The Teatro dell'Opera was originally known as the Teatro Costanzi after the contractor who built it, Domenico Costanzi, from the time it was constructed in 1879 until 1926, the year it was purchased by the Governorship of Rome. Domenico Costanzi appointed Milan architect Achille Sfondrini, who specialized in the building and renovation of theatres, to realize the project.

The opera house was inaugurated on 27 November 1880 with a performance of Semiramide by Gioachino Rossini, conducted by Giovanni Rosst; which was attended by the Italian royal family. Designing the theatre, Sfondrini paid particular attention to the acoustics, conceiving the interior structure as a "resonance chamber". Originally the theatre, with a seating capacity of 2212, had three tiers of boxes, an amphitheatre and two separate galleries, surmounted by a dome with splendid frescoes by Annibale Brugnoli. For a brief period, the theatre was managed by Costanzi's son, Enrico, who must be given the credit for having organized another great premiere, that of Tosca by Giacomo Puccini (14 January 1900). However, in 1907 the Teatro Costanzi was purchased by the impresario Walter Mocchi on behalf of the Società Teatrale Internazionale e Nazionale (STIN). In 1912 Mocchi's wife, Emma Carelli, became the managing director of the new Impresa Costanzi, as the theatre was later known, following various changes in the company structure.

When the Costanzi was bought by the Rome City Council, its name was changed to Teatro Reale dell'Opera, and it was partly rebuilt by architect Marcello Piacentini.  The rebuilding resulted in a number of major changes; for example, the entrance, originally located in the street formerly known as Via del Teatro - where the garden of the Hotel Quirinale is presently situated - was moved to the opposite side, where Piazza Beniamino Gigli was subsequently built. The amphitheatre, inside the theatre, was demolished and replaced by a fourth tier of boxes (now the third tier) and the balcony. The interior was also embellished by new stuccowork, decorations and furnishings, as well as a magnificent chandelier measuring 6 meters in diameter and composed of 27,000 crystal drops.

With the advent of the Republic, the name of the opera house was changed to Teatro dell'Opera, and in 1958 the building was remodeled and modernized by the Rome City Council. The architect Marcello Piacentini drew up the plans, radically altering the existing architectural style and designing the present facade, entrance and foyer. Founded almost a century ago, the Teatro dell'Opera has always enjoyed growing prestige at home and abroad.
During the countless seasons, celebrated singers as well as leading conductors have constantly taken the stag. The Theater's legendary acoustics can still bear comparison with any other auditorium in the world. At present the Theater has a total seating capacity of about 1,600 and was recently fitted with an air-conditioning system subsequent to complex restoration leading to improvements especially in the logistics of the circle and various other parts of the building. The stuccowork was completely restored, the great proscenium arch strengthened, and a parquet floor of solid oak blocks laid to replace the previous carpet. All of the seats on the main floor and circle are new.

SEASON 2008

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January 14^th – 16^th – 17^th – 18^th – 19^th – 20^th – 22^nd – 23^rd
TOSCA
Music by Giacomo Puccini

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January 30^th – 31^st – February 1^st – 2^nd – 3^rd SERATA GIORGIO DE CHIRICO
LA GIARA
Music by Alfredo Casella
APOLLON MUSAGÉTE
Music by Igor Stravinsij
LE BAL
Music by Vittorio Rieti
BACCHUS ET ARIANE
Music by Albert Roussel

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February 7^th – 8^th – 9^th and 10^th
SERATA PICASSO - MASSINE
PULCINELLA
Music by Igor Stravinskij
PARADE
Music by Eric Satie
IL CAPPELLO A TRE PUNTE
Music by Manuel De Falla

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February 22^nd – 23^rd – 24^th – 26^th – 27^th and 28^th
RUSALKA
From the tale Undine by Friedrich Carl de la Motte Fouqué,
From the tale La Sirenetta by Andersen, and the legend of Melusine
Music by Antonìn Dvořák

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March 11^th – 12^th – 13^th – 14^th – 15^th – 16^th -18^th – 19^th and 20^th

RAYMONDA
Ballet
Music by i Aleksandr Konstantinovič Glazunov

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April 8^th – 9^th – 10^th – 11^th – 12^th – 13^th and 15^th
LA FANCIULLA DEL WEST
Opera from the drama The Girl of the Golden West by David Belasco
Music by Giacomo Puccini

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April 22^nd – 23^rd – 24^th -26^th -27^th
TOSCA
Opera
Music by Giacomo Puccini

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May 7^th and 8^th
VIAGGIO ALLA FINE DEL MILLENNIO
Music by Josef Bardanashvili

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May 20^th – 21^st – 22^nd – 23^rd – 24^th – 25^th – 27^th – 28^th and 29^th
IL CORSARO
Ballet

Music by Riccardo Drigo, Cesare Pugni, Adolphe Adam and Léo Delibes

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June 17^th – 18^th – 19^th – 20^th – 21^st – 22^nd – 24^th – 25^th – 26^th – 27^th – 28^th
CARMEN
Music by Georges Bizet

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October 7^th – 8^th – 9^th – 10^th – 11^th and 12^th
AMICA
Music by Pietro Mascagni

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October 17^th – 18^th -19^th and 21^st

IL LAGO DEI CIGNI
Ballet
Music by Pëtr Il'ič Čajkovskij

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November 12^th – 13^th – 14^th – 15^th – 16^th and 18^th
DER ROSENKAVALIER
Music by Richard Strauss

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December 6^th – 9^th – 11^th – 13^th – 14^th
OTELLO
Music by Giuseppe Verdi

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December 20^th – 21^st – 23^rd – 24^th – 27^th – 28^th and 30^th
THE NUTCRACKER

Ballet – Music by Pëtr Il'ič Čajkovskij

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