Teatro delle Quattro Fontane
Encyclopedia
The Teatro delle Quattro Fontane (Theatre of the Four Fountains) is an opera house
in Rome
, Italy, designed (in part) by Gian Lorenzo Bernini
and built in 1632 by the Barberini
family . It was located in Via delle Quattro Fontane, near the Piazza Barberini
and the Quattro Fontane
or Four Fountains.
with the opera
, Sant' Alessio (Saint Alexis; first performed in 1631), composed by Stefano Landi
to a libretto
by Giulio Rospigliosi, a protegé of the Barberini Pope Urban VIII
, later himself elected Pope Clement IX
. The theatre could seat 3000.
The theatre closed temporarily in 1642 at the height of the Barberini Wars of Castro
with the Farnese Dukes of Parma which became incredibly expensive for the family and the Holy See
. The theatre had not yet reopened before when its patrons, the three Barberini nephews of Pope Urban (Francesco Barberini
, Antonio Barberini
(Antonio the Younger), and Taddeo Barberini
), were sent into exile by the newly elected Pope Innocent X
.
Finally in 1653, after more than 10 years with its doors closed, Taddeo's son Maffeo Barberini returned to Rome
and married Olimpia Giustiniani
; finally reconciling the Barberini with the papacy. As the new Prince of Palestrina
he reopened the theatre and recommenced performances.
In 1632, the theatre was rebuilt and was particularly active during the late 1940s, after World War II
.
The building was converted into a modern cinema
in the 1960s and now houses the Multisala Barberini (Multiplex Barberini) which shows a full range of modern films
.
Opera house
An opera house is a theatre building used for opera performances that consists of a stage, an orchestra pit, audience seating, and backstage facilities for costumes and set building...
in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
, Italy, designed (in part) by Gian Lorenzo Bernini
Gian Lorenzo Bernini
Gian Lorenzo Bernini was an Italian artist who worked principally in Rome. He was the leading sculptor of his age and also a prominent architect...
and built in 1632 by the Barberini
Barberini
The Barberini are a family of the Italian nobility that rose to prominence in 17th century Rome. Their influence peaked with the election of Cardinal Maffeo Barberini to the papal throne in 1623, as Pope Urban VIII...
family . It was located in Via delle Quattro Fontane, near the Piazza Barberini
Piazza Barberini
Piazza Barberini is a large piazza in the centro storico or city center of Rome, Italy and situated on the Quirinal Hill. It was created in the 16th century but many of the surrounding buildings have subsequently been rebuilt....
and the Quattro Fontane
Quattro Fontane
The Quattro Fontane is a group of four Late Renaissance fountains located at the intersection of Via delle Quattro Fontane and Via del Quirinale in Rome. They were commissioned by Pope Sixtus V and built at the direction of Muzio Mattei; installed between 1588 and 1593...
or Four Fountains.
History
The theatre opened in 16321632 in music
- Events :*Opening of the Teatro delle Quattro Fontane in Rome.*William Child becomes Master of the Choristers at St George's Chapel, Windsor.- Publications :*Claudio Monteverdi – Second book of scherzi musicali*Walter Porter – Madrigales and Ayres...
with the opera
Opera
Opera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text and musical score, usually in a theatrical setting. Opera incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre, such as acting, scenery, and costumes and sometimes includes dance...
, Sant' Alessio (Saint Alexis; first performed in 1631), composed by Stefano Landi
Stefano Landi
Stefano Landi was an Italian composer and teacher of the early Baroque Roman School. He was an influential early composer of opera, and wrote the earliest opera on a historical subject: Sant'Alessio .-Biography:Landi was born in Rome, the capital of the Papal States.In 1595 he joined the Collegio...
to a libretto
Libretto
A libretto is the text used in an extended musical work such as an opera, operetta, masque, oratorio, cantata, or musical. The term "libretto" is also sometimes used to refer to the text of major liturgical works, such as mass, requiem, and sacred cantata, or even the story line of a...
by Giulio Rospigliosi, a protegé of the Barberini Pope Urban VIII
Pope Urban VIII
Pope Urban VIII , born Maffeo Barberini, was pope from 1623 to 1644. He was the last pope to expand the papal territory by force of arms, and was a prominent patron of the arts and reformer of Church missions...
, later himself elected Pope Clement IX
Pope Clement IX
Pope Clement IX , born Giulio Rospigliosi, was Pope from 1667 to 1669.-Early life:Born Giulio Rospigliosi to a noble family of Pistoia, Grand Duchy of Tuscany, he was a pupil of the Jesuits. After receiving his doctorate in philosophy at the University of Pisa, he taught theology there...
. The theatre could seat 3000.
The theatre closed temporarily in 1642 at the height of the Barberini Wars of Castro
Wars of Castro
The Wars of Castro is a term referring to a series of events in the mid-17th century revolving around the ancient city of Castro , which eventually resulted in the city's destruction on 2 September 1649...
with the Farnese Dukes of Parma which became incredibly expensive for the family and the Holy See
Holy See
The Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome, in which its Bishop is commonly known as the Pope. It is the preeminent episcopal see of the Catholic Church, forming the central government of the Church. As such, diplomatically, and in other spheres the Holy See acts and...
. The theatre had not yet reopened before when its patrons, the three Barberini nephews of Pope Urban (Francesco Barberini
Francesco Barberini (seniore)
Francesco Barberini was an Italian Catholic Cardinal. The nephew of Pope Urban VIII , he benefited immensely from the nepotism practiced by his uncle...
, Antonio Barberini
Antonio Barberini
Antonio Barberini was an Italian Catholic cardinal, Archbishop of Reims, military leader, patron of the arts and a prominent member of the House of Barberini. As one of the cardinal-nephews of Pope Urban VIII and a supporter of France, he played a significant role at a number of the papal...
(Antonio the Younger), and Taddeo Barberini
Taddeo Barberini
Taddeo Barberini was an Italian nobleman of the House of Barberini who became Prince of Palestrina and Gonfalonier of the Church; commander of the Papal Army. He was a nephew of Pope Urban VIII and brother of Cardinals Francesco Barberini and Antonio Barberini...
), were sent into exile by the newly elected Pope Innocent X
Pope Innocent X
Pope Innocent X , born Giovanni Battista Pamphilj , was Pope from 1644 to 1655. Born in Rome of a family from Gubbio in Umbria who had come to Rome during the pontificate of Pope Innocent IX, he graduated from the Collegio Romano and followed a conventional cursus honorum, following his uncle...
.
Finally in 1653, after more than 10 years with its doors closed, Taddeo's son Maffeo Barberini returned to Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
and married Olimpia Giustiniani
Olimpia Giustiniani
Olimpia Giustiniani was an Italian noblewoman of the houses of Giustiniani and Barberini. She was the grand-daughter of Olimpia Maidalchini, niece of Pope Innocent X and wife of Maffeo Barberini, Prince of Palestrina....
; finally reconciling the Barberini with the papacy. As the new Prince of Palestrina
Palestrina
Palestrina is an ancient city and comune with a population of about 18,000, in Lazio, c. 35 km east of Rome...
he reopened the theatre and recommenced performances.
In 1632, the theatre was rebuilt and was particularly active during the late 1940s, after World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
The building was converted into a modern cinema
Movie theater
A movie theater, cinema, movie house, picture theater, film theater is a venue, usually a building, for viewing motion pictures ....
in the 1960s and now houses the Multisala Barberini (Multiplex Barberini) which shows a full range of modern films
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
.