Cagliari Opera House: the history of the Lyric Theatre, emblem of the city
The opera house of Cagliari is one of the most important landmarks of Casteddu, the Sardinian name for the island’s capital which is surrounded by the crystalline blue sea and according to legend, was founded by Aristaeus, son of Apollo and huntress Cyrene.
The story of the opera house of Cagliari starts in 1964 with a funding by the Municipality of Cagliari for proposals to reconstruct and substitute the Civic theatre of Castello, which had been badly damaged during the Second World War, and to reconstruct the Politeama Regina Margherita which was destroyed by a fire on the night between the 17th and the 18th of December 1942.
From the 34 project proposals presented to secure funding in 1967, three architects from Bergamo won: Luciano Galmozzi, Pierfrancesco Ginoulhiac and Teresa Ginoulhiac Arslan. Due to disagreements regarding the preferred proposal, the second ranked proposal by Roman architect Maurizio Sacripanti came to be considered. Construction began only in 1971 and the structure of 5,000 square meters was inaugurated on the 2nd of September 1993.
The opera house of Cagliari is a modern building with a foyer, a hall with 1650 seats, a large stage, and orchestra pit, to which after the inauguration were added various specialized areas including sewing, lighting, rehearsal rooms, storage space, and offices.
The most recent additions include a bookshop and a bar and restaurant in the foyer. Construction regarding the entrance, ticket office, reception, walls, deco of the foyer and internal and external lighting continued until the beginning of 2000.
The theatre is active all year round with a concert season, an opera season and a ballet season. Some of the most important national and international artists have exhibited here including director Riccardo Muti, Carlo Maria Giulini, Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos, Carlos Kleiber, director Dario Fo, Luca Ronconi Gilbert Deflo, Stephen Medcalf, soloists Salvatore Accardo, Bruno Canino, Trevor Pinnock, Maxim Vengerov, Julian Rachlin, Fazil Say, And ensembles Filarmonica della Scala, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Chamber Orchestra of Europe, New York Philharmonic and the Saint Petersburg Philharmonic.
The opera season offers new productions or Italian premieres for example Sebastian (taken from Le Martyre de Saint-Sébastien by Claude Debussy), Dalibor by Bedrich Smetana, Die Feen by Richard Strauss, Euryanthe by Carl Maria von Weber, A Village Romeo and Juliet by Frederich Delius, Alfonso und Estrella by Franz Schubert and many more.
The quality of the program and the innovative character enabled the Teatro lirico Di Cagliari (Lyric Theatre) to win the Franco Abbiati prize in 2001 in the “iniziative” — initiative section. The same recognition was given also to Denis Krief and Marcelo Alvarez for Lucia di Lammermoor and to Stephen Medcalf for Carmen, both operas produced by the principal theatre of Cagliari in 2000 and 2005.
Let’s now discover together what awaits in the 2020 season of the Cagliari Opera house.
Cagliari Opera House: Season 2020
Season 2020 in the Teatro Lirico of Cagliari is divided into two parts: concerts, and opera and ballet.
The concert season 2020 offers two pass types, indicated with the letters A and B for 13 concerts each, the seats in the theatre are indicated by order (stalls, first and second Loggia) and by sector (yellow, red and blue).
The concert pass campaign will start on the 3rd of December 2019, it will be possible to ask for confirmations or variations of the seats available within and not beyond the 4th of January 2020, the day after it will be possible to order tickets for all shows online at http://www.vivaticket.it.
On the 6th of December 2016 will start the campaign for the opera and ballet season, also in this case it will be possible to ask for confirmation or variations about the seats available until the 22nd of January 2020. Starting on the 23rd of January, new passes will be sold and on the 24th of January 2020, it will be possible to buy tickets for all shows of the ballet and opera season online.
There will be a 50% discount for visitors under 30 years of age and there will be other promotions for organized groups and associations. The Cagliari Opera House accepts 18app initiatives and Carta del Docente.
