The Filarmonico Theatre was designed by the famous architect and scenographer from Bologna Francesco Bibiena. It opened on 6th January 1732 with “La Fida Ninfa” by Maffei and set to music by Antonio Vivaldi.
Destroyed by a fire in the night between 20th and 21st January 1749, it was rebuilt by the Emilian architect Giannantonio Paglia (former collaborator of Bibiena) who introduced some variations. The Theatre was reopened in 1754 during the Carnival with “Lucio Vero” by Metastasio and set to music by Davide Perez.
There was another new and very painful lost of the Theatre, due to a bombing on 23rd February 1945. Fortunately, as 200 years before, there were competent and determined men willing to concretely rebuild the Theatre, although there were evident difficulties and many technical, financial, administrative and organizational obstacles.
After the National Competition for the design of the new Filarmonico Theatre, held on 20th May 1947 (which was won by the architects Scalpelli, Sciascia and Ferrante) in 1956 the proposal of Vittorio Filippini from Verona was chosen: it was very close to the spirit of the old theatre of Bibiena though respecting the modern functional needs. The restoration, which began in 1961, lasted about 10 years.
The Theatre achieved its original destination (opera performances) in 1975 with “Falstaff ossia le tre Burle” by Antonio Salieri.
