Sassari. An extraordinary recognition has arrived in recent days for the Verdi theater and the city of Sassari: a bill, already approved by the Chamber of Deputies, will declare “National monument” the historic city theater.
The news arrives precisely on the occasion of an important anniversary: i 140 years of the theater’s foundation. In 1884 a group of worthy citizens of Sassari decided to build the Verdi Theatre, then called Politeama, at their own expense, to allow the many passionate Sassari citizens to be able to attend classical music concerts and opera performances in the city. This initiative contributed to inserting Sassari into an important national cultural circuit.
Verdi will be in excellent company in receiving this recognition 408 the
Italian theaters included in the list among these also the Scala, and the Dal Verme in Milan, the San Carlo in Naples and, in Sardiniathe Civic of Cagliari and Alghero. “What makes this recognition even more precious – says Stefano Mancini, artistic director of the Teatro e/o musica cooperative that manages the theater – is not only the longevity of Verdi and its historical value but also the vitality and importance that the theater still has today occupies in the cultural life of the city of which it has remained over time symbolic and beloved place of aggregation”.
Confirmation of Verdi’s vitality is the recent success of the last few seasons which have seen a significant growth in audiences. The concert season, “The Great Interpreters of Music” 2024, this year had a surge with more than 400 subscribers and a total attendance, including matinees for schools, of 4,734 spectators.
Great success also for the events linked to the presentation of pop-rock music and for the events designed to evoke the atmospheres of the historical programming of the theater with the musical events called “The cultural salon of the Verdi theatre” which propose the tried and tested formula that combines the performance of the pieces with a direct dialogue with the public. Another noteworthy element is the expansion of the target audience which increasingly includes the new generations.
“Always – he concludes Stefano Mancini – our concert seasons are characterized by one variety Of musical proposals which propose both international artists with a “traditional” approach, as in this edition was for example the cellist Mischa Maisky and the violinist Boris Begelman but we always try to include something new and original in the programming.” This year great attention among the younger ones for the harpist Alexander Boldachev who has included in his program pieces belonging to the rock and pop. Also appreciated by a general public was the story of the duo Francesco Nicolosi and Stefano Valanzuolo who retraced the story of the pianist Wadysiaw Szpilman made famous by the film “the pianist” by Roman Polański. In the last event of the season the Verdi Theater Chamber Orchestra directed by Guglielmo De Stasio entertained the audience of subscribers, and a large presence of children, with a program that featured the iconic music of the Disney cartoon. The Teatro e/o Musica cooperative is also preparing to celebrate an important anniversary in 2025. 50 years of activity.