The concert calendar of season 2020:
Friday 10 January , hour 20.30 – turn A
Saturday 11 January , hour 19 – turn B
Orchestra and Corus of Teatro Lirico di Cagliari
Director Donato Renzetti
pianoforte Alessandro Taverna
maestro of corus Donato Sivo
Ludwig van Beethoven Fantasia corale op. 80 in C minor for pianoforte, corus and orchestra
Maurice Ravel Daphnis et Chloé
Tuesday 12 February , hour 20.30 – turn A
Trio of Parma
violin Ivan Rabaglia, cello Enrico Bronzi, pianoforte Alberto Miodini
clarinet Alessandro Carbonare
Johannes Brahms
Trio for pianoforte, violin and cello op. 87
Trio for pianoforte, violin and cello op. 101
Trio for pianoforte, clarinet and cello op. 114
Friday 13 March , hour 20.30 – turn A
Saturday 14 March, hour 19 – turn B
Orchestra of Teatro Lirico of Cagliari
Director Donato Renzetti
violin Kristof Barati
Cello Antonio Meneses
Ludwig van Beethoven La consacrazione della casa, ouverture op. 124
Ludwig van Beethoven Per l’onomastico, ouverture in C major op. 115
Johannes Brahms Doppio concerto for violin, cello and orchestra in a minor op. 102
Béla Bartók Concerto for orchestra
Friday 17 April , 20.30 – turn A
Saturday 18 April, hour 19 – turn B
Orchestra and Corus of Teatro Lirico of Cagliari
Director Gérard Korsten
maestro of Corus Donato Sivo
Béla Bartók Musica for strings, percussions and celesta
Franz Joseph Haydn Missa brevis Sancti Johannis de Deo in B major maggiore Hob. 7
Johannes Brahms Prima Sinfonia in C minor op. 68
Wednesday 22 April, hour 20.30 – turn B
pianoforte Alexandr Malofeev
Johannes Brahms 4 Klavierstücke op. 119
Robert Schumann Etudes symphoniques op. 13
Pëtr Il’ič Čajkovskij Le Stagioni op. 37a
Friday 22 May, 20.30 – turn A
Saturday 23 May, hour 19 – turn B
Orchestra and Corus of Teatro Lirico of Cagliari
Director Massimo Zanetti
Coro of white voices of the Conservatorio Statale di Musica “Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina” of Cagliari
maestro of Corus Donato Sivo
maestro of white voice Corus Enrico Di Maira
Gustav Mahler Terza Sinfonia in D minor for contralto, female Corus , white voice Corus and orchestra
Friday 29 May , hour 20.30 – turn A
Saturday 30 May , hour 19 – turn B
Orchestra of Teatro Lirico of Cagliari
Director Enrico Fagone
pianoforte Louis Lortie
Johannes Brahms Ouverture for an academic festivity in C minor op. 80
César Franck Variazioni sinfoniche for pianoforte and orchestra
Johannes Brahms Seconda Sinfonia in D major op. 73
Friday 5 June , hour 20.30 – turn A
Saturday 6 June, hour 19 – turn B
Orchestra of Teatro Lirico of Cagliari
Director Steven Mercurio
pianoforte Pietro De Maria
Johannes Brahms
Concerto n. 1 in D minor for pianoforte and orchestra op. 15
Concerto n. 2 in B major for pianoforte and orchestra op. 83
Friday 9 October , hour 20.30 – turn A
Saturday 10 October , hour 19 – turn B
Orchestra and Corus of Teatro Lirico of Cagliari
Director Michele Spotti
maestro of Corus Donato Sivo
Robert Schumann Ouverture, teaser and finale op. 52
Gabriele Cosmi Nuova composizione, on commission by the Teatro Lirico of Cagliari, absolute first execution
Johannes Brahms Terza Sinfonia in F major op. 90
Friday 16 October , hour 20.30 – turn A
Saturday 17 October, hour 19 – turn B
Orchestra of Teatro Lirico of Cagliari
Director Giampaolo Bisanti
Johannes Brahms
Serenata n. 1 in D major op. 11
Fourth Symphony in E minor op. 98
