Teatro San Cassiano

We are reconstructing the original Teatro San Cassiano of 1637 and with it restoring historically-informed Baroque opera to Venice. In 1637, the Teatro San Cassiano gave public opera to the world. This momentous act sparked a global opera boom which set Venice as its capital and established the Teatro San Cassiano forevermore as the world’s first public opera house, the birthplace of modern-day opera. Today, there is no monument, no celebration, no theatre. It’s time to celebrate Baroque opera in Venice. It’s time to celebrate Venice’s greatest gift to the world. The project has three clear objectives: To reconstruct the Teatro San Cassiano of 1637 as faithfully as modern scholarship and traditional craftsmanship will allow to deliver a fully functioning, dedicated Baroque opera house, complete with its own fully operational Baroque stage machinery, moving scene-sets and special effects. To restore historically-informed Baroque opera to Venice. To establish the Teatro San Cassiano as a world-renowned centre for the research, the exploration and staging of Historically Informed Performance, literally studying Baroque opera through its recital on stage and in the orchestra pit. The time has come for Venice to reclaim its birthright. Together, we can make this happen. Thank you.