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With its neoclassical façade and portico with travertine columns, the Ventidio Basso Theatre in Ascoli Piceno is a hidden gem nestled among the city's medieval buildings. It stands opposite the 16th-century Chiostro Maggiore di San Francesco and is every bit as beautiful. It was here that the theatre was built between 1840 and 1846 to a design by Ireneo Aleandri, here that it was inaugurated with works by Vincenzo Bellini and Giuseppe Verdi, and here that its long tradition of success and splendour began, which continued throughout the 19th century. The following century, however, was less kind, and the theatre was forced to endure periods of decline, forced closures and restorations, which became even more necessary following the damage it suffered in the 1971 earthquake. It was not until 1994 that the theatre reopened its doors, an event eagerly awaited by the local population, who turned out en masse for the performance of Giuseppe Verdi’s ‘La Traviata’ staged for the reopening. This unprecedented triumph marked the rebirth of the Ventidio Basso, which was returned to the people of Ascoli Piceno in all its splendour. Today, as you step through the entrance, it takes just a few moments to be captivated by the inherent beauty of this space: you are immediately drawn in by the large crystal chandelier that dominates the auditorium, hanging from the centre of the ceiling, which is decorated with frescoes depicting mythological scenes and dancing figures that tell stories of gods and heroes. Then there are the neat rows of boxes rising upwards, adorned with gilded decorations and ruby-red velvets, which create an atmosphere in the horseshoe-shaped auditorium that exudes elegance and history. The programme is packed with events, and whether it’s a grand opera, a powerful drama, a light comedy, a play or a dance performance, the theatre manages to create an atmosphere that is both intimate and grand, conveying the warmth of the generations that, over the centuries, have passed down their passion for opera and theatre as a precious legacy. The theatre’s exceptional acoustics allow the voices of the actors and singers to float through the air with such clarity and depth that they seem to amplify every emotion, every whisper, every note.
