The Roman theater
In ancient times, the Romans had a passion for all kinds of spectacles, mainly organized in favor of the gods. The first stage-related games were introduced in 364 BC, when a plague epidemic was raging. To calm the anger of the gods, the Romans called upon dancers and musicians from Etruria. It was then only pantomimes without reciting, but the Romans took taste to these representations and imitated them, supplementing the spectacle such as it was initially proposed of dialogues and songs. The ludi scaeni included all the performances proposed on a theater stage. These shows were frequent and varied, from comedy to tragedy, passing by mime or pantomime. They were first proposed in temporary wooden structures, then in buildings built especially to accommodate them. The first Roman stone theater, built by Pompey in 55 B.C., held 27,000 seats. Amphitheaters, circuses and theaters multiplied throughout the Roman Empire from the first century AD. The Romans built stadiums in which sports competitions were held, but also concerts. This leisure activity had become so important by the end of the Empire that St. Augustine had come to define the theater-goer as a "drug addict". The Roman theater was completely original because of the ambiguous status of its actors, real stars who fascinated the Roman people, but who were not given much consideration and were considered as prostitutes. To get a better idea, the ruins of the Teatro di Marcello, designed by Caesar and built by Augustus around 13 B.C., have been harmoniously renovated, with, surprisingly enough, the addition of a Renaissance palace.
The rise of music
In Rome, music was everywhere. Associated with rituals and ceremonies, it was also present on the battlefields as it accompanied the Roman legions. And yet, paradoxically, although it permeated all of Roman society, it did not evolve throughout this period. The Romans did little to innovate, and almost all the musical theories of the time were borrowed from the Greeks or from the cultures of other peoples conquered by Roman troops.
It wasn't until the 15th century, with the advent of Leo X, a pope with a passion for music, that Rome came to the fore, with the appointment of Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina as Master of Music at the Chapel of St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. He was to breathe new life into liturgical music, imposing a purer style and more intelligible polyphony. Palestrina left an imposing body of work, which would serve as an example for many centuries to come. Today, he is considered the father of Western religious music.
The Romans retained their love of theater, and the city is particularly well equipped with the most sumptuous theaters. To attend an opera, a play or a musical in a Roman theater is a wonderful experience. The oldest is the Teatro Argentina, with its rich history. Inaugurated in 1732, it has been the setting for several historic premieres, including Verdi's The Battle of Legnano in January 1849 and Rossini's The Barber of Seville in 1816. The Globe Theatre, a beautiful wooden theater typical of Roman art, is located in the prestigious Villa Borghese. Its program features the finest European classics, ideal for an evening at the theater. The Teatro dell'Opera di Roma may not be the most beautiful of the city's theaters, but it makes up for it with an exceptional opera program, featuring classics such as La Boheme, The Barber of Seville and La Traviata . The venue is especially noteworthy for its exceptional acoustics and magical ambience. The Teatro Salone Margherita is a more intimate venue. Don't hesitate to push open the door of this little red velvet theater, as the evening events on offer are also very interesting. You'll come away enchanted. Teatro Brancaccio is also a benchmark venue offering quality shows.
An interesting alternative to booking a show at one of the above-mentioned theaters is to attend a concert in one of Rome's churches. The concerts and operas on offer are smaller, but still of good quality and less expensive. Take a look at the programs of the Anglicana All Saints, San Paolo Entro le Mura and Evangelica Valdese churches, for example, which offer concerts at the end of the day. In the historic center, take the time to enjoy musical performances by street artists.
Every year, from late October to early November, Rome's most beautiful basilicas offer music concerts as part of the International Festival of Music and Sacred Art. This is an opportunity to attend a concert in unique venues such as St. Peter's Basilica, St. Paul's Basilica Outside the Walls, St. Mary Major's Basilica or St. Ignatius of Loyola on the Champ de Mars. During the summer, the Festival des Thermes de Caracalla also offers great works from the classical repertoire in its grandiose setting.
Finally, the Auditorio Parco della Musica also hosts concerts by the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia orchestra.
Dance in Rome
If there are different options available to the dance lover in Rome, the Teatro dell'Opera Ballet is the Italian capital's reference in this field. The company creates several shows each year that are usually presented on the stage of the Teatro dell'Opera, with a repertoire that ranges from Roland Petit to Angelin Preljocaj to William Forsythe. Some ballets are also sometimes staged at the Teatro Nazionale, or outdoors in the ruins of the Baths of Caracalla. Roman contemporary dance has never had a strong political program and is therefore not very present in institutional theaters. The Auditorium of Rome offers a few evenings dedicated to dance. The Auditorium Conciliazione is a complex dedicated to culture in all its forms that also offers contemporary ballets. In September, the Roma Europa festival also offers modern dance amidst a diverse program of theater and music.
