Guided tours

Visiting the Opera Carlo Felice theatre is like traveling through time and history, discovering the past and the technology of a stage machinery making Carlo Felice one of the most modern theatres in Europe.

The contemporaneity of the theatre coexists with the vivid memories of the past, such as the marble statue of San Domenico by Francesco Schiaffino (1689-1765) at the entrance – reminding us all of the fact that the ancient Carlo Felice theatre stood on the ruins of the convent of San Domenico – the contemporary works of art such as the frescoes by Aurelio Caminati and the tapestries by Raimondo Sirotti in the prominent foyer, commissioned for the reconstructed theatre, as well as the furnishings of great design such as sofas and chairs by Aldo Rossi for Molteni.
The foyer leads to the main hall, occupying the whole interior space of the ancient building. Here, the architects have recreated an atmosphere proper of the ancient square theatres, where the performances were staged outdoors in the city centres. Hence the presence of windows and balconies on the walls, reminiscent of the facades of the buildings and the ceiling dotted with 160 spotlights recalling a starry sky.
Between the proscenium and the stage, the fire curtain is covered with a sculptural panel specifically commissioned for the new theatre.
The title of the work is Viva Schöenberg by the artist Giovanni Ceccarelli, also known as Nero. The technological heart of the theatre is hidden beyond the firebreak: a 63-meter scenic tower, where the staging systems are located, overlooks the four mobile stages (main stage, back stage and two lower stages placed side by side), allowing the theatre to stage complex sets or different alternating shows.