La Fenice [Venice, IT]
Gran Teatro La Fenice
Teatro La Fenice
La Fenice
Theatre building in Venice, Italy
operagebouw in Venetië, Italië
No heritage stage machinery ERHT North Italian route 1789 architectural competition 1792 opening 1837 opening second theatre 1996 conflagaration 2003 opening third theatre
E’ il più illustre degli antichi tea­tri storici veneziani, la sede dell’omonimo Ente Autonomo e dei festi­vals musicali e teatrali della Bien­nale. Fu eretto nel triennio 1790-92 dall’architetto Antonio Selva e ri- struito, dopo un incendio, nel bien­nio 1836-37 dagli architetti Tom­maso e Giambattista Meduna. Ha subito restauri e ammoder­namenti nel biennio 1936-37 e, re­centemente, in seguito alla alluvio­ne del 1966.
Built 1789-1792 by Giovanni Antonio Selva for the Nobile Società, replacing the Teatro San Benedetto (demolished by a fire on 1774). Auditorium decoration by Francesco Fontanesio. Opened 16 May 1792 with Paisiello's I giuocchi d'Agrigento. 1808 redecoration of auditorium by Giuseppe Borsato, addition of an Imperial Box in honour of Napoleon I. 1836 destruction of the auditorium by a fire. 1836-1837 rebuilding to Selva's plans by Tommaso Meduna and Giambattista Meduna. Auditorium decoration by Sebastiano Santi in Empire style. Re-opened 26 December 1837. 1848 destruction of the Imperial Box by rebels (restored 1849). 1854 redecoration of the auditorium in Baroque style by the Meduna brothers. 1878 modernization of stagehouse by Cadorin. 1937 modernization of stage technology and redecoration of the auditorium and foyers by Eugene Miozzi. 1996 completely destroyed by a fire during construction works. After years of half-hearted attempts to rebuild the theatre, accompanied by a series of political and financial scandals, finally reconstructed until 2003. Re-opened for concerts and other events on 14 Dec 2003 with a gala concert. Re-opening for a regular opera season planned for 2004/2005.
Fire began at 2.30 a.m. The adjoining ball-rooms also burnt. There had been no performance the previous evening. Origin of fire unknown.