Wednesday 21 October , hour 20.30 – turn A
Buzzing Jars Brass Band
Music Johann Sebastian Bach, Thelonius Monk, Henry Mancini, Burt Bacharach, Stevie Wonder, David Short, John Lennon/Paul McCartney, B.S.R Marlow, Richard Rodgers
Thursday 19 November, hour 20.30 – turn B
Europa Galante
Director Fabio Biondi
Franz Joseph Haydn
Divertimento in D major for two violins, viola and bass (manuscript by Schwerim, 1763)
Sestetto ‘Eco’ in E flat major Hob. II:39
Cassazione in G Hob.II:2 for two violins, two viola and bass
Concerto in F major for violins, harpsichord and strings
Friday 27 November, hour 20.30 – turn A
Saturday 28 November, hour 19 – turn B
Orchestra and Corus of Teatro Lirico of Cagliari
Director Hansjörg Albrecht
maestro of Corus Donato Sivo
Johannes Brahms
Ouvertüre Tragica op. 81
Ein deutsches Requiem for soloists, Corus and orchestra op. 45
Friday 4 December, hour 20.30 – turn A
Saturday 5 December, hour 19 – turn B
Orchestra of Teatro Lirico of Cagliari
Director Gérard Korsten
violin Carolin Widmann
Johannes Brahms
Serenata n. 2 in A major op. 16
Concerto in D major for violin and orchestra op. 77
Tuesday 29 December, hour 20.30 – turn A
Wednesday 30 December , hour 20.30 – turn B
Concerto of end of year Gala
Orchestra and Corus of Teatro Lirico of Cagliari
Director to be defined
maestro of Corus Donato Sivo
Music Giuseppe Verdi, Giacomo Puccini, Johann Strauss
The calendar for ballet and opera season 2020:
31 January 2020 – 9 February 2020 (excluding Monday 3 February )
PALLA DE’ MOZZI
melodramma in three acts
libretto Giovacchino Forzano
music Gino Marinuzzi
Actors and main characters
Palla de’ Mozzi Sebastian Catana
Signorello Leonardo Caimi/Lorenzo Decaro
Il Montelabro Francesco Verna
Anna Bianca Astrik Khanamiryan/Tiziana Caruso
Concert maestro and director Giuseppe Grazioli
Orchestra and Corus of Teatro Lirico of Cagliari
maestro of corus Donato Sivo
Direction Giorgio Barberio Corsetti and Pierrick Sorin
New production of Teatro Lirico of Cagliari
First performance in modern times
28 February 2020 – 8 March 2020 (excluding Monday 2 March)
PAGLIACCI
dramma in a prologue in two acts
Characters and main interpreters
Nedda/Colombina Rachele Stanisci/Elisa Balbo
Canio/Pagliaccio Sergio Escobar
Tonio/Taddeo Marco Caria/Alberto Gazale
Peppe/Arlecchino Marco Ciaponi/Matteo Falcier
Silvio Alessio Arduini/Filippo Polinelli
Concert maestro and direttore Lü Jia
Orchestra and Corus of Teatro Lirico of Cagliari
maestro of Corus Donato Sivo
Direction Cristian Taraborelli
New performance by Teatro Lirico di Cagliari, in collaboration with Rai Cultura
27 March 2020 – Sunday 5 April 2020 (excluding Monday 30 March )
WEST SIDE STORY
musical in two acts
libretto Arthur Laurents and Stephen Sondheim
music Leonard Bernstein
Concert maestro and director Donato Renzetti
Orchestra and Corus by Teatro Lirico of Cagliari
maestro of Corus Donato Sivo
Direction Francesca Zambello
choreography Jerome Robbins
Production by Lyric Opera of Chicago, by Houston Grand Opera and by Glimmerglass Festival
8 May 2020 – 17 May 2020 (excluding Monday 11 May)
LA RONDINE
opera in three acts
libretto Giuseppe Adami
music Giacomo Puccini
Characters and main interpreters
Magda Svetla Vassileva/Kiandra Howarth
Lisette Lavinia Bini/Elena Schirru
Prunier Filippo Adami/Mauro Secci
Ruggero Leonardo Caimi/Alessandro Scotto di Luzio
Rambaldo Vincenzo Taormina/Pierluigi Dilengite
