Funded by the Ministry of Culture, the renovations involved the main hall, royal balcony and central ceiling canvas by the Sicilian artist Giuseppe Cammarano.
Work was also carried out on the stage floor, orchestra pit, seating and heating, fire suppression and electrical systems, among other things.
Minister of Culture Gennaro Sangiuliano was present at the reopening.
“The San Carlo is a great cultural institution not only in Naples but in Europe,” Sangiuliano said.
“Just scroll through the history books to understand the importance of this lyric-symphonic foundation and this theatre.
“Here is the history of opera and I could make a long list of the great masters that have followed one another here.”
President of the San Carlo Foundation and mayor of Naples, Gaetano Manfredi, spoke at the reopening, emphasising that the refurbishments not only included aesthetics, but also tech innovation and audience comfort.
“Today we admire the result of beautiful renovations that restore the splendour of the theatre, but also important alterations to the systems that also guarantee state-of-the-art technological improvements, greater comfort and energy savings.”
Teatro San Carlo opened in 1737 by decree of the Bourbon King, Charles III of Naples, and is the oldest continuously active opera theatre in the world.
The first performance following the renovation will be by famous South African soprano Pretty Yende on April 6.
Accompanied by renowned pianist Michael D’Elia, the pair will perform pieces by composers including Mozart, Rossini, Debussy, Liszt and Donizetti.
Yende is also set to perform at Westminster Abbey in London on May 6, at the coronation of King Charles III.
ANSA
