Teatro Nuovo, Spoleto

The Teatro Nuovo di Spoleto stands in the historic center of the city. The Municipality approved its construction on February 13, 1846, considering the “old theater narrow, deaf and indecent.” The work lasted for almost two decades and the Spoletans themselves tried to speed up its completion by setting fire to the Teatro Nobile, the current Teatro Caio Melisso. The theater was solemnly inaugurated on August 3, 1864.

The Teatro Nuovo di Spoleto is a building characterized by a horseshoe-shaped plan developed over four tiers of boxes. The overall project of the Teatro Nuovo is the work of Ireneo Aleandri, also the author of the Sferisterio di Macerata and the theaters of Ascoli and San Severino.

Luigi Masella was instead commissioned to create the stucco decorations, the paintings of the hall and the curtain. The Roman painter Carlo Bazzani executed the curtain valance, Pietro Recanatini painted the historical scenes, while Eugenio Venier took care of the installation of all the machinery. The slowing down of the work was also due to a legal issue concerning the execution of the curtain, which was finally entrusted to the Bergamo native Francesco Colghetti.

Meanwhile, the sketch of the grand golden chandelier arrived from Paris and the clock for the stage arch was ordered. Finally, the stuccoes on the facade and the medallions with the effigies of the music masters were carried out, which was entrusted to the sculptor Biagioli. Source: MIBACT

Information on Teatro Nuovo

Via Filitteria, 1 06049 Spoleto (Perugia)
https://www.comunespoleto.gov.it