Municipal Theatre of Corfu
The Municipal Theatre of Corfu was the main theatre and opera house in Corfu, Greece, from 1902 to 1943. The theatre was the successor of the Nobile Teatro di San Giacomo di Corfù, which became the Corfu city hall. It was destroyed during a Luftwaffe aerial bombardment in 1943. During its 41-year history it was one of the premier theatres and opera houses in Greece, and as the first theatre in Southeastern Europe, it contributed to the Arts and to the history of the Balkans and of Europe.
The interior of the Municipal Theatre of Corfu. The three ascending levels (rows) of boxes are visible; the gallery is on the fourth level at the top of the picture.
The Municipal Theatre of Corfu, which in the early 20th century replaced the legendary Nobile Teatro di San Giacomo (which was converted into Town Hall). This photograph shows the theatre prior to the 1943 Luftwaffe bombardment and its subsequent destruction during World War II.
The historic stage curtain of Teatro di San Giacomo depicting a scene from the Odyssey. It is the only artefact known to have survived the bombardment.
The Municipal Theatre of Corfu being built, featuring the original dome which was later removed for sound-enhancement reasons
Nobile Teatro di San Giacomo di Corfù
Nobile Teatro di San Giacomo di Corfù, Italian for The Noble Theatre of Saint James of Corfu, or simply Teatro di San Giacomo, was a theatre in Corfu, Greece which became the centre of Greek opera between 1733 and 1893. Despite its provincial origins it attracted Italian musicians and composers, many of whom became permanent residents of Corfu and contributed to the local music scene. The theatre acted as a catalyst in this cultural interaction and gave impetus to the development of the Ionian School of Music. Corfiot composer Nikolaos Halikiopoulos Mantzaros was a beneficiary of the synergy between the Italian and Corfiot musical traditions. The Theatre and its historical archives were destroyed during a German Luftwaffe bombing raid in 1943.
New Teatro di San Giacomo (now Corfu City Hall)
The Municipal Theatre of Corfu, which in early 20th century replaced the legendary Nobile Teatro di San Giacomo (which was converted into Town Hall). This photograph shows the theatre prior to the 1943 Luftwaffe bombardment and its subsequent destruction during World War II.
The historic stage curtain of Teatro di San Giacomo depicting a scene from the Odyssey