Teatro San Cassiano
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Teatro San Cassiano or Teatro di San Cassiano in Venice was the first public opera house when it opened in 1637. It was a wooden structure built with financial backing of the Venetian Tron family. It was considered 'public' as it was directed by an impresario, or general manager, for the paying public.
It was replaced by a stone structure after a devastating fire in 1629. Towards the end of the 17th century Venice became the opera capital of the world as another ten opera houses opened. The last performances in the Teatro San Cassiano were held in 1807 and it was demolished in 1812.