Concert maestro and director Valerio Galli
Orchestra and Corus by Teatro Lirico of Cagliari
maestro of Corus Donato Sivo
Direction, scenes, costumes and lights Denis Krief
Production by Teatro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino
26 June 2020 – 5 July 2020 (excluding Monday 29 June)
LA BOHÈME
Opera in four parts
libretto Luigi Illica e Giuseppe Giacosa
music Giacomo Puccini
Characters and main interpreters
Rodolfo Stefano Secco/Angelo Fiore
Mimì Irina Lungu/Jessica Nuccio
Marcello Andrea Borghini/Andrea Vincenzo Bonsignore
Colline Gianluca Margheri/Dongho Kim
Musetta Hasmik Torosyan/Daniela Cappiello
Schaunard Daniele Terenzi/Gianni Giuga
Concert maestro and director Massimo Zanetti
Orchestra and Corus by Teatro Lirico of Cagliari
White. Life Corus of the Conservatorio Statale di Musica “Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina” of Cagliari
maestro of Corus Donato Sivo
maestro of white voice Corus Enrico di Maira
Direction, scenes and costumes Hugo De Ana
Production of Teatro Petruzzelli in Bari
Friday 25 September 2020 – 4 October 2020 (excluding Monday 28 September)
LUISA MILLER
Tragic melodrama in three acts
libretto Salvatore Cammarano
music Giuseppe Verdi
Characters and main interpreters
Conte di Walter Marco Spotti/Emanuele Cordaro
Rodolfo Francesco Demuro
Luisa Miller Mariangela Sicilia/Daniela Schillaci
Federica Nino Surguladze/Anastasia Boldyreva
Wurm Gabriele Sagona
Miller Marco Caria/Devid Cecconi
Concert maestro and director Pier Giorgio Morandi
Orchestra and Corus by Teatro Lirico of Cagliari
maestro of Corus Donato Sivo
Direction Mario Martone
Production by Teatro alla Scala in Milan, property of Teatro Lirico of Cagliari
Friday 6 November 2020 – 15 November 2020 (excluding Monday 9 November)
AIDA
opera in four acts
libretto Antonio Ghislanzoni
music Giuseppe Verdi
Characters and main interprets
Aida Maria Josè Siri/Monica Zanettin
Radamès Marco Berti/Amadi Lagha
Amneris Ketevan Kemoklidze/Anastasia Boldyreva
Amonasro Devid Cecconi/Andrea Borghini
Ramfis Cristian Saitta/Dongho Kim
Il Re Dongho Kim/Cristian Saitta
Concert maestro and director Massimo Zanetti
Orchestra and Corus by Teatro Lirico of Cagliari
maestro of Corus Donato Sivo
Direction William Friedkin
Production by Teatro Regio of Turin
12 December 2020 – 22 December 2020 (excluding Monday 14 December)
SPARTACUS
ballett in three acts
choreography Yuri Grigorovich
music Aram Khachaturian
Ballett by Opera of Astana
Orchestra and Corus of Teatro Lirico of Cagliari
maestro of Corus Donato Sivo
scenes and costumes Simon Virsaladze
First execution in Cagliari
Cagliari opera house: how to get there and information on the ticket office
The opera house in Cagliari is in Sant’Alenixedda and the ticket office has the following opening hours:
- Monday to Saturday: from 9 until13
- Tuesday , Thursday and Friday : from 9 until 13 and from 16 until 20 and until one hour before the show starts.
- pubblic holidays: open only one hour befor e the show starts
For online purchases visit the website www.vivaticket.it. For all information regarding the shown in program you can contact the theatre by telephone at 0704082230 – 070408224, write an email to biglietteria@teatroliricodicagliari.it or visit the website www.teatroliricodicagliari.it also on Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, Instagram and Linkedin.
