A Brief History Of La Fenice, Venice

ext">Few structures around the world are as aptlyCapuleti e I Montecchi" and "Beatrice di Tenda"), and
named as the opera house in Venice, Italy. Havingearly pieces by Gaetano Donizetti ("Belisario" and
opened in 1792 as a replacement for the San"Maria di Rudenz").
Benedetto Theater that burned down in 1774—anThe opera house in Venice boasted some of the
all-too-common occurrence prior to theaterbrightest voices in all of opera during this time. Singers
electrification, where candles and later open gas lampsincluded Isabella Colbran (later the wife of Rossini),
provided stage illumination—the company thatDomenico Donzelli, Giorgio Ronconi, and Maria Malibran.
managed its predecessor named the new facilityMany of the works of Giuseppe Verdi that enjoyed
Teatro La Fenice (“The Phoenix Theater”) inopening seasons elsewhere nonetheless attracted
honor of the mythological bird that rises anew from itshuge crowds at La Fenice. Some of the more stirring
own ashes. The opera house was to suffersuccesses included debuts of "Nabucco," "Attila," "La
destruction twice more during its history, first in 1836traviata," and "Rigoletto." Sadly, the success the opera
(taking a year to reopen) and again in 1996. While thehouse enjoyed during the first half of the 19th century
19th century fire was accidental in nature, the one 160failed to be duplicated in the latter half. After the
years later was quickly determined to be arson. TwoAustrians abandoned Venice to the Kingdom of Italy,
electricians were subsequently sentenced to prison forthe city fell well behind more vibrant art centers such
the fire, which they set in order to avoid governmentas Milan, Turin and Rome. This was as much due to
fines due to delays in remodeling. The theater wasthe provincialism of its residents as it was the
rebuilt over the course of nearly two years, re-creatingimpoverishment of the region. As an illustration of its
the facility down to the plasterwork, gilt-edgedsecond-class status, La Fenice hosted the premiere of
décor, and brightly colored carpeting.Leoncavallo’s "La bohème," while the far more
Opera seasons in Venice were divided carefully intopopular and lasting Puccini version enjoyed its premiere
three parts—Fall (October to mid-December), Carnivalin Turin.
(December 26 to mid-March), and Spring (April andDuring the latter years of the 20th century, La Fenice
May). The end of the 1790s through about 1825 saw amade a name for itself by reviving operas that had
number of world premieres at La Fenice. Becausegenerally fallen by the wayside. By attracting such
tastes have changed considerably in the opera worldmegastars as Montserrat Caballe, Mirella Freni, Katia
over the ensuing decades, many of theseRicciarelli (a native Venetian) and Marilyn Horne, the
works—and, in some cases, the entire output of theopera house brought back a number of works that
composers in question—have fallen into obscurityhad their premieres here some 100 years earlier.
despite the fact that they were major hits in their day.These included Donizetti's "Roberto Devereux" and the
This list includes "Sapho" by Giovanni Simone Mayraforementioned "Maria di Rudenz," among others.
(known primarily as Donizetti’s mentor), "Orazi ePolitical corruption, financial hardship, and labor
Curiazi" by Saverio Mercadante, and "Il crociato indifficulties all contributed to the delay of reopening La
Egitto" by Giacomo Meyerbeer. The height of the belFenice after the arson attack of 1996. The house
canto era brought premieres by Gioacchino Rossinireopened on December 14, 2003, with a concert that
("Tancredi" and "Semiramide"), Vincenzo Bellini ("Ifeatured music by Beethoven, Wagner and Stravinsky.