Renaissance Minds
“La Fenice Unveiled: Where History, Grandeur & Opera Take Center Stage”
By: Silvia Davi

Step behind the curtains of La Fenice, Venice’s operatic jewel—reborn from ashes to arias—where echoes of grandeur still grace its iconic stage. Teatro La Fenice stands among the most storied opera houses in the world—and for me, as an admirer of culture and the arts, its beauty continues to resonate deeply. I first felt its timeless magic in June 2000, during my first visit to Venice. As I glided past it in a gondola, I caught a glimpse of its interior, then undergoing renovations after a devastating 1996 fire. When I returned in 2002, the doors were still shut, but I made a quiet vow to return one day when it reopened to explore its interior.

Years later, fate brought me closer to La Fenice through my work with Venezia FC, Venice’s official football club, where I led global partnerships and marketing spearheading various initiatives—some hosted at La Fenice itself. This gave me the opportunity to visit the opera house often and build a deep connection with this cultural treasure. Each visit feels more magical than the last.

This past fall, I had the unique opportunity to receive a private tour from La Fenice’s marketing team, during which I gained deeper insight into the theater’s rich history, inspiring mission, and exciting upcoming initiatives through conversations with the press office.

1. Tell us about the rich history.

La Fenice was established in 1792 at the behest of the Nobile Società dei Palchettisti (Noble Society of Box Holders), who had lost ownership of the Teatro San Benedetto, then the most renowned venue for opera. This association of enlightened music lovers—comprising members of the aristocracy and the city’s bourgeoisie—launched a call for a new theater project in 1789. Just three years later, the theater, designed by Giannantonio Selva, opened its doors on May 16, 1792, with I giuochi d’Agrigento by the then-famous Neapolitan composer Giovanni Paisiello.

Only six years later, the fall of the Republic of Venice led to a change of hands: first to the Austrians, then the French, and then back to the Austrians. However, La Fenice continued to play a leading role throughout the 19th century, growing in international prestige.

In December 1836, a fire almost destroyed the theater. The Society did not lose heart, and exactly one year later, the theater was reopened based on a design by brothers Tommaso and Giambattista Meduna, which largely followed Selva’s original plans.

Even after liberation from Austrian rule and Venice’s annexation into the Kingdom of Italy, the theater continued its activities without interruption, becoming increasingly central among Italian and international musical institutions. Except for a brief closure during World War I, seasons continued regularly.

In more recent times, a second, devastating fire destroyed the theater in 1996. But La Fenice was reborn once again eight years later, with the symbolic staging of Verdi’s La Traviata in November 2004.

2. What is La Fenice’s mission today?

In recent decades, the theater’s mission has become more clearly defined and follows three complementary paths: revitalizing the great operatic repertoire by regularly producing new staging’s and heavily investing in artistic talent; engaging with contemporary times by dedicating a significant portion of its programming to modern composers; and finally, focusing on the revival of early music, including modern premieres or revivals of works by Baroque masters such as Antonio Vivaldi and Baldassare Galuppi.

Lastly, a key priority is reaching younger generations—so much so that a dedicated division has been created: Fenice Education.

3. La Fenice is in one of the most unique cities in the world, can you describe its Venetian identity?

One could say that La Fenice is an emblem of Venice, in many different senses. First and foremost, because of its international vocation, which perfectly aligns with the cosmopolitan spirit that has always characterized the city of its birth. A true cultural hub, it draws artists and audiences from around the world to the lagoon, welcoming them as if into a familiar salon. But the very life of the Theater is inseparable from the uniqueness that Venice embodies everything is conceived for this special and magical environment, where water is the main avenue of access. In fact, it is by boat that the sets for performances are transported, and it is via the canals that people arrive at the theater, no matter where they begin their journey. Ultimately, La Fenice is the highest expression of Venice’s glorious theatrical tradition: modern theater itself was born in this city, thanks to the enlightened entrepreneurial spirit of various noble families who, from the 1600s onward, dedicated themselves to the performing arts.

4. With all the events that take place in Venice throughout the year, how does La Fenice participate musically during the Carnevale season, La Biennale, Film Festival, and other important Venetian celebrations?

As one of the city’s most important cultural institutions in the musical and theatrical sectors, it’s only natural that La Fenice both participates in and independently promotes a wide range of events and collaborations with the many other Venetian institutions. Throughout the 20th century, for example, numerous editions of the Biennale Musica and Teatro were hosted here—and the collaboration continues to this day. Carnevale, which is a central moment in the life of the city, also sees the Theater take a leading role with special programming. It’s also worth noting the ongoing partnerships with the city’s two universities, Ca’ Foscari and IUAV, as well as with all the other major cultural happenings that animate Venice throughout the year.

5. So many famous opera and musical artists have performed at La Fenice. Can you name some of the greatest from the past and present?

Over the course of its history, La Fenice has hosted the premieres of works by some of the world’s greatest composers. To name just a few from the bel canto era: Gioachino Rossini, Vincenzo Bellini, and Gaetano Donizetti. A special chapter is reserved for Giuseppe Verdi, perhaps the composer with whom the Theater had its most exclusive relationship—La Fenice commissioned five new operas from him, including the two that have most defined his international fame and enduring popularity: La traviata and Rigoletto.

And it doesn’t stop there. In the 20th century, many of the most famous composers also chose La Fenice for their works, including Igor Stravinsky, Benjamin Britten, Sergei Prokofiev, Luigi Nono, Bruno Maderna, and Karlheinz Stockhausen. And that’s just the composers. A host of legendary conductors have taken the podium at La Fenice, beginning with the unforgettable Arturo Toscanini. Then there are the voices—especially the lasting love affair between the Theater and two immortal sopranos: Maria Callas and Toti Dal Monte.

Even today, countless world-renowned artists—conductors, directors, singers—regularly appear on the stage of La Fenice. Among them, one must at least mention the deep and friendly relationship the Theater has built over the years with Maestro Myung-Whun Chung.