Asmara Theatre

Asmara Theatre (Italian: Teatro di Asmara), also known as Asmara Opera, is a theatre in Asmara, Eritrea. It was constructed in 1918 following a design by the Italian architect Odoardo Cavagnari, with later renovations in 1936.[1]

Asmara Theatre building
Asmara Theatre interior

Characteristics
Monumental entrance to Asmara Theatre building
Ceiling of Asmara Theatre

The building combines elements of Romanesque Revival and neoclassicism. The painting of the ceiling of the auditorium shows the tendencies of the Art Nouveau. Indeed, the roof has paintings by Saverio Fresa with dance images. It was one of the most famous buildings in Italian Asmara.

The building was erected on a hillside in Italian Asmara,[2] at the eastern end of the north side of today's Harriet Avenue (the old Corso Italia, later named Corso Mussolini and now the main road of Asmara) and at the corner of Beleza Street. This location made possible to make the ascent to the Opera as a monumental staircase, which is circled on both sides by a shell-shaped fountain and a Renaissance - loggia with Corinthian columns. The rest of the exterior of the building, especially the Beleza Street side facing, is castle-like, designed with battlements and towers. From the porch it is possible to reach the Foyer, which in turn gives access to the huge "Auditorium". This has, in addition to the Parquet floor, three additional levels and can have 750 spectators. The stage is relatively small and without further technical equipment.

In 1938 the international car race called Asmara circuit was started exactly in front of the Opera building, on the "Viale Roma" (now called "Sematat Avenue")[3]

The building was named Teatro Asmara until after being purchased by Eritrea and Ethiopia in 1952 from the Italian owners far below the market value. After the independence of Eritrea in 1991/93 it was dispossessed and is now back in state-owned property[4] In the foyer, there is now a cafe, and in a side building, the headquarters of the national telephone company Eritel.

In Asmara Theatre were performed many "commedie" and opera works like those of Pirandello and music by Puccini and Verdi, with soprano from the best theatres in Italy: for example, in 1951 was performed "La Patente" of Pirandello and music of Chopin.[5]

After World War II and until the 1970s even international companies performed in the Asmara Theatre with famous "artistic & musical tours", like those of Renato Rascel and Renato Carosone. The theatre was still occasionally used in 2012.

Notes
  1. Odoardo Cavagnari's Opera of Asmara (in Italian) Archived August 19, 2013, at the Wayback Machine
  2. Asmara italiana
  3. Photo of the 1938 "start", in front of the Asmara Opera House
  4. Haile Gebre Bocresion Mussie: The Collusion on Eritrea. 2nd ed. Asmara 2007; p. 174
  5. Teatro Asmara: prosa & musica on 08/23/1951

Bibliography
  • Jean-Bernard Carillet: Ethiopia & Eritrea. 2009.
  • Leonardo Oriolo: Asmara Style. Asmara 1998, S. 149.

See also

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.