The contemporary music scene
In the 1970s, a generation of talented Roman cantautori came to the forefront of the Italian music scene. These songwriters often tackled social and love themes, such as Antonello Venditti and his hymn to the city of Rome, Roma Capoccia, Renato Zero, Claudio Baglioni (with the famous Porta Portese), or Fiorella Mannoia... Their music and lyrics, engraved in the collective memory of Romans, are still regularly broadcast on television and radio. More recently, Eros Ramazzotti has achieved international success.
Today, the Roman music scene is divided between those who are faithful to Italian history and heritage and those who are less attached to tradition. Bands like Ardecore and II Muro del Canto have the heart of the city deep within them, and never cease to refer to their heritage through their music. Others are less attached to tradition. For example, Giuda and their heavy rock, or Bud Spencer Blues Explosion and their blues punk, draw their influences from US rock. The hip-hop scene is also very much alive, with Colle der Fomento, seen opening for the Fugees, Piotta, a great activist in the hip-hop cause, and the very political Assalti Frontali. Rome is a city in the throes of a social crisis that you won't see on the surface, but which is nonetheless very important. Hip-hop artists address this theme in their lyrics. The Roman electronic scene, with Donato Dozzy, Giorgio Gigli, Dino Sabatini and Claudio PRC, has made its mark on the contemporary techno scene with atmospheric electronic music. Or listen to the delicate pop arrangements of Wrongonyou or the world pop of Boxerin Club. Noemi, a singer-songwriter born in 1982 and a graduate of the second Italian edition of X Factor, has already won a number of prestigious awards. Although she is passionate about rhythm'n'blues, her music also explores soul, blues, pop and rock. Her deep, powerful voice is compared by her peers to that of Aretha Franklin or Janis Joplin. Last but not least, there's Måneskin, the Roman pop-rock band who won the Eurovision Song Contest in 2021 at the 71st San RemoFestival , and are now enjoying international success!
Going out in Rome
Most of Rome's nightclubs are located in the Testaccio and EUR districts to the south of the city. The hipster district of Pigneto and the typical streets of San Lorenzo also set the pace for the Italian capital's nights. Bustling throughout the day, the district has retained a distinctive bohemian soul, and students invade its streets in the evening. Take time out to sit on a café terrace or park bench, and enjoy the impromptu concerts. There's no shortage of places to listen to live music. You should be aware that, in many cases, you will need to acquire a membership card before paying the entrance fee. Beba Do Samba is a historic bar in San Lorenzo, offering a variety of live music, from jazz and rock to world music. Housed in a disused textile factory, Lanificio 159 has become one of Rome's most important underground clubs. The organizers offer live bands, but also DJ sets and modern art exhibitions.
Every summer, the banks of the Tiber are feted and the music resounds, for more than three consecutive months, from the Prati district in the north to Tiberina Island in the south. For over a kilometer and a half, a multitude of initiatives revolving around music, literature, theater and cinema are brought together. The area is alive with concerts. Before attending the performances, copy the Romans and cool off on the beach in front of Castel Sant'Angelo. If you can't get enough of music, Rock in Roma is the place for you. Founded in 2009, the festival has earned an international reputation with headliners such as Bruce Springsteen, the Rolling Stones, David Gilmour and Roger Waters. The festival is also renowned for the majestic venues that host some of its concerts, such as the Circus Maximus, close to the Colosseum, and the Roman theater of Ostia Antica.
The Auditorium della Musica, also known as the " Auditorium Parco della Mus ica", was built at the beginning of the 21stcentury on the outskirts of the Italian capital, between the banks of the Tiber. It's a large, multi-purpose cultural complex built by the famous architect Renzo Piano, capable of hosting symphonic music - since it houses the headquarters of the illustrious Accademia Nazionale del Santa Cecilia - but also all forms of art. Throughout the year, the Auditorium de la Musique offers concerts and shows of all kinds in its acoustically perfect halls, and takes part in the Roman summer of music with the Roma Summer Fest, a festival featuring international-caliber pop and electro artists as well as Italian ones.
Live jazz
Jazz can be heard at the Alexanderplatz Jazz Club, the country's oldest jazz club. Descend into a basement reminiscent of the greatest clubs in New York, London and Paris, to discover an international program of the highest calibre. The space is divided into three rooms around a central stage. It's also possible to dine here, but we strongly advise you to make a reservation. A stone's throw from the Baths of Caracalla, Casa del Jazz is devoted entirely to jazz, with an auditorium, multimedia research room and library. The program is exclusively jazz, from classic to hard bop. Every summer, the Fondation Musica per Roma organizes Summertime at Casa del Jazz. Concerts are also held in the grounds of Villa Osio, featuring the best of the Italian and international jazz scene, as well as blues, soul, tango, swing and funk. Every summer, the Villa Celimontana jazz festival offers over a hundred concerts and a top-class program with a special theme.
