| Bologna has strong musical links,
earning the epithet ‘Italians, salute! Musical Bologna is passing!’ Mozart
and Rossini both studied in the city and the former was just 14 when he
became a member of the city’s Accademia Filarmonica, one of Europe’s leading
musical academies, founded in 1666. Rossini, who hailed from nearby Pesaro,
made his operatic debut here in 1814 with Tancredi and The Italian Girl
in Algiers. Both works received a cool reception, in marked contrast to
the Italian premiere of Wagner’s Lohengrin, which delighted the Bolognese
audience and ran for a record 18 performances. The rapturous plaudits stunned
even the egocentric Wagner, who declared such success was only possible
in a city whose motto was Libertas (Freedom). Wagner was later made an
honorary citizen of Bologna, adding further lustre to the city’s musical
reputation.
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Today, the musical tradition continues
to flourish. Regular concert cycles are performed, ad hoc, in the Sale
Mozart at the Accademia Filarmonica and in various churches around the
city. Posters are pinned up outside the venue and tickets can be bought
at the door. Bologna holds her own on the popular music front as well –
national and international rock stars frequently perform in the football
stadium outside the city. Tickets can be bought at record shops around
the city.
Monthly cultural listings are available
from Bologna Online (website: www.televisual.it/bolognaonline).
Music: The Teatro Comunale,
Largo Respighi 1 (tel: (051) 529 999; website: www.comunalebologna.it),
is the primary venue for opera and classical music in Bologna. Since 1763,
the theatre has welcomed some of the world’s greatest composers including
Rossini, Verdi and Wagner. The opera season, reckoned to be second only
to Milan’s La Scala, begins at the end of November and continues through
to the end of June. Tickets start at L25,000/EUR13 for a place in the Gods
but are often difficult to come by. The Teatro Comunale organises prestigious
concerts, both in the theatre and in local churches through September to
June. Important concerts are held in the Sala Bossi of the Conservatorio
di Musica G.B. Martini, Piazza Rossini (website: www.comune.bologna.it/perbole/conservatorio),
from December to May. Music is also featured at the Accademia Filarmonia,
Via Guerrazzi 13 (tel: (051) 222 997; website: www.comune.bologna.it/perbole/accfilbo),
and the Basilica di Santa Maria dei Servi, Via dei Borsaglieri 1 (tel:
(051) 261 710).
Theatre: Bologna has 14 theatres
in total, offering a wide selection of drama from Shakespeare to experimental
theatre. All performances are conducted in Italian and often include dialect,
so a good understanding of the language or a selfless interpreter is vital.
Tickets are available at the respective box offices. The Teatro Duse, Via
Cartolerie 42 (tel: (051) 226 606; website: www.alinet.it/duse), is the
most traditional of the playhouses and from November to May attracts Bologna’s
middle class with its popular repertoire of classical drama. The recently
renovated Arena del Sole, Via Indipendenza 44 (tel: (051) 291 0910; website:
www.arenadelsole.it), offers a more diverse programme ranging from the
conservative to the avant-garde. Teatro Dehon, Via Libia 59 (tel: (051)
342 934; website: www.teatrodehon.it), is the top spot for comedy. The
Teatro Testoni, Via Matteotti 16 (tel: (051) 377 968; website: www.testoniragazzi.it),
specialises in shows for children every Saturday and Sunday afternoon.
Dance: The ballet season is
organised by the Teatro Comunale, Largo Respighi 1 (tel: (051) 529 999;
website: www.comunalebologna.it). Teatri di Vita, Via di Pratello 90/92
(tel: (051) 523 113; website: www.teatridivita.it), holds performances
of contemporary dance and often hosts visiting dance companies from overseas.
Film: Bologna is a city of
students and – inevitably – cinema is the paramount art form. Films usually
reach Italy before the UK, so visitors can enjoy a sneak preview of the
latest Hollywood blockbuster or take in an arthouse picture in its original
language. The Adriano, Via San Felice 52 (tel: (051) 555 127), shows films
in English on Monday, while Tiffany, Piazza Porta Saragozza 5 (tel: (051)
585 253), has a Wednesday showing. Films are shown outdoors at the Arena
Puccini, Via Serlio 25, in summer.
Cultural events: Bologna hosts
many international festivals and concerts. Among them are I Grandi Interpreti,
a cycle of concerts from April to June, featuring the best soloists, orchestras
and musical groups in the world, as well as Suoni dal Mundo, a series of
concerts taking place in November and December, dedicated to world music,
and Sintonia d’Assoli, a festival of jazz and contemporary music, during
the summer months. The Cineteca Comunale, Bologna’s Municipal Cinema Library
(website: www.conetecadibologna.it), organises two international exhibitions
dedicated to the visual arts. The first is Cinema Ritrovato, at the end
of April, which looks back at the history of cinema with a series of screenings
and lectures. The second is the biannual Cinema dei Paesi Arabi, celebrating
Arabic film making – the next will be in January 2004. Bologna Sogna is
a summer-long festival comprising art exhibitions, experimental theatre,
cabaret, rock, poetry and puppets, often performed outdoors. |
