Rossetti Theatre – Trieste

Description

Commissioned by a public limited company made of important representatives of Trieste’s business and economic world and chaired by Baron Emilio de Morpurgo, the new theatre was designed in 1877 by architect Nicolò Bruno (1833-1899) from Liguria, and it was realised in less than one year.
 
The inauguration took place on 27th of April 1878 with the “Ballo in maschera” (A Masked Ball) by Verdi and the ballet “Pietro Micca”.
 
The theatre in eclectic style – dedicated to Count Domenico Rossetti de Scander, illustrious jurist and historian – was immediately appreciated for its enormous number of seats (5,000 among the parterre, the boxes and two levels of galleries), the beauty of the hall, the foyer and the opening cupola.
 
Even though the theatre was provided with a stage that could host different kinds of shows, musical events originally prevailed (opera, symphonic music and operetta), and it hosted great composers and conductors such as Richard Strauss (1903), Gustav Mahler (1905), Pietro Mascagni (1908), Arturo Toscanini (1920), Franz Lehar (1927).
 
But also other kinds of shows took place there: equestrian shows, masquerades, parties and New Year's Eve dances, the first cinema projections, rallies, futuristic nights, and naturally the prose pieces that characterise the more recent programmes of the Politeama.
 
The current aspect of the theatre is the result of three restoration works: in 1928 and 1969 led by architect Umberto Nordio, and in 1999/2001 by architects Luciano Celli and Marina Cons.
 
The first intervention modified the parterre and the foyer, enriching furniture and decorations (in the foyer four bas-reliefs by Marcello Mascherini representing Music, Dramatic Art, Dance and Singing).
 
The second intervention, after the closure of the building from 1956 to 1968, was meant to revive its ancient splendour and was due to the involvement of Ugo Irneri, the president of the Lloyd Adriatico who bought the property.
 
Eventually, after the purchase by the Municipality of Trieste in 1989, a third intervention was required to ensure the compliance of the various systems of the building with the new standards, as well as the improvement of the customer service.
 
With a current capacity of 1,500 seats in a completely renewed hall, the theatre has had a foyer (Bartoli Hall) since 2001 for prose pieces, dance and musical festivals and, since 2007, a restaurant (Cafè Rossetti) which is also used for meetings with the public, press conferences and small concerts.

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