Teatro di San Carlo, Naples, Italy
The Teatro di San Carlo in Naples is the world’s oldest working theatre and still ranks amongst its most famous opera houses. I’m no opera expert but if I close my eyes and imagine an opera house I see it with glamour, gold and balconies of red. The Teatro di San Carlo has all that.
A few weeks ago we were treated to a concert there. First we had to find the theatre.
The painted ceiling of the Teatro di San Carlo, Naples, Italy
Pinpointing the teatro on the map was easy – spotting the entrance was more complicated.
The reason? Naples has bandaged its opera house so tightly in scaffolding that it’s almost completely hidden. The only giveaway is the large red and gold billboard above the balaclava-style hole of an entrance to the opera’s cafe, Scaturchio.
Scaturchio – cappuccino in the opera café
The cafe, with yellow sofas and screens showing orchestras in rehearsal, is the curtain raiser for the teatro itself but it was a couple of cappuccini before we were sure of the connection, and another five minutes before we found the tiny ticket office.
Here two weary staff fielded questions about seating and tickets and options … all in Italian.
We tried what we thought were the right words and then agreed that ‘online’ would be best.
Thankfully, safely home, online worked perfectly and in English.
Two nights later we found our way back to Scaturchio’s then followed the well-dressed, Italian, February-crowd around another corner, up the curving marble stairs and into the plush of the Teatro di San Carlo.
Our box was halfway up the layers, Palco IV, and near the centre. We were shown to our seats by a young lady with long, chestnut curls, dressed in elegant blue who unlocked our door and ushered us in.
Suddenly we were beneath the painted ceiling surrounded by pockets of padded balconies and golden nymphs with the huge (17m long and 12m high) main curtain in front of us pulled back above the waiting cellos and music stands.
The crown above the Royal Box – Teatro di San Carlo
Our box was right next to the Royal Box which looked empty apart from a camera crew. Clearly the force behind the original 1737 teatro, Charles VII, first Bourbon ruler of Naples, was not in.
He’d gone for the best, built a jewel, and it’s still here however threadbare the city’s pockets.
What we saw was stunning but not quite original. In 1816, when the theatre was just short of eighty, it was nearly destroyed by fire but then rebuilt in less than a year with almost more dazzle than before.
There have been a few facelifts since the fire but nothing major. The most recent upgrade and repaint was in 2010 which means right now is a great time to feel the full gleam of royal bling.
Teatro di San Carlo
We were treated to Mahler’s Third Symphony the night we took our seats in the San Carlo.
It was an evening of music and mirrors, of light and luxury – of opulence in old Naples.
Copyright Georgie Knaggs & The Phraser 2018
Here is a clip from a performance at the Teatro di San Carlo in early March by violinist David Garrett.
The Phraser 
Reblogged this on The Phraser and commented:
A look back (first published March 17 2015): when this was written the San Carlo was virtually hidden behind scaffolding. I saw the theatre a few days ago and, although still under repair externally, the bandaging is much lighter now.
LikeLike
Pingback: Naples Monthly Roundup
I enjoyed seeing the Keith Jarrett trio there a few years ago, but the acoustics left something to be desired. This was primarily due to the venue being an opera house appropriate for a different volume of concert than an intimate jazz group. I was disappointed, but not in Teatro San Carlo! There have been some more recent attempts to modernize the sound system met with equal dissatisfaction within the operatic community of Naples.
Nevertheless, it remains an iconic fixture of the city and well worth visiting. I’ll never forget the first day that I walked from my old apartment in Centro Storico past Trieste e Trento and onwards towards the Lungomare. What a magnificent sight!
LikeLike
Thanks so much for your comment. It’s very interesting to hear about the acoustics. I have heard that they are best suited to orchestral works but have not gone into this area in depth. I’m longing to see the building free of scaffolding – it’s been tightly bound since autumn 2014.
LikeLike
Absolutely stunning
LikeLike
It is stunning! A great reason to call in on Naples 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people