The Borgatti Theatre...

A splendid example of an “Italian-style Theatre”, the Municipal Theatre of Cento was designed by the architect Antonio Giordani with the cooperation of Fortunato Lodi. Construction began on May 5, 1858. The Theatre was opened on August 15, 1861. In 1924, the Theatre was given the name of the famous tenor of Cento Giuseppe Borgatti. Between 1964 and 1974 the Theatre was refurbished to regain the original appearance of the Opera House.

Located at the centre of the Town of Cento, near to Piazza del Guercino, the building stands out amongst the historical buildings of the Town Centre (characterised by the typical red ‘cotto’ bricks of Ferrara) by virtue of its particularly striking red and yellow stripes, enriched by precious cotto decorations depicting famous persons and musical scenes, mythological and naturalistic friezes.

Inside, the Theatre is a typical example of an Italian style opera house, with a horseshoe shaped structure, featuring the stage, the “pit” for the orchestra, the wooden-floored stalls, red velvet seats, three sets of boxes and the gallery. The setting is particularly romantic, rich and elegant, made more precious still by means of frescoes and stucco decorations.

Elegant and perfect from an acoustic point of view is the foyer of the Theatre, with its delicate light blue paintwork, chandeliers, curtains and mirrors with gilded frames. The ceiling frescoes that Canape and Beltrami painted in 1863 are perfectly preserved. The Theatre is particularly appreciated as an Opera House and is also used for meetings, conferences and training course for young opera singers.

The Theatre building houses the “Borgatti Museum” with items given by the tenor to the Town, opened in 1933 and the “Arrigo Tassinari Museum” with photos and documents of the famous flute player of Cento. The two museums, visited every year by tourists and students, were refurbished in the year 2000.
The elegant nineteenth century setting has given hospitality to personalities and events attesting to a great tradition that has earned the Borgatti Theatre reputation as the “the greatest of small theatres”. The Theatre boasts a particularly intense and interesting season, which includes Operas, Concerts, Drama, Operettas, Ballet, Alternative Music, Local Dialect Plays and Plays for Children. The Borgatti is property of the Town of Cento.