TEATRO LA FENICE

Internationally renowned opera house.

Built in 18 months under G.A.Selva, it was opened on 16 May 1792 with "I giochi di Agrigento" by G.Paisiello.

On 12 December 1836 it was destroyed in a terrible fire but was reconstructed in its original form (by the Meduna brothers) and was completed only one year later at the end of December 1837.

In the 1800's the premiéres of Gioacchino Rossini (Tancredi - 1813), Vincenzo Bellini (La Beatrice di Tenda - 1832) and Giuseppe Verdi (Il Rigoletto - 1851 e La Traviata -1853) were performed.

In 1854 the neo-classic ornamental part was replaced by the new Luigi Filippo style.

In 1936 it underwent radical restoration with the addition of a mechanical stage.

During the night of 29 January, 1996 the theatre was completely destroyed in a fire while work was being carried out on the electrical system to meet the norms of general safety.
Since then, despite the promise to rebuild it within two years "as and where it was", there were numerous and lengthy delays in the work due to bureaucratic red tape, the various contracts and appeals.
As far as the cause of the fire is concerned, two electricians are presently on trial for having started the fire so they would not have to pay a fine since the work had not been finished on time.

Recently (end of 1999) the enormous cranes above the remains of the opera house have started to move once again, and work should be completed by 2002.

Performances of Teatro La Fenice currently take place at the PalaFenice, a massive tent structure on the island of the Tronchetto.

MAP.



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