View source for Teatro Regio (Parma)

{{short description|Opera house in Parma, Italy}}
[[File:2018 parma 035.jpg|thumb|right|260px|Exterior of the Teatro Regio in Parma, 2018]]

'''Teatro Regio di Parma''', originally constructed as the '''Nuovo Teatro Ducale''' (New Ducal Theatre),<ref name="MART1">Martini, "Before the Teatro Regio", pp. 56</ref> is an [[opera house]] and [[opera]] company in [[Parma, Italy|Parma]], Italy.

Replacing an obsolete house, the new Ducale achieved prominence in the years after 1829, and especially so after the composer [[Giuseppe Verdi]], who was born near [[Busseto]], some thirty kilometres away, had achieved fame. Also well known in Parma was the conductor [[Arturo Toscanini]], born there in 1867.

As has been noted by Lee Marshall, "while not as well known as [[La Scala]] in Milan or [[La Fenice]] in Venice, the city’s Teatro Regio....is considered by opera buffs to be one of the true homes of the great Italian tradition, and the well-informed audience is famous for giving voice to its approval or disapproval – not just from the gallery."<ref>Lee Marshall, [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/europe/italy/10350334/Verdis-Italy-ham-cheese-and-opera.html "Verdi's Italy: ham, cheese and opera"], ''The Telegraph'' (London) 10 October 2013 on telegraph.co.uk</ref>

The 1,400-seat auditorium, with four tiers of boxes topped by a gallery,<ref name="LYNN204"/> was inaugurated on 16 May 1829 when it presented the premiere of [[Vincenzo Bellini]]'s ''[[Zaira (opera)|Zaira]]'', a production which was staged another seven times, although it did not prove to be popular  with the Parma audiences. Initially Rossini had been invited to compose a work for the inauguration of the house, but he was too busy and so the task fell to Bellini. However, that inaugural season saw three Rossini operas staged, including ''[[Moïse et Pharaon]]'', ''[[Semiramide]]'', and ''[[Il barbiere di Siviglia]]''.<ref>Lynn, p. 205</ref>

Today, the company stages about four operas each season from mid January to April and, since 2003, it has presented an annual Verdi Festival each October.

==Construction of the Teatro Ducale==
[[File:Teatro Regio Parma Apertura.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Poster for the opening night of the Nuovo]]
There had been a Ducal Theatre in Parma since the 17th century, the principal one being the [[Teatro Farnese]] constructed in 1618, but it was used only nine times, the last one occurring in October 1732,<ref name=LYNN>Lynn 2005, pp. 201—203</ref> after which it suffered from years from neglect and further damage by American bombing in World War II. It was rebuilt in 1966.<ref name=LYNN/>

However, the "Nuovo" replaced another existing "small and narrow"<ref name=LYNN/> Ducal Theatre dating from 1688, which had been located in the Palazzo di Riserva.<ref name=ZEITZ>Zeitz 1991, p. 35</ref> The 1,200-seat theatre<ref name=ZEITZ/> was becoming obsolete due to a variety of factors, including the need to appeal to an increasing middle class desire to experience opera, but also allow for "separate and well articulated private and public spaces".<ref name=MART57>Martini, pp. 57—59</ref> After a performance of [[Rossini]]'s ''[[Zelmira]]'' in 1828, it was closed and then demolished.<ref name=MART1/>

The newly built "Nuovo Ducale" was located on the site of the former Monastery of St. Alexander and it was located next to the Ducal Palace. Construction began in 1821 during the reign of [[Marie Louise, Duchess of Parma]] who, as [[Napoleon I]]'s divorced second wife, preferred divorce rather than exile. She settled in Parma, ruling from 1816 to 1847,<ref name="MART1"/> and under her patronage and financial support, secured the services of the architect [[Nicola Bettoli]]. Marie Louise oversaw the construction, assuring that the interior decoration reflected "the sobriety of neoclassicism and the colours white and light blue".<ref name=MART57/>

