Rome (Roma)
Operatic life in Rome displays an unsteady past. There were performances as early as
1606, and the first comic opera (Virgilio Mazzocchi’s Chi soffre speri) was given in the
Palazzo Barberini in 1637, but there was sporadic papal opposition to opera (Pope
Innocent had the Teatro Tordinona, built in 1671, demolished in 1697), and the city
never reached the distinction of other centers in Italy. The Teatro Argentina opened in
- In the same year the Tordinona was rebuilt; it was renovated in 1764, burned in
1781, rebuilt in 1795 as Teatro Apollo, and demolished in 1889. Other theaters:
Teatro Drammatico Nazionale, 1886–1929; Politeama Romana, 1862–1883; Teatro
Manzoni, 1876–; Politeama Adriano, later Teatro Adriano, 1898–. The principal
venue at present is the Teatro dell’Opera, which opened as Teatro Costanzi in 1880,
was renovated and renamed Teatro Reale dell’Opera in 1928, then given its present
name. One pope was an opera patron, Clement IX: he was in fact a librettist of 12
operas, under the name Giulio Rospigliosi (see #446). - Hammond, Frederick. Music and Spectacle in Baroque Rome: Barberini
Patronage under Urban VIII.New Haven, Conn.: Yale U.P., 1995. xxiv, 369p.
ISBN 0-300-05528-5. ML1733.8 .R6 H35.
A thorough treatment of patronage by the Barberini family in the 17th cen-
tury: their palaces, paintings, and music sponsored for church, chamber, and
stage. It all began with Maffeo Barberini (1568–1644), who became Pope
Urban VIII in 1623. Details of opera production, theaters, orchestra place-
ments; chronology of spectacles 1628–1644, with 73 period illustrations. Back-
notes, excellent bibliography of about 450 items, expansive index. - Ademollo, Alessandro. I teatri di Roma nel secolo XVII: Memorie sincrone,
inedite o non conosciute... .Rome: Pasqualocci, 1888. xxviii, 283p. Reprint,
Bologna: Forni, 1969. PN2686 .R6 A4.
A documented history of the 17th-century stage, based on archives, diaries,
letters, and official announcements. A modern study of the next century, not
seen: Giorgio Petrocchi, Il teatro a Roma nel settecento (Rome: Istituto della
Enciclopedia Italiana, 1989; 2v.). - Cametti, Alberto. Il Teatro Tordinona poi di Apollo.Tivoli: Arti Grafiche Aldo
Chicca, 1938. 2v. PN2686 .R77 A64.
A scholarly history of the theater from 1671, recounting the numerous
destructions and rebuildings, to its demise in 1889. Background on theatrical
life of the time, patrons, composers, and artists. V.2 is a chronology for 1671–
1697 and 1733–1888. Indexes of titles, dances, composers, poets, and per-
formers. - Radiciotti, Giuseppe. Teatro e musica in Roma nel secondo quarto del secolo
XIX (1825–50). Rome: R. Accademia dei Lincei, 1905. 166 p. ML290.8 .R79
R2.
Not seen. Kaufmansays it includes seasonal chronologies for the Teatro
Apollo, Teatro Valle, and Teatro Argentina. Rosters of artists are given.
476 Opera