The ''Teatro Caio Melisso'' is an

opera Opera is a form of History of theatre#European theatre, Western theatre in which music is a fundamental component and dramatic roles are taken by Singing, singers. Such a "work" (the literal translation of the Italian word "opera") is typically ...

house located in

Spoleto Spoleto (, also , , ; ) is an ancient city in the Italian province of Perugia in east-central Umbria on a foothill of the Apennines. It is south of Trevi, north of Terni, southeast of Perugia; southeast of Florence; and north of Rome. H ...

, Italy and it serves as the main venue for opera performances during the annual summer Festival dei Due Mondi. The theatre has undergone several transformations and name changes since the late 17th century. The ''Teatro di Piazza del Duomo'', also known as the ''Teatro della Rosa'', built around 1667 was modernized in 1749 and re-opened in 1749 as the ''Nuovo Teatro di Spoleto''. After an 1817 restoration and after

Rossini Gioachino Antonio Rossini (29 February 1792 – 13 November 1868) was an Italian composer of the late Classical and early Romantic eras. He gained fame for his 39 operas, although he also wrote many songs, some chamber music and piano p ...

had visited the theatre, it gradually fell into disuse and a new theatre was needed by the mid-19th century. The 800-seat ''Teatro Nuovo'' was built between 1854 and 1864 at considerable public expense. However, and in spite of the ''Nuovo'', the old theatre was preserved and renovated once more with a new design and layout. Now renamed the ''Teatro Caio Melisso'' after a Spoletan writer, it re-opened in 1880 as a 350-seat, 3 levels of boxes plus a gallery opera house. The fact that two opera theatres existed brought Gian-Carlo Menotti, the Festival's founder and director, to the town since Menotti felt that Spoleto offered many attractions. The first festival was held in 1958. The Festival's inaugural presentation on 5 June 1958 was

Verdi Giuseppe Fortunino Francesco Verdi ( ; ; 9 or 10 October 1813 – 27 January 1901) was an Italian composer best known for his operas. He was born near Busseto, a small town in the province of Parma, to a family of moderate means, recei ...

's ''

Macbeth ''The Tragedy of Macbeth'', often shortened to ''Macbeth'' (), is a tragedy by William Shakespeare, estimated to have been first performed in 1606. It dramatises the physically violent and damaging psychological effects of political ambiti ...

'', but other less known and neglected operas characterized early Festivals. In addition to Menotti's own operas, most seasons reflect a broad range of periods and styles.

References

*Lynn, Karyl Charna, ''Italian Opera Houses and Festivals'', Lanham, Maryland: The Scarecrow Press, Inc., 2005.

External links

Spoleto Festival official site (in English)
Opera houses in Italy Spoleto Buildings and structures in Umbria Tourist attractions in Umbria Music venues completed in 1667 Buildings and structures completed in 1667 Theatres completed in the 1660s Music venues completed in 1749 Theatres completed in 1749 Theatres completed in 1880

Music venues completed in 1880 1667 establishments in Italy 18th-century architecture in Italy 19th-century architecture in Italy {{opera-struct-stub