Opera, ball and spoken theatre at the royal palace of Caserta

Abstract

The royal palace of Caserta was built at the behest of Charles of Bourbon but completed under his son, Ferdinand IV. During the second half of the Eigheteenth Century, it hosted many different musical activities; succesfull serious and comic operas already performed in the theatres of Naples as well as vocal and instrumental concerts were offered there to a selected audience. Tragedies, “all’immprovviso” comedies and balls were also frequently enjoyed by the members of the royal family. In the small center of San Leucio, 4 kilometres far from Caserta, Paisiello’s “Nina o sia La pazza per amore” was premiered in 1789.