The Arts

Rome Opera

Piazza Beniamino Gigli

Rome, Italy

Phone: 06 481 60 255

A night at the Rome opera is an unforgettable experience worth the travel. The functional Fascist-era exterior of the Teatro dell'Opera di Roma does not prepare you for the plush 19th-century interior, smothered in red velvet and gold-leaf paint.

Founded in the late 19th century by the entrepreneur Costanzi, this theatre was for a long time considered to be one of the most prestigious opera theatres in Europe. Having gone through some difficult years, the Teatro dell'Opera has recently returned to its status as a primary venue for opera, ballet and symphonic music seasons. During the summer, opera is staged at the lovely Terme di Caracalla or the beautiful Piazza di Siena in the Villa Borghese gardens. Tickets range from EUR8-EUR119, depending upon the performance. More recently the Stadio Olimpico football stadium has been the stage.

The Rome opera is a poor cousin to Milan 's La Scala or Naples' San Carlo, mainly due to a lack of consistent artistic direction and poor management. However, there are some top-class productions and tickets are not impossible to get. The operas Cavalleria Rusticana by Mascagnai and Puccini's Tosca had their world premieres at the Teatro dell'Opera. Rossini's operas Il Barbiere di Siviglia and La Cenerentola also premiered at the Rome opera, at Teatro Argentina .

The Rome opera season at the Teatro dell' Opera (tel 06 481 60 255 or toll free 800 01 66 65, fax 06 488 17 55, Piazza Beniamino Gigli) starts in December and continues until June. Tickets are expensive, even the cheaper upper balcony seats (not recommended for vertigo sufferers). First-night performances cost more. Many of the summer festivals include Rome opera performances in their programmes. Check magazines for current events.