The beginning of a great new journey…
Donizetti Theater reopens. Follow the enchantment.
1797 – Riccardi Theater, Bergamo
Coincidences: for some quirks of fate, for others pure chance. Whether one or the other matters little, certain events surround themselves with a unique and magical atmosphere. It was 1797 and in Bergamo, for some years now, the Riccardi Theater had been a popular and beloved place in the city. The fire that destroyed it was a serious event for the whole community, a mystery still unsolved today. And this is where chance comes in, with its coincidences. In those very same months, when Bergamo had been orphaned of its theatrical symbol, a Bergamasque family was enlightened by the birth of a child, destined to bind the city to art forever: Gaetano Donizetti.
The Riccardi Theater over the years was then rebuilt and reopened to the public in 1801, numerous international guests treaded its stage until, in 1897, the Riccardi Theater changed its name, but that is another story. Illustration: Pen drawing of the Riccardi Theater – Biblioteca Civica A. Mai and Municipal Historical Archives.
Raccolta Gaffuri, 4
1797 – Riccardi Theater, Bergamo
Coincidences: for some quirks of fate, for others pure chance. Whether one or the other matters little, certain events surround themselves with a unique and magical atmosphere. It was 1797 and in Bergamo, for some years now, the Riccardi Theater had been a popular and beloved place in the city. The fire that destroyed it was a serious event for the whole community, a mystery still unsolved today. And this is where chance comes in, with its coincidences. In those very same months, when Bergamo had been orphaned of its theatrical symbol, a Bergamasque family was enlightened by the birth of a child, destined to bind the city to art forever: Gaetano Donizetti.
The Riccardi Theater over the years was then rebuilt and reopened to the public in 1801, numerous international guests treaded its stage until, in 1897, the Riccardi Theater changed its name, but that is another story. Illustration: Pen drawing of the Riccardi Theater – Biblioteca Civica A. Mai and Municipal Historical Archives.
Raccolta Gaffuri, 4
Foyer – Conservation Restoration.
1066 days have passed since the Donizetti Theater closed its doors on Feb. 5, 2018, to allow for renovations. An extremely long period, in which actors were replaced by insiders and soprano notes were replaced by hammers and chisels. During these months, however, the theater continued to live. Renovation work has affected the entire building, starting with the foyer. In fact, the entrance has undergone a conservative restoration useful for the preservation of historical elements dating back centuries. In particular, the decorations were treated with light scraping so as to bring out the underlying layer, characterized by sandy yellow and green tones. All layers of paint and coloring overlapping the original were therefore carefully removed, subsequently providing for the consolidation of the plaster, pictorial recovery and glazing to restore chromatic homogeneity. A meticulous intervention aimed at making the details of the splendid hall shine again, a symbol of the beauty and immortality of an art that will soon return to animate the halls of this magical place.