Whatever the reason for a trip to Venice - visiting the La Fenice opera house and then returning to the hotel along the night lights on San Marco - this is an impression for life. If you need someone to pleasantly surprise in Venice (especially with a romantic connotation), then it is impossible to come up with a better way than opera or ballet in La Fenice. The only thing to take care of in advance is the tickets. But first things first.
The La Fenice Theater in Venice was built at the end of the 18th century, and the best musicians and vocalists have always worked on its stage, the greatest composers considered it an honor to write their operas especially for La Fenice. BlogoItaliano, of course, could not pass by such a topic indifferently.
Theater History: Risen from the Ashes
The history of the Venetian Opera House is amazing and fully corresponds to the name. La Fenice, translated from Italian, means Phoenix - a symbol of eternal renewal and immortality. After all, the Phoenix is a mythological bird with the ability to burn itself in order to be reborn again.
So the fate of the theater is such that over two hundred years of its existence, he had to survive several fires, and each time he literally rose from the ashes.
The history of the Venetian theater is amazing and fully corresponds to the name
At the end of the eighteenth century, there were seven theaters in Venice - two dramatic and five musical. The leading and most luxurious of them was the San Benedetto Theater, which burned to the ground in 1774.
They decided to replace him with a new theater, which would not be inferior to its predecessor in luxury or in acoustics, and indeed would be better.
The grand opening of the theater with the new name "La Fenice" took place on May 16, 1792 with the premiere of Giovanni Paisiello's opera The Agrigento Games. However, he also had to survive the fires: the first - in 1837, and the second, completely destructive, - in 1996.
At all times, the best musicians and vocalists worked here.
Money for the restoration of La Fenice came from everywhere - from patrons and sponsors, just caring people and, of course, from the city authorities.
For seven long years, construction was underway, and the unique murals of interiors, balconies and ceilings were restored from the surviving drawings and drawings. And again, La Fenice rose from the ashes: shining gilded, luxurious and young, in 2003 he again opened his doors to the public.
Geniuses used to work here, but today the world "stars"
Venice is one of the oldest cultural centers in Italy, giving the world such musicians and composers as Antonio Vivaldi, Claudio Monteverdi, Tomaso Albinoni and others. And her La Fenice has always had a reputation as one of the most respectable theaters not only in Venice but also in Europe. The best composers wrote their operas for him, and many debuted on his stage.
More than 350 thousand people visit the theater annually
The 19th century in the theater was marked by collaboration with ingenious opera composers. So, Gioacchino Rossini specially for La Felice wrote three of his opera Tancred, Sigismondo and Semiramis. Vincenzo Bellini - two out of 10 (Capulet and Montecchi and Beatrice di Tenda).
Giuseppe Verdi's brilliant works, such as Rigoletto, La Traviata, Simon Boccanegra, Hernani and Atilla, were the first to be applauded by the Venetians.
In the XX century, along with classics, performances are staged on the stage of the Venetian theater and the works of contemporary composers are heard. Such as Pietro Mascagni, Mario Castelnuovo Tedesco, Giorgio Federico Ghedini, Sergei Prokofiev, Igor Stravinsky and others.
New Year's Eve concert in La Fenice broadcast throughout Italy
In the 21st century, thanks to television, the audience of the La Fenice Theater has expanded significantly. Every year, starting from 2004, on New Year's Eve, classical music lovers from France, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Albania, as well as Japan and Latin America have the opportunity to watch a festive concert prepared by La Fenice.
The concert program includes arias from favorite operas and other famous works. The rights to its live broadcast from the Italians were bought by the television people of these countries.
Tours and tickets to the La Fenice Theater
Of course, La Fenice is worth it to separately put it on the map of his Venetian program, no matter how short it is. It is estimated that more than 350 thousand people visit the theater annually. Among them are both those who came to ballet or opera, as well as visitors to city excursions.
A guided tour allows you to take a walk through the auditorium, decorated with gilding, stucco molding and beautiful paintings, as well as visit the backstage rooms.
Learn the secrets of the theater and trace its history, from its origins to today. In La Fenice there is a permanent exhibition dedicated to the Greek opera diva Maria Callas, which enthusiastic spectators during their lifetime awarded the title La Divina - Divine.
The theater has a permanent exhibition dedicated to Maria Callas
As a rule, the theater is open for visits daily from 9.30 to 18.00, although, as elsewhere, schedule changes are allowed for technical and other reasons.
Ticket price: € 10.00. Admission is free for children under 6 years old.
The ticket price includes an audio guide in 5 languages: Italian, English, German, French and Spanish.
Unique interior paintings were restored according to preserved drawings
There is also a bookstore in the theater lobby, which offers a wide selection of CDs, DVDs, music books, and branded souvenirs. Here you can buy scarves, t-shirts, hats and bags made specifically for Teatro La Fenice.
Store hours: from 9.30 to 18.00 and during the show.
La Fenice Theater Address and How to Get
Theater Address: Campo San Fantin, 1965
La Fenice Theater is located in the heart of Venice in the San Marco area. You can get to it on the vaporetto river bus routes number 1 or number 2.
If you get the route number 1, you can go to one of the following stops: Rialto, Sant'Angelo, or San Marco San Samuele (Vallaresso)
From Tronchetto - vaporetto number 2 - you need to go in the direction of Rialto, San Marco and Lido. Get off at the Rialto or San Marco (Vallaresso) stop.
Going to the theater, you should think about the return route to the hotel in advance
From Piazzale Roma and Santa Lucia Train Station, you should also take the No. 1 or No. 2 vaporetto in the direction of Rialto, San Marco and Lido.
By the way, ticket holders at the La Fenice Theater have the right to receive special discounts at the San Marco garage located on Piazzale Roma.
Repertoire and tickets
The operas in the La Fenice theater, as in other Italian theaters, are performed in the original language with Italian subtitles. You can familiarize yourself with the repertoire and plot in advance on the Select Italy portal, however, the libretto is offered here only in English.
Given the popularity of La Fenice and Venice itself among travelers, it is better to book tickets here in advance. There are frequent cases when the entire room is purchased in advance. Fortunately, you can make an order in advance via the Internet - on the same Select Italy. All you need is a bank card and personal Email.
Opera in the theater are performed in the original language with Italian subtitles
In the opera, as in other concert halls in Italy, it is customary to observe the dress code, And if the clothes are not elegant enough, be prepared for the fact that you can simply not be allowed into the theater. Well, if you were lucky enough to buy tickets for the premiere, a dark suit is required for men, and ladies should be dressed in evening gowns.
Going to the theater, you should think in advance of the return route to the hotel. Most public transportation in Venice ends after 10:30 p.m. (BlogoItaliano wrote about public transport in Venice here), and the duration of an opera, ballet or concert can take from one and a half to three, or even more hours.