In 1849, restoration was called for and then, four years later under the Bourbon Duke Carlo III, more opulent decoration took place.  This included the replacement of the neoclassical elements with the more sensual aspects of the mid-19th century; as Martini notes, "this rendered the theatre more splendid with extensive use of red velvet and golden ornamentation.<ref name=MART57/> In addition, [[gas lighting]] in the house was installed.<ref name=ZEITZ/> By 1907, the stage lighting was electrified, and that of the rest of house took place during the centennial of Verdi's birth in 1913.<ref name=LYNN/><ref name=ZEITZ/>
 
'''The architecture of the "Nuovo"'''
[[File:Interior of Teatro Regio (Parma) 2014-09-16.jpg|thumb|right|The [[auditorium]] of the Teatro Regio]]
The façade of the theatre was built in the [[Neoclassical architecture|neoclassical style]], which has remained unchanged over the years. With a colonnade of ten Ionic granitic columns at the base, which created an arcade, this supports five imperial-style windows above, topped by a tympana and decorative elements enrich the highest part of the facade with one central semi-circular window, besides bas-reliefs by Tommaso Bandini of two muses at one lyra in the central and lateral position.<ref name=LYNN204>Lynn, p. 204</ref>

The [[foyer]] is, as Martini describes it, a "large square upheld by four pairs of imposing mottled marble Ionic columns on an attic base.....  The entire room is based on the square and on symmetry".<ref>Martini, p. 61</ref>  It is decorated with a marble floor.

After the 1853 restoration, which overall has been described as [[Baroque Revival architecture|neo-Baroque]] ("[It radiat[es]  gold, ivory, and maroon" colours),<ref name=LYNN204/> the ceiling of the auditorium was decorated by Giovan Battista Borghesi with frescoes of the most famous playwrights. This remains today. The chandelier, which was built in Paris and taken to Parma in 1854 when the theatre was adapted for gas, is 4.5 metres in height and weighs 1100&nbsp;kg.<ref>Martini, p. 62</ref>

'''Renaming the theatre'''

After the reign of Duchess Marie Louise, the theatre was renamed and between 1849 and 1860, it was known as the "Teatro Reale".<ref name=MART57/> With the unification of Italy in 1861, the house took its present name, the Teatro Regio.

==Verdi and the Teatro Regio==
[[File:But of VERDI in Teatro Regio Parma.jpg|thumb|upright|Bust of Verdi in the foyer]]
Verdi, who was born and who grew up only 20 miles from Parma, was perhaps quite naturally  soon adopted by the city as its native son,<ref name=LYNN205>Lynn, pp. 205—206</ref> especially as his fame grew after the success of the 1840 ''[[Nabucco]]''. His operas have had a special place in the Regio's programming after 17 April 1843, when Verdi came to direct  his ''Nabucco''.  Since that time,  the Regio has staged every one of his operas, including adaptations of original versions such as ''[[I Lombardi]]'' of 1843, which became ''[[Jérusalem]]'' for Paris in 1847 or the 1847 ''[[Macbeth (Verdi)|Macbeth]]'' which was revised in 1865.<ref name=LYNN205/>

The seasons surrounding the centennial of his birth in 1813 and the 50th anniversary of his death in 1951 were devoted solely to his operas, and between 1829 and 1979, Verdi, [[Donizetti]], and Bellini were the most frequently staged composers, with Verdi topping the list with five of his operas, the most frequent of which was ''[[Aida]]'' with 177 performances over the 150-year period.<ref name=LYNN205/> The 2001 centennial of the composer's death resulted in a year-long celebration beginning with the ''[[Requiem (Verdi)|Requiem]]'' and including six operas.
[[File:Teatro Regio Parma-Festival Verdi poster 2013.JPG|thumb|left|upright|Poster for the 2013 Festival Verdi in the foyer of the Teatro Regio, October 2013]]
The "bicententario" year of 2013 prompted special celebrations which included concerts by the La Scala Orchestra, under [[Riccardo Chailly]], and the [[Orchestre National de France]] under [[Daniele Gatti]] (which also gave the [[Requiem (Verdi)|Requiem]]).  Providing insights into working with the Teatro and with Verdi's music were singers [[Carlo Bergonzi (tenor)|Carlo Bergonzi]], [[Mirella Freni]], and [[Raina Kabaivanska]] as well as conductor [[Bruno Bartoletti]]. A concert by the Filarmonica Arturo Toscanini on 10 October was something of a highlight of the celebrations.  It included a concert version of act 2 of ''Aida''. Other  complete operas given during the month included ''[[I masnadieri]]'', ''[[Falstaff (Verdi)|Falstaff]]'', and ''[[Simon Boccanegra]]''.<ref>"Festival Verdi: 1813—2013 Bicentarario" programme booklet, pub. Teatro Regio di Parma, 2013</ref>

