Top of the World
The Giuseppe Verdi Theatre is located in the Fortress (formerly the Pallavicino Castle), of 13th century foundation, which has been extensively remodeled and now looks as it did in the second half of the 19th century. Previously there was another theatre, in the same place. Verdi had performed there in his youth, conducting a symphony for Rossini's Barber of Seville.
The idea of building a new theatre had already circulated in the village in 1845 but the project was shelved until the Municipality bought the fortress in 1856.
The construction took place in the years between 1856 and 1868, despite the contrary opinion of the Master. He was in contrast with the Bussetani because of their intrusiveness in his private sphere and because he considered the new theatre "too expensive and useless in the future".
Thus at the solemn inauguration on August 15, 1868, when, to honour him, almost all the ladies dressed in green, while for the gentlemen green was a must in ties, he was conspicuously absent, although two of his works were staged on the occasion: The Masquerade Ball and Rigoletto. Even afterwards he was careful not to set foot on it, even though he offered a considerable sum of £. 10,000 for its construction and even though he owned a stage. The Theatre, designed by the architect Pier Luigi Montecchini, can be accessed from the portico, then climbing the staircase decorated with a Verdi bust of Giovanni Dupré; the decorations are the work of Giuseppe Baisi and Alessandro Malpeli from Parma, while the medallions on the ceiling, depicting the Comedy, Tragedy, Melodrama and Romantic Drama, are the work of Isaac Gioacchino Levi (1865).
