For over 500 years, Venice is a major center for music western classic.
Renaissance masters such as Andrea and Giovanni Gabrieli celebrated the glory of the Venetian state and church.
Monteverdi and a series of 18th-century composers transformed opera into the art form we know today.
If you're a classical music fan, I'll take you to the best places to visit to enjoy a concert.
Music in Venice: article summary
Music in Venice: Bru Zane Palace
This charming concert hall is off the beaten tourist track. It's located in a quiet alleyway in the San Polo district, not far from the famous Frari church. The noble Zane family, passionate about music, built their own private concert hall. in the late 1600s.
In 2009, French pharmaceutical magnate Dr Nicole Bru inaugurated a Center for French Romantic Period Music in the palazzetto. Programs are published well in advance, so you can plan your visit.
Lo Squero Auditorium
Now let's discover a very well-hidden place! The Giorgio Cini Foundation is a leading private cultural institution in Venice, with a number of museums and galleries on the island of San Giorgio and in the Dorsoduro district.
In a remote corner of San Giorgio, a disused boathouse has been converted into a recital hall. In addition to the music, the auditorium offers superb views of the Venetian lagoon through the bay window behind the stage.
Concerts take place mainly on Saturday afternoons and evenings. Please note that tickets are generally very difficult to obtain. If you're interested in this venue, I'd advise you to ask the hotel staff for help.
The Malibran Theatre
In its heyday, Venice had 17 active theaters, including six opera houses, so it should come as no surprise to learn that even today, La Fenice also has a second theater, not far from the Rialto bridge.
Originally called Teatro San Giovanni Crisostomo, Teatro Malibran is dedicated to the Spanish diva Maria Malibran, one of opera's first international superstars. After conquering London, Paris and New York, Malibran's performances arrived in the dilapidated Crisostomo theater in 1835.
The performance caused such a sensation that the theater was completely renovated and renamed in his memory. The interior you see today dates from the Belle Époque of the early 20th century. Le theater is mainly used for revivals of Venetian operas that you're unlikely to see anywhere else.
Music in Venice: churches and brotherhoods
Some of Venice's most beautiful and historic institutions host concerts of vocal and instrumental music. The vast Franciscan church of Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frarifor example, is home to Titian's famous altarpiece and dozens of other masterpieces of the Venetian Renaissance, including the tomb of Claudio Monteverdi.
Other places to look out for include the Scuola Grande di San Rocco, just behind the Frari and, more recently, the Scuola Grande di San Giovanni Evangelista, also nearby.
La Fenice
The magnificent theater La Fenice remains the center of Venice's musical life. Opened in 1792, it was one of the last theaters of Venice's golden age. It was exceptionally large for its time. Destroyed twice by fire, the theater meticulously restored, reopened in 2003.
Some have criticized the decor for being too bright, but the glorious tradition of the theater can still be felt when you enter a dressing room or the parterres. There's also an exhibition dedicated to Maria Callas. She was a very popular in this theater in the 40s and 50s.
As a general rule, avoid Traviatas. Instead, look for new productions, rarities and new releases. works specifically linked to Venice. In addition to opera, the theater regularly hosts orchestral concerts, and the La Fenice Orchestra is one of Italy's finest.
Apart from a summer break in July and August, the theater is open all year round.
If you're a music lover and you'd like to discover the most beautiful classical music venues in Venice, I recommend a visit to one of these theaters. You'll get up close and personal with this art form. discover new trends in an exceptional setting.
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