Teatro di San Carlo in the history of bel canto: past and present

Section 3. History and modernity in world musical art

Abstract

Statement of the problem. Opera as an art form is shaped through the interaction of various factors: the creativity of composers, the performance skills of singers, and audience perception. In this context, the opera house functions as an important institution and a center for creative exchange and innovation. Objectives, methods, and novelty of the research. The purpose of the article is to disclose the role of opera houses in the development of opera art. The focus of the study is the Teatro di San Carlo (Naples), which played a significant role in the emergence of the bel canto style but has not yet attracted the attention of researchers, which determines the novelty of the chosen topic. The study is based on the principle of historicism, which makes it possible to consider the San Carlo Theatre as part of the broader development of Western European musical culture. Research results. Naples is a landmark city in the history of Western European culture, influenced by its geographical and political conditions. The Neapolitan dialect is still widely used today, having contributed to a unique song tradition. Naples also played an important role in the development of professional art education, as the first specialized institutions - conservatories - appeared here in 1537,which were crucial in shaping bel canto, which defined the success of Italian opera on a European scale. A key element in this process is the San Carlo Theatre, founded in 1737. It collaborated with prominent composers (Leonardo Ortensio Salvatore de Leo, Nicola Antonio Giacinto Porpora, Baldassarre Galuppi) and performers (Carlo Broschi, Gaetano Majorano). It can be assumed that the works written for the Teatro di San Carlo captured the prevailing ideal of the vocal voice at the time, which in turn influenced the work of subsequent generations of composers. Three composers, whose contributions are considered pivotal in the history of opera - Gioachino Rossini, Gaetano Donizetti, and Vincenzo Bellini - worked with the San Carlo Theatre, completing the formation of the classical bel canto style and its corresponding vocal technique. It has been found that today the theatre no longer serves as a central hub for the development of operatic art. An analysis of the current repertoire suggests that the management does not prioritize the promotion of classical bel canto operas. However, the theatre hosts an Academy for Opera Singers, where renowned artists teach: sopranos Mariella Devia and Maria Giovanna Agresta, baritone Luca Salsi, and bass Michele Pertusi, all of whom belong to the Italian vocal school and include a significant number of bel canto roles in their repertoire. Conclusion. The study of the history of San Carlo - one of the oldest European opera houses - allows us to draw the following conclusions. 1. The opera house, as a social institution, is a vital component of the musical culture system, primarily because it is a point of intersection (communication) between composers, performers, and listeners. This makes the activities of theatres influential in shaping the values of the opera industry and in establishing or adjusting performance standards. 2. Like other phenomena of human existence, the history of the San Carlo Theatre, from its founding to the present day, has undergone several stages, the most prominent of which was the era of classical bel canto opera.