Teatro Massimo

The Teatro Massimo Vittorio Emanuele is an opera

house and opera company located on the Piazza Verdi in
Palermo, Sicily. It was dedicated to King Victor Emanuel
II. It is the biggest in Italy, and one of the largest of Europe (the third after the Opra National de Paris and the
K. K. Hof-Opernhaus in Vienna), renowned for its perfect acoustics.

designs in the city of Palermo and Caltagirone. Following G. B. F. Basiles death in 1891, construction was then
overseen by his son, Architect Ernesto Basile.

The Rutelli and Mach Company, represented by Giovanni Rutelli and Alberto Mach (both founding members of the company) was contracted for the main construction of the theatre which, under Architect Giovanni
Rutellis technical and building direction, went from the
foundations all the way up to the theatres attic structures.
1 Construction and opening
He was also responsible for all the external decorations
of the building. Rutelli initially designed a steam tower
An international competition for the creation of the opera crane machine which was then successfully able to lift
house was announced by the Palermo Council in 1864 at large stone blocks and Greek/Roman styled columns durthe instigation of the mayor, Antonio Starrabba di Rud- ing construction of the very large theatre.
in. For many years there had been talk of building a big Giovanni Rutelli belonged to a very old and renowned
new theatre in Palermo, worthy of the second biggest city Italian family, which also included architects and sculpin southern Italy (after Naples) and designed to promote tors from the old Sicilian classic and baroque school
the image of the city following the unication of Italy in as well as building contractors, all entrepreneurs going
1861.
back to the rst half of the 18th century in Palermo.
Along with Architect D. Mario Rutelli (Giovannis greatgrandfather), they were considered to be among the most
technically and artistically specialized experts in Sicily
at that time, especially because of Mario Rutelli and his
descendants profound knowledge and experience in Ancient Greek/Roman architecture, as well as the Norman
architectural style. This style required the use of natural
thick stone, all of which was part of the structural design.
Some of the external decoration and one of the two very
large bronze statues of lions sitting next to the theatres
monumental stairway entrance were created by Giovanni
Rutellis son, sculptor artist Sir Mario Rutelli.
Construction started on 12 January 1874, but was stopped
for eight years from 1882 until 1890. Finally, on 16 May
1897, twenty-two years after the laying of the foundation
stone, the third largest opera houseafter the Palais Garnier in Paris and the K. K. Hof-Opernhaus in Vienna
was inaugurated with a performance of Verdi's Falsta
conducted by Leopoldo Mugnone.
Busts of famous composers were carved for the theatre by
the Italian sculptor, Giusto Liva (born in Montebelluna,
Treviso in 1847) and several of his sons.
Bust of Giuseppe Verdi outside of the Teatro Massimo.

2 Facilities and recent history

The opera house was designed and overseen by the Italian architect Giovan Battista Filippo Basile, who was well The Teatro Massimo is the largest theatre in Italy (and the
known in Sicily for his previous cathedral restoration de- third largest opera house in Europe). Basile was inspired
sign in the city of Acireale, as well as garden and villa by ancient and classical Sicilian architecture and, thus,
1

the exterior was designed in the high neoclassical style

incorporating elements of the Greek temples at Selinunte
and Agrigento. Realized in the late-Renaissance style,
the auditorium was planned for 3,000 people, but, in its
current format, it seats 1,350, with 7 tiers of boxes rising up around an inclined stage, and shaped in the typical
horseshoe style.
In 1974, the house was closed to complete renovations required by updated safety regulations, but cost over-runs,
corruption, and political in-ghting all added to the delay
and it remained closed for twenty-three years, nally reopening on 12 May 1997, four days before its centenary.
The opera season started again in 1999, although Verdi's
Aida was performed in 1998 while work in progress continued.
During the restoration regular opera seasons were performed in Teatro Politeama Garibaldi, a minor building
not far from Teatro Massimo. In summer a few performances, usually concerts, ballet and operetta, are held in
Teatro della Verdura.
In recent years, charges of corruption and political meddlingalong with budget decits and heavy debts have
plagued the house, but, under its part-English music director, Jan Latham Koenig, it is reported that it is once
again on track.[1]
The nal scenes of the lm The Godfather Part III were
lmed at the theatre.[2]

See also
List of important opera companies

References

Notes
[1] Thicknesse, Robert, Double espresso, Opera Now,
July/August 2005. (An article on the Music Director, Jan
Latham Koenig)
[2] The Godfather Part 3 lm locations

External links
Teatro Massimo ocial website, where one can virtually visit the theater
Teatro Massimo: Its Art and History
City of Palermo ocial site, in English

Coordinates: 380713N 132126E / 38.12028N

13.35722E

EXTERNAL LINKS

Text and image sources, contributors, and licenses

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