The opera of Turin is housed in the Teatro Regio, which means Royal Theater. Its origins go back to 1740, the golden age of the House of Savoy, which had acquired the royal title in 1713.
King Carlo Emanuele III entrusted the project to the architect Benedetto Alfieri. Unfortunately, during the night between 8th and 9th February 1936, that building was destroyed by a violent fire.
The current Opera of Turin
Photo: Andrea Macchia
The actual Teatro Regio, boasting excellent acoustics, was inaugurated on 10th April 1973 with, I Vespri siciliani by Giuseppe Verdi, in the staging jointly directed by Maria Callas and Giuseppe Di Stefano.
Carlo Mollino (born in Turin 6th Mai 1905 and died 29th August 1973) is the gifted architect who designed the new theater, taking inspiration from the feminine body. Graduated in Architecture, he was professor at the Politecnico of Turin (engineering faculty of the local University). He is recognised as one of the most brilliant Italian architects between the two World Wars.
He was as well a furniture designer, journalist, photographer and a ski enthusiast. Furthermore, he was interested in a variety of topics such as the occult and racing cars.
The Opera Unveiled
For those interested in watching how an opera show is put together, it is possible to participate in special tours behind the scenes of the Opera of Turin. It is a fantastic way to discover the history and the modernity of this remarkable institution.
Besides bricks, the typical building material in Turin, Carlo Mollino used a great deal of glass for the structure, in order to integrate the theater in the city. With the same aim, the crew of the Teatro Regio performed during a flash-mob in the Porta Palazzo Food Market.
Enjoy the show of the opera singers among the stalls and the surprised clients, by watching this brilliant video.
If you want to see the upcoming events click here.