarmonico was inaugurated in 1975 with an opera season that finally brought opera back to Verona after thirty years of absence. The rebuilt theatre maintains the neoclassical elegance of the original: three orders of boxes decorated in red and gold, upper gallery, comfortable stalls, modern stage.

The acoustics, studied with advanced technologies, are excellent and allow one to fully enjoy both operatic and symphonic music. Today the Filarmonico has returned to being the heart of Veronese musical life, hosting over 100 performances every year between operas, concerts and ballets.