Teatro Rossetti in Trieste was designed in 1877 by Ligurian Nicolò Bruno (1833-1899) and inaugurated on 27 April 1878. The theatre was named for count Domenico Rossetti de Scander, an illustrious jurist and famous resident, and was immediately popular for its eclectic style, enormous capacity (seating 5,000 in stalls, boxes and two galleries), beautiful hall and foyer and the cupola that could open.
The stage could accommodate a wide range of shows, first housing musical events (opera, symphonies, operetta) and welcoming great composers and conductors like Richard Strauss (1903), Gustav Mahler (1905), Pietro Mascagni (1908), Arturo Toscanini (1920), Franz Lehar (1927); then horse shows, masked balls, parties and new year’s celebrations, the earliest film screenings, political rallies, futuristic evenings and, more recently, plays.
The present-day appearance of the theatre is due to 3 restorations: in 1928 and 1969 (Umberto Nordio) and 1999-2001 (Luciano Celli and Marina Cons). The first of these modified the stage and the “ridotto”, embellishing furnishing and decoration (including 4 bas reliefs by Marcello Mascherini in the foyer depicting Music, Drama, Dance and Song). The second marked the reopening of the theatre after its closure from 1956 to 1968, restoring its original splendour, thanks to Ugo Irneri, president of Lloyd Adriatico, who bought the property. When the Comune of Trieste later acquired it in 1989, the third intervention was necessary to update the various systems and improve services for theatre patrons.
The theatre today can seat 1,500, in a completely renovated hall, and, since 2001, once again has a “ridotto” (sala Bartoli) for plays, dance recitals and musicals. The cafè Rossetti restaurant was inaugurated in 2007 and is used for meetings, press conferences, and small concerts.
Friuli Venezia Giulia Film Commission
Piazza Duca degli Abruzzi 3 — 34132 Trieste
Phone: +39 040 3720142
Email: filmcommission@promoturismo.fvg.it
