The hidden history behind the curtain of the Teatro comunale Salvatore Cicero

The Teatro Comunale Salvatore Cicero was built in 1814, by the will of some noble families and by permission of the Senate of Cefalù. It was designed by the architect Antonio Caruso, who is responsible for the horse-shaped structure, which includes it, in the ranks of the Italian theaters. The theatre consisted of two tiers of stages and was initially a place of private performances, exclusively for the entertainment of the nobles.

History

In 1847 it was handed over to the municipal administration, which planned a series of interventions entrusted to the architect Emanuele Labiso. The first intervention, dating back to 1869, was the construction of a new entrance, which is still in use, in via Spinuzza. The second intervention was an extension, in fact, the structure was raised by 2.55 m. This action allowed the construction of a gallery, in Sicilian “Lubione”, to allow even the less wealthy citizens to participate in the performances.

The pictorial decorations were entrusted to Rosario Spagnolo, who took care of the oval of the ceiling. The painter Rosario Spagnolo also took care of the wooden bow of proscenium, in the center of which there is represented Giuseppe Verdi, the main curtain and five other sets:

• the underground;

• the square;

• the forest;

• the liberty room;

• the Garden.

The restorations

During the twentieth century the theatre was also converted into a cinema, but with the advent of the war it was the seat of German troops. After all these changes, in the ’50s it was renovated by private individuals, adapting it to modern cinematography. However, these interventions did not solve the structural problems, on which the municipal administration intervened, with a long restoration, from 1975 to 1982, which allowed to reopen the theater to the public.

In 1982 it was named after the violinist Maestro Salvatore Cicero, originally from Cefalù, who established himself as concertmaster in some of the most important orchestras, such as the Sicilian Symphony Orchestra. The theater was, in 1988, film set of the “Nuovo Cinema Paradiso” by Giuseppe Tornatore, becoming a destination for many tourists and fans.

Later, new restoration works were carried out, entrusted to Professor Francesco Gurreri, in order to enhance some elements, previously neglected, such as the side courtyard and the ancient walls that cross the inside of the theater. The Teatro Comunale Salvatore Cicero, despite being a modern and avant-garde structure, is still a place capable of evoking a past, hidden behind the folds of the curtain.