An American heart beats in the Fenice Theater

Published: 2009 - February/March, Venetian Itinerary

The Fenice Theater in Venice already as far back as 1 November 1789, when a contest was published for its construction in which were invited to compete “national and foreign architects to propose the form of a theater… the most satisfying to the eye and the ear of the spectators”, showed its strong inclination to interact abroad and also with the countries on the other side of the Ocean.
With time this tendency has strengthened, widening the geographical origins of the artists, industrialists or simple frequenters of one of the most beautiful theaters in the world. In particular, after the second world war Venice found itself in the role of a great tourist center and so on the prestigious worlds stage. In this context the Fenice was enriched with melodious striking presences, some international. It’s worth remembering the Australian Joan Sutherland, “the voice of the century”, who in 1960 interpreted the eponymous role in “Alcina” and the American mezzo-soprano Marylin Horne who in 1984 performed in an imposing “Orlando”.
After the terrible fire of the 29th January 1996, which destroyed a large part of the Theater, many public characters and private Americans participated generously to the financing and donations necessary for the re-
building, inspired by the motto “com’era e dov’era” (how it was and where it was) in respect of its original architectural and acoustic characteristics.
An interest in the high quality programming of the Venetian Theater on be half of American businessmen, which has grown over the past few years. Today on the Board of Directors of the Foundation sits the American businessman William Weider, owner of the Las Vegas Sands Corporation, one of the most important chains of hotels-casinos in the world, including “The Venetian Resort Hotel Casino”. The local council, at first skeptical towards the commercial use of the image of the most beautiful city in the world, today embraces with enthusiasm and gratitude the agreements which allow them to maintain the high quality of Venetian cultural offerings.
In this regard, explains Luigino Rossi, Vice-president of the Fenice Foundation and promoter of the main collaborations between the Theater, the American world and today also the Chinese.

What relationship unites The Fenice Theater and America?
“Many industrialists and businessmen in the Northeast, of Veneto and Venice for years have retained commercial relationships with the United States and the Americas, thanks also to the direct flights by Delta Airlines. It’s very active and continues an exchange of visits and delegations which consolidate economic relations as well as cultural”.

In particular why the interest towards the Fenice Theater?
“It was the former President of the Foundation, Professor Paolo Costa, who wanted – in spite of my hesitation – an entrepreneur as Vice president of the Foundation. My job, which still continues today with a commitment asked of me by Mayor Cacciari even in the delicate dealings with the union representatives, concerns above all the search for sponsors. The first benefactor was William Weider, today Councilor of the Foundation, who showed his strong interest of the culture, the history, other than the tourist value of Venice recreating its principal monuments of the city in Las Vegas and donating a million and a half dollars to the Fenice. Today it is China which is joining us as a speaker for new tourist and cultural business”.

In a difficult moment for opera companies, do you see in some way a glimmer of hope for the future?
“I believe the Government needs to carry out a great reform, reorganizing the opera companies, probably reducing the numbers. It is everyone’s duty to hand down to the future generations a culture of quality, but to survive it is necessary to optimize the resources, maybe even to divide the fields of opera, ballet, theater etc., and concentrate on finance from the private sector, considering that the Institutions are also poorer. I can see in the methods adopted at the Fenice with the Fest Society for fund raising a solution that could be adopted by other theaters to continue to produce and host quality playbills, as we have done so far, not with standing the profound economic crisis which will certainly not be resolved in a few years”.

The difference between culture in America and in Italy?
“In America the culture is heavily supported by the private sector, a route which we also have to strengthen. Young people go to the theater, but also in Venice we can’t complain, considering the difference in numbers. The Fenice has a young and passionate public which appreciate international level opera, enriched by new arrangements and emerging artists”.