Cremona, Ponchielli Theatre

The Ponchielli Theatre was originally named Concordia Theatre and was built on a design by G.B. Zaist in 1747 thanks to an initiative of a group of town nobles. Destroyed by a fire in 1806, the year after it was rebuilt in a Neoclassical style, on designs by Milan-born architect Luigi Canonica. Another fire almost entirely destroyed it again in 1824, and once again it was restored by architects F. Rodi and L. Voghera. In 1907 it was named Ponchielli Theatre, after the name of the famous musician and composer. The Greek-temple face features a monumental pronaos with Ionian columns and a towering pediment, used, with a strong overhang on the road, as a porch-vestibule. The fine interior features a horseshoe-shaped hall, with a large pit surmounted by four orders of boxes, with a larger, honour box in the middle, a balcony and a gallery. All the interior is sumptuously decorated with stuccoes and ivory; behind the wide proscenium is a deep and well-equipped stage area, among the largest in Italy. With the glorious tradition of over 250 years of activity, the theatre has played an essential role in disseminating musical culture, especially in the 19th century, and still is a major component of the local musical life, thanks to prestigious opera, concert and drama seasons.