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Provincia di Rovigo

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The Social Theatre was built between 1817 and 1819, reflecting  the belief of the time which considered the melodrama as the kind of spectacle mostly  worthy of consideration.

At the time of construction of the Social Theatre, in this kind of spectacle, Rovigo already had a centuries-old tradition.  The first document of a melodrama set in Rovigo, dates back to 1683: the show was hosted in the Sala della Loggia dei Notai, as the theatre was built,  on the initiative of Celio Campagnella, only in 1694.

In spite of the lack of population and wealth, melodrama  collected a considerable favour in Rovigo, if soon   three seasons of Opera per year were played, the most important one in autumn, at the same time of October’s Fair.

A few years after Campagnella, the family  Manfredini  built a bigger theatre which was used up to beginning of XIX century and  passed of ownership first to the family Venezze  and then to family Roncale.

At the beginning of XIX century, the theatre became  too small for the turnout of public, so in 1816 the Società del Teatro was founded in aim to study a project for the new theatre. The Società del Teatro located the most suitable area where up to 1819 a small convent, named S. Maria dei Battuti, was established, before in 1809 napoleonic abolition destroyed it.  The theatre would be erected  on a square, as also S. Giustina’s church got destroyed during the war.

The project was entrusted to Sante Baseggio, who was a famous engineer of Rovigo, and had a good experience in these kind of projects. In fact, he had already restored Teatro Roncale and his project for la Fenice in Venice, although it didn’t win the contest, was very appreciated.

Baseggio  prepared a first project in which  two arcs, for the entrance of carriages,  were opened beside the central porc. But then, in the second project  he preferred using the area of the two arcs to give more space at the internal facilities of the theatre, giving more  vivacity to the complex.

The Theatre della Società, this was its original name, was opened to the public on 03rd march 1819, with the opera  named “ Fetonte’s shadow, gift of  Rovigo’s gratitude” written by Sante Campioni,  and put on show in occasion of Emperor Francesco I of Austria visit in Rovigo.

The official  opening was on 26th april 1819, at the beginning of the first opera season with the representation ”Adelaide of Burgundy”, specially composed by Pietro Generali, an Italian musician that at the time was considered second only to Rossini. The opera was sang by the most famous singers at the time: Violante Camporesi, Claudio Bonaldi e Giuseppe Fioravanti. The theatre was restored for the first time in 1858, under supervision of cav. Antonio Gobatti: the works  interested the whole building, the stage, the decorations, the heating and the introduction of gas lights.  But the theatre we see nowadays, that shows off during the opera and prose seasons, giving a special glow to the already beautiful Piazza Garibaldi, isn’t exactly the same one built by Sante Baseggio.  A fire, during the night between 21st and 22nd of January 1902,  destroyed the beautiful music room built by Baseggio mostly in wood to improve the acoustic, of which only the Ridotto and the front part  have arrived to nowadays.

The theatre was rebuilt in two years. The project, studied by the engineer Daniele Donghi, kept the frontal part of the building, which saved itself from the fire, with its neoclassical façade and the sumptuous foyer pleasantly painted.

For the music  room, the architect experimented, first at the time in this particular destination, reinforced cement; with a excellent result under the acoustic profile. With the  elegant and simple decoration of Giovanni Vianello, obtained using painting techniques, the theatre of Rovigo is one of the first to use the liberty style. The new theatre was inaugurated  by Pietro Mascagni, who directed his own opera “Iris”, on the 12th October 1904.  Once the activity restarted, the Theatre maintained the obtained success, although it went through periods of crisis. In fact, the lack of money prevented the organisation to employ famous singers and actors, forcing them to scripture promising youngsters. For this reason, the theatre of Rovigo can be proud of been the launcher on two of the most famous singers of last century: Beniamino Gigli and Renata Tebaldi.

During time, the cultural evolution and changes made the organisation of events very difficult to be setup without public contribution, this is why  Teatro Sociale,  was  detected in 1964 by Rovigo’s Municipality, which ever since has provided to restore it and organise all events through the Culture and Performing arts Councillorship.  In 1967, Teatro Sociale entered the “Traditional lyric theaters” organisation.

Nowadays, Teatro Sociale hosts  not only ballet and lyric seasons, but a very followed prose season, a concert season as well as other kind of shows for younger people. The cooperation with very well experienced consultants guarantees  the high quality of every show under an artistic profile.

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