On This Day

The Teatro di San Carlo in Naples is inaugurated

The Real Teatro di San Carlo ("Royal Theatre of Saint Charles"), as originally named by the Bourbon monarchy but today known simply as the Teatro (di) San Carlo, is a historic opera house in Naples,...

The Real Teatro di San Carlo ("Royal Theatre of Saint Charles"), as originally named by the Bourbon monarchy but today known simply as the Teatro (di) San Carlo, is a historic opera house in Naples, Italy, connected to the Royal Palace and adjacent to the Piazza del Plebiscito. It is the oldest continuously active venue for opera in the world, having opened in 1737, decades before either Milan's La Scala or Venice's La Fenice.

The opera season runs from late November to July, with the ballet season from December to early June. The house once had a seating capacity of 3,285, but has now been reduced to 1,386 seats. Given its size, structure and antiquity, it was the model for theatres that were later built in Europe.

Historical Significance

The Real Teatro di San Carlo ("Royal Theatre of Saint Charles"), as originally named by the Bourbon monarchy but today known simply as the Teatro (di) San Carlo, is a historic opera house in Naples, Italy, connected to the Royal Palace and adjacent to the Piazza del Plebiscito.

Events Before

  1. Maria Theresa Habsburg marries French Stefanus (emperor François I)

    Maria Theresa Habsburg marries French Stefanus (emperor François I)

  2. Stanislaw I of Poland abdicates his throne

    Stanislaw I of Poland abdicates his throne

  3. Bellevue Hospital founded in a New York City almshouse - 1st public hospital in the US

    New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States.

  4. Battle of Ackia (Louisiana), British & Chickasaw Indians defeat French

    The Chickasaw ( CHIK-ə-saw) are an Indigenous people of the Southeastern Woodlands, United States.

  5. James Watt is born

    James Watt, Scottish inventor, engineer and chemist, known for scottish inventor, engineer and chemist, was born on 1736-01-19.

Events After

  1. John Wesley is converted, launching the Methodist movement, celebrated annually by Methodists as Aldersgate Day

    John Wesley (28 June [O.S. 17 June] 1703 – 2 March 1791) was an English cleric, theologian, and evangelist who was a principal leader of a revival movement within the Church of England known as…

  2. Marriage of Maria Amalia of Saxony (13) to Charles, King of Naples and Sicily (22) at Portella

    Charles III (Spanish: Carlos Sebastián de Borbón y Farnesio; 20 January 1716 – 14 December 1788) was King of Spain from 1759 until his death in 1788.

  3. Parliament sends an address to the king requesting that he demand redress from Spain (War of Jenkin's Ear)

    Parliament sends an address to the king requesting that he demand redress from Spain (War of Jenkin's Ear)

  4. Real Academia de la Historia ("Royal Academy of History") founded in Madrid

    Real Academia de la Historia ("Royal Academy of History") founded in Madrid

  5. Britain sends a fleet to the Mediterranean Sea and the West Indies

    Britain sends a fleet to the Mediterranean Sea and the West Indies

More from the 1730s

Frequently Asked Questions

What happened on November 4, 1737?
The Real Teatro di San Carlo ("Royal Theatre of Saint Charles"), as originally named by the Bourbon monarchy but today known simply as the Teatro (di) San Carlo, is a historic opera house in Naples, Italy, connected to the Royal Palace and adjacent to the Piazza del Plebiscito. It is the oldest continuously active venue for opera in the world, having opened in 1737, decades before either Milan's La Scala or Venice's La Fenice. The opera season runs from late November to July, with the ballet season from December to early June.
Why is The Teatro di San Carlo in Naples is inaugurated significant?
The Real Teatro di San Carlo ("Royal Theatre of Saint Charles"), as originally named by the Bourbon monarchy but today known simply as the Teatro (di) San Carlo, is a historic opera house in Naples, Italy, connected to the Royal Palace and adjacent to the Piazza del Plebiscito.

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