Since 1792, La Fenice, the Venice Opera House, has preserved the documentation produced by the founders, the “impresarios” who worked there and the municipality of Venice it was transferred to in 1936. Visiting the Historical Archives allows us to travel through the theatre whole history. The collections include opera booklets and theatre programmes, posters, manuscript scores, administrative papers; photographic series and press review since 1938; audio-video recordings since 1960. Participants will be shown a selection of materials, while an archive specialist will illustrate the archival work, such as tidying up, inventorying and digitizing.
La Fenice Opera House: a phoenix that has risen twice to spread beautyLa Fenice Opera House opened its doors in 1792. Great composers like Rossini, Bellini, Donizetti, Verdi, Wagner, Stravinsky, Prokofiev, Britten, Nono, Maderna have written works premiered here. After the second World War Venice became a great centre of international tourism and a prestigious stage worldwide. Singers such as Callas, Tebaldi, Pavarotti, Horne and conductors like Bernstein, von Karajan, Abbado, Muti, Prêtre (among others) all performed here. Destroyed by fire in 1836 and 1996, like the mythical Phoenix it has risen twice: it was lastly rebuilt "as it was, where it was" on a project by Aldo Rossi.
A free audio guide, available to stream from 10 April to 1 May, will enhance your experience of Homo Faber in Citta. Discover more about Venice, its crafts workshops and its heritage as a city of craftsmanship, to complement your personal tour.
ListenPlease stay informed about the latest Covid safety requirements in Venice and comply with any requests from the venues you visit, to ensure the safety of yourself and the participating artisans.
Make sure you arrive on time at each venue (although no more than ten minutes early), to make the most of your experience and the artisan’s time. Please call the venue ahead of time if you are likely to be late.
Please let us know if you wish to cancel your booking so that we may offer the opportunity to another visitor. Cancel or rebook directly on your account or via your confirmation or reminder email. If cancelling on the day of your event, kindly inform the venue by telephone.