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The Teatro Argentina got my attention in Rome. I would walk by many times when I was directing THE GIGLI CONCERT at Teatro Trianon. Did not know that The Barber of Seville premiered there. Teatro Argentina is a striking beautiful building even 200 years later but most Opera's are now done at the Rome Opera House.
During the past couple of years, new architect friends taught me to look differently at "built environments", i.e., human-made surroundings that provide the setting for human activity. This is why The Teatro Argentina piqued my interest. It was commissioned by the Sforza-Cesarini family, designed by the architect Gerolamo Theodoli, constructed in 1731, and commissioned in 1732. The interior has a "traditional horseshoe-shape", 6 levels of boxes, great acoustics, and seats 696. (Source: Wikipedia) As for Gioachino Rossini's rousing chorus from "The Barber of Seville", how not to love such joyful music? I confess, though, that I enjoyed even more "The Rabbit of Seville". You can always win me over with Looney Tunes, especially when Bugs Bunny stars.
The Teatro Argentina got my attention in Rome. I would walk by many times when I was directing THE GIGLI CONCERT at Teatro Trianon. Did not know that The Barber of Seville premiered there. Teatro Argentina is a striking beautiful building even 200 years later but most Opera's are now done at the Rome Opera House.
During the past couple of years, new architect friends taught me to look differently at "built environments", i.e., human-made surroundings that provide the setting for human activity. This is why The Teatro Argentina piqued my interest. It was commissioned by the Sforza-Cesarini family, designed by the architect Gerolamo Theodoli, constructed in 1731, and commissioned in 1732. The interior has a "traditional horseshoe-shape", 6 levels of boxes, great acoustics, and seats 696. (Source: Wikipedia) As for Gioachino Rossini's rousing chorus from "The Barber of Seville", how not to love such joyful music? I confess, though, that I enjoyed even more "The Rabbit of Seville". You can always win me over with Looney Tunes, especially when Bugs Bunny stars.