Teatro Sociale was inaugurated in 1813, year of birth of Giuseppe Verdi and Richard Wagner. It was built on a project by architect Giuseppe Cursi in the area where once stood the “Torre Rotonda” Castle. In the Theater there were many interventions and restorations: extraordinary maintenance in 1838, the addition of 38 boxes in 1855, the advent of the gas lighting in 1864 and the electric lighting in 1899.
The current room is shaped like a cello case and the sides have a wooden structure with five levels of seats: 3 levels for the 72 private property boxes and the royal box, 2 levels for the circles (IV and V orders), for a total of 999 seats.
The Theater has an historic curtain designed by Alessandro Sanquirico, a great scenographer and painter of the first half of 1800, representing the death of Plinius the Elder among his soldiers during the Vesuvius’s eruption in 79 A.D.
The owner of the theater is the “Società dei Palchettisti”, while the entire artistic activity is managed by As.Li.Co., Associazione Lirico Concertistica, founded in Milan in 1949 with the specific task of <> and <>.
Over the years, As.Li.Co. has expanded its horizons by promoting several initiatives and projects always directed to the training of young artists –singers, directors, conductors, musicians- providing them significant opportunities of employment and artistic growth