'''Festival Verdi'''

In addition to its regular season, from the 1990s the company began to mount a Festival Verdi.<ref>[http://archivio.teatroregioparma.it/verdifest2004/index.htm Programmes of the "Festival Verdi" from 2004] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131215171910/http://archivio.teatroregioparma.it/verdifest2004/index.htm |date=2013-12-15 }} on the company's website.  Retrieved 30 January 2013</ref> Beginning in 2003, the celebration known as ''Buon Compleanno Maestro Verdi'' ("Happy Birthday, Maestro Verdi") has been held each 10 October with a concert of excerpts from his works<ref name=LYNN205/> and this is coupled with the month-long festival.

Along with the Verdi operas presented as part of its regular season since 2003/04,<ref>[http://archivio.teatroregioparma.it/stagionelirica2004/index.htm  Season repertoire since 2003] {{webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20140127190655/http://archivio.teatroregioparma.it/stagionelirica2004/index.htm |date=2014-01-27 }} on archivio.teatroregioparma.</ref> the aim of the Festival Verdi has been to present every one of the composer's operas by the bi-centennial year of 2013.  However, while this was not achieved, very few operas remain to be staged (depending upon whether different versions are planned). The Festival has included associated discussions, orchestral concerts, and other relevant presentations.

==The Teatro Regio's audience==
Several writers have commented on the particular qualities of certain members of the audience when attending a performance at the Ducale and the Regio: "Parma's operatic public has a reputation as particularly demanding [and] famous for being unforgiving of any singer not in good voice" notes Plantamura,<ref>Plantamura 1996, p. 108</ref> while Lynn goes back to the early days of the old Ducale in 1816 with an account of the way the tenor Alberico Curioni was "whistled and booed, but he would have none of it and shouted obscenities back" until the police were called and arrested him.<ref>Lynn 2005, p. 203</ref> The inaugural gala of the Teatro Regio on 16 May 1829 "was not a joyous occasion" for the audience, which gave Bellini's ''Zaira'' "a frosty reception" due to the fact that he was the second choice and that he had refused to use a libretto written by one of the company's board members.<ref>Lynn 2005, p. 204</ref>

Lynn also recounts several incidents during performances in the 19th century where the curtain was brought down due to vociferous protests from audience members, one event actually leading to the dismissal of the theatre's administration.<ref name=LYNN207>Lynn 2005, pp. 205—207</ref> A 21st century performance, which incited audience displeasure was the 2001 opening of a controversial production of Verdi's ''Macbeth'', which was set during the First World War.  A later performance caused competing "bravas" and booing for and against the Lady Macbeth.  The theatre's administration explained it as follows: "Teatro Regio realizes that it needs to be the best because the audience are all experts".<ref>Quoted in Lynn 2005, p. 207</ref>

==Some artists who have worked at the Teatro Regio di Parma==
The dates of their most recent appearances have been noted below.

