Teatro Bibiena

The Teatro Bibiena di Mantova (also known as, among others, the Teatro Scientifico, Teatro Accademico or Teatrino della Accademia Filarmonica) was made by Antonio Bibiena in 1767-1769 and decorated in 1773-1775 with a facade of Piermarini designed by Paolo Pozzo (1741–1803).

Teatro Bibiena
AddressVia Accademia, 47
Mantua
Italy
Coordinates45.157838°N 10.798115°E / 45.157838; 10.798115
Construction
Opened1769
Years active1769-present
ArchitectAntonio Bibiena
Façade of the theatre
View of the stage

Constructed for the Royal Virgilian Academy of Science and Arts (the "Accademia Virgiliana"), the theatre in Mantua was designed in late Baroque or early Rococo style by Antonio Galli Bibiena and erected between 1767 and 1769. With a bell-shaped floorplan and four rows of boxes, it followed the new style of theatres then in vogue. It was intended to host both theatre productions and concerts, and scientific discourses and conventions. Bibiena also provided the monochrome frescoes in the interior.[1] The theatre is now considered to be his most important work.[2]

It was opened officially on 3 December 1769. A few weeks later, on 16 January 1770, thirteen-year-old Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart played a concert here, with resounding success.[1] His father, Leopold Mozart, wrote about the theatre: "In all my life, I have never seen anything more beautiful of its kind".[2]

In 1773, Giuseppe Piermarini, who constructed the neighbouring palazzo for the Accademia Virgiliana, designed and built the façade of the theatre.[1]

Still used for its original purposes, it now can also be visited by tourists as one of Mantua's museums.[1] The theatre is relatively small, with a scene 12,3 metres wide and 5,6 metres deep, and a maximum audience of 363 persons.[3]

Notes
  1. "Teatro Scientifico Bibiena". Community of Mantua.
  2. Sanders, Donald (2012). Music at the Gonzaga Court. Lexington. p. 165. ISBN 9780739167274.
  3. "Strutture teatrali della provincia di Mantova". Culture, identità a Autonomie. Lombardy region. Archived from the original on 2015-09-23.

Further reading
  • Rothgordt, K. (1963). Das Teatro Scientifico der koniglichen Akademie Virgiliana in Mantua und seine theatergeschichtliche Bedeutung.
  • Fario, Emilio (1982). Il teatro di Antonio Bibiena in Mantova e il Palazzo Accademico. Ente Manifestazioni Mantovane. p. 48.
  • Queck, U. (1997). Das Teatro Scientifico in Mantua: Architektur und Funktion eines oberitalienisches Akademietheaters des 18. Jahrhunderts. Frankfurt am Main.
  • Bazzotti, Ugo (2007). Il Teatro Scientifico di Mantova. Skira. p. 55. ISBN 9788861300002.
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