Teatro della Società

Lying in the heart of the centre of Lecco in Piazza Garibaldi, the Teatro della Società was inaugurated in 1844 with the staging of Gaetano Donizetti’s opera “Anna Bolena”. 

Designed by the architect Giuseppe Bovara in 1835, its forms and its special acoustics recall the characteristics of the famous Teatro alla Scala di Milano. The theatre’s architecture reflects the neoclassical taste of the day, with a facade that immediately captures the attention with its harmonious lines and sophisticated details.

Inside, it is luxurious with extravagant decorations and a richly-adorned room, capable of accommodating more than 500 people. Each feature, from the early nineteenth-century seats in red velvet to the majestic chandelier, contributes to the creation of an elegant and sophisticated atmosphere. 

The large fresco of the “Teatro della vita” by Orlando Sora, dating from 1978-79, turns the vault into a wonderful stage for the figures and painted putti in a boundless sky, depicting various times in a man’s life”. 

The Teatro della Società was previously the stage for countless historical and cultural events that involved the city. Since it’s inauguration, it has been the setting for numerous shows of operas, dramas and concerts that have enchanted generations of spectators. Among its most illustrious guests are Giuseppe Verdi, who found inspiration here for some of his most famous operas. 

On 31 May 2017, the Teatro della Società was obliged to close its doors due to engineering improvements, asbestos removal and ceiling reinforcements, with the aim of preserving and restoring Orlando Sora’s precious painting.

During the campaign of surveys ordered by the municipal administration, nineteenth-century decorations and the original colours of doors and upper circles emerged, which will be completely restored in the coming months.

Currently, the Teatro della Società cannot yet be visited.