The
Teatro di Rieti is a magical place where the Palos Verdes group will be presenting a special
concert as part of their 2013 Performance Tour in Italy.
The
current structure of the theatre dates back to December of 1883 but was not
officially inaugurated until September 20, 1893, featuring productions of
Goethe’s Faust and Pietro Mascagni’s Cavalleria Rusticana.
The
theater, named for the Roman Emperor Vespasian, required ten years of
construction under the direction of Milanese architect Achille Sfondrini. The
theater underwent complete restoration from 2005 through 2009. A grand
re-opening celebration commenced on January 10, 2009 featuring conductor
Marcello Rota, and soloists Karina Grigoryan, Jessica Pratt, Anna Gorayacheva,
and Roman Burdenko. The Secretary to the Prime Minister, as well as Senator
Franco Marini were in attendance. The restoration efforts totaled more than 3.3
million Euros. The reopening of the theater also fostered the formation of the
Flavius Vespasian Foundation, aiming to promote international artistry and
music.
The
Rieti Theatre also annually hosts the Rieti Dance Festival, the International
Competition for the New Opera Voices of Mattia Battistini and the National
Competition for Young Actors. The theatre is well known for its excellent
acoustics, a characteristic that earned the structure the very first National
Award for the Acoustics. In referring to the acoustics, Professor Bruno Cagli,
president of the National Academy of Saint Cecilia, once called the theatre
“the world’s best in that respect”.