{|class="wikitable"
!colspan=3|Conductors
|-
|width="130"|[[Bruno Bartoletti]] (2009)
|width="130"|[[Myung-Whun Chung]] (2005) 
|width="130"|[[Lorin Maazel]] (2009)
|-
|[[Zubin Mehta]]
|[[Riccardo Muti]] (2007)
|[[Daniel Oren]] (2012)
|-
|Renato Palumbo (2013)
|[[Georges Prêtre]] (2007)
|[[Yuri Temirkanov]] (2013)
|-
!colspan="3"|Opera singers
|-
|width="130"|[[Marcelo Álvarez]] (2009)
|width="130"|Daniela Barcellona (2009)
|width="130"|[[Carlo Bergonzi (tenor)|Carlo Bergonzi]] (1959)
|-
|[[Sesto Bruscantini]]
|[[Renato Bruson]] (2008)
|[[Maria Callas]] (1951)<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20240607051600/http://www.frankhamilton.org/mc/c5.pdf/mc/c5.pdf Callas' performance in ''La traviata'' in Parma, December 1951] on frankhamilton.org</ref>
|-
|[[Piero Cappuccilli]]
|[[José Carreras]] (1998)
|[[Boris Christoff]]
|-
|[[Franco Corelli]]
|[[Mario Del Monaco]]
|[[Daniela Dessì]] (2005)
|-
|[[Barbara Frittoli]] (2007)
|[[Sonia Ganassi]] (2011)
|[[Carlo Guelfi]] (2011)
|-
|[[Nicolai Ghiaurov]]
|[[Alfredo Kraus]] (1987)
|[[Flaviano Labò]] (1960s)
|-
|[[Ambrogio Maestri]]  (2011)
|[[Anthony Michaels-Moore]] (2008)
|[[Leo Nucci]] (2012)
|-
|Michele Pertusi (2013)
|[[Juan Pons]] (2005)
|[[Katia Ricciarelli]] (1986)
|-
|[[Margherita Rinaldi]] (1970)
| Piero Sardelli (1946)
|[[Renata Scotto]]
|-
|[[Cesare Siepi]] (1982)
|[[Renata Tebaldi]] (1949)
|[[Richard Tucker (tenor)|Richard Tucker]] (1971)
|-
|}

==In popular culture==
The Teatro Regio was featured in scenes in [[Bernardo Bertolucci]]'s 1964 film ''[[Before the Revolution]]'', as well as the 1987 Italian horror film ''[[Opera (1987 film)|Opera]]'', directed by [[Dario Argento]].

==References==
'''Notes'''
{{reflist|30em}}

'''Sources'''
*Lynn, Karyl Charna (2005), "Parma: Teatro Regio", in ''Italian Opera Houses and Festivals''. Lanham, MD: The Scarecrow Press. {{ISBN|0-8108-5359-0}}
*Martini, Giuseppe (unk.), ''Guida al Teatro Regio di Parma'' (in Italian) / ''A Guide to the Theatre''  (in English) trans. Melanie Schoonhoven. Parma: Azzali Editori.
*Plantamura, Carol (1996), "Parma", in ''The Opera Lover's Guide to Europe''.  Citadel Press. {{ISBN|0-8065-1842-1}} 
*Zeitz, Karyl Lynn (1991), "Parma: ''Teatro Regio''", in ''OPERA!: The Guide to Western Europe's Great Houses''. Santa Fe, NM: John Muir Publications. {{ISBN|0-945465-81-5}}

==External links==
*Opera Chic, [http://operachic.typepad.com/opera_chic/teatro_regio_di_parma/  Background to the Verdi Festival and associated locations in Parma, 2006 to 2013] with many photographs, on operachic.typepad.com.  Retrieved 15 December 2013.
*[https://teatroregioparma.it/?_locale=en Teatro Regio di Parma's website]
*[https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/europe/italy/10350334/Verdis-Italy-ham-cheese-and-opera.html Verdi's Italy]

{{Music venues in Italy}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Teatro Regio Di Parma}}
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Parma]]
[[Category:Commercial buildings completed in 1829]]
[[Category:1829 establishments in Italy]]
[[Category:Opera houses in Italy|Parma]]
[[Category:Theatres in Emilia-Romagna|Parma]]
[[Category:Italian opera companies]]
[[Category:Performing arts venues in Emilia-Romagna|Parma]]
[[Category:19th-century architecture in Italy]]