The San Carlo’s is now the most ancient theatre still functioning in Europe: it was built in 1737, 41 years before the La Scala’s of Milan and 51 years before La Fenice’s of Venice.
Moreover, it has never really suspended its performances, with the exception of the period between May 1874 and December 1876, due to the economic difficulties of Naples after the fall of the Bourbon Kingdom.

Nor the devastating fire of 1816 nor the tragic events of the Second World War could make it stop its activities: in the first case, in fact, the theatre was rebuilt in just a few months; in the second case, a series of concerts were held. Moreover, this theatre shares with the Scala’s Theatre of Milan the record of first dance school in Italy, established at the same time in Milan and Naples in 1812, whereas in 1816 the Scenography School was founded .

San Carlo’s Theatre, main view

As for many other works, this theatre was ordered by Charles of Bourbon, who desired to have a new Theatre in Naples to replace the small and then old theatre of S. Bartolomeo. Charles included this project into the town planning renewal of the capital and his new independent Kingdom.
On 4 March 1737 a contract was signed with architect Giovanni Antonio Mediano (who would later work also at the Royal Palaces of Capodimonte and Portici): on 4 November of that same year the theatre was ready!
Mediano designed a hall with a length of 28,60 metres and a width of 22,50 metres; 184 boxes arranged in six orders and a large royal box which could host up to 10 people; a vast stage could allow the realisation of all sceneries.

San Carlo’s Theatre, lateral view

The estimated costs were set at about 100,000 ducats: 32,000 were given by the King, whereas almost all the rest was obtained from the selling of the first 4 orders of boxes, whose value was set between 580 and 770 ducats for each box; however, the possess of a box at San Carlo, perhaps close to the royal one, was considered by Neapolitan nobles as a particular sign of distinction.

The Theatre was inaugurated on 4 November 1737, name-day of the King, by the opera “Achille in Sciro” by Metastasio, with music by Domenico Sarro who directed the orchestra.

«The theatre immediately aroused the admiration of both Neapolitans and foreigners, for whom it soon became a peerless attraction, due to its grandeur, its magnificent architecture, its decorations in silver and gold, its sumptuous blue hangings, the official colour of the Bourbon Family, the artistic value of its performances» . The San Carlo’s became first of all the expression of the Neapolitan music school, famous all over Europe for the comic opera (although this type of show was not performed at the San Carlo’s) and for the opera in general: we just mention composers such as Cimarosa, Paisiello, and others.

San Carlo’s facade from the Galleria Umberto I

«Therefore we are not amazed when we hear that at that time Naples was considered as the capital of European music and that, by consequence, many foreign composers looked at the San Carlo’s as an important goal in their careers: this was the case for Hasse, J.C. Bach, Gluck, Myslivecek» .
The quality of the orchestra contributed to make San Carlo’s fame: in 1780 it was formed by 59 elements (32 violins, 4 violas, 3 violoncellos, 5 contrabasses, 4 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons, 4 trumpets, 1 drum and 2 tambourines).