Page 451 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Italy

ENTER T AINMENT IN ROME  449

Entertainment in Rome prima ballerina Sylvie Guillem.
One of the most innovative
There’s a particular excitement attached to entertainment in programmes of classical
Rome. Football and opera, for example, are worth experiencing and contemporary music is
for sheer atmosphere alone, whether or not you are a fan. There provided by the Aula Magna
is also a good jazz scene, with international stars appearing dell’Università La Sapienza.
The opera season starts late at
alongside local talent. Unexpectedly, given the general shutdown the Teatro dell’Opera, between
among shops and restaurants, the summer is Rome’s liveliest November and January. The great
time in terms of entertainment and cultural events, with the city’s ballet classics are also staged at
Renaissance squares, vast parks, villa gardens, Classical ruins and this venue. The Equilibrio
other open spaces hosting various arts festivals. Concerts and Festival in February brings
contemporary dance to the city;
films take on an added dimension when performances take performances take place mainly
place beneath the stars in the many open-air arenas across at the Parco della Musica.
the city. Rome also has plenty of nightclubs to choose from.
Rock, Jazz and
Practical Information the Ponte Milvio, and the World Music
Good sources of information Festival di Massenzio, at the Rome’s non-classical music scene
about what’s on are the listings Forum, offer films, live music, is unpredictable and subject to
magazine WHERE Rome and food and small exhibitions in seasonal changes. However, there
Trovaroma, the weekly Thursday July and August. The summer is a huge variety of music at the
supplement to La Repubblica months also bring excellent many clubs and stadiums, such
newspaper. Also worth getting open-air rock, jazz and world- as the Palalottomatica and the
hold of is L’Evento, available from music festivals, while Rome’s Stadio Olimpico, which attract
the Rome Tourist Office (see main autumn performing-arts foreign and home-grown stars.
p617), which gives details in festival, RomaEuropa, has The best jazz musicians play at
English of cultural events in occasional performances in the the splendid Casa del Jazz, and
the city. grounds of the Villa Medici. Alexanderplatz. Trastevere’s
Theatre also moves outside in Big Mama is one of the city’s
the summer months, and some legendary addresses for impor-
Booking Tickets cinemas roll back their ceilings tant jazz names, while world
Among the ticket agencies for open-air screenings. music is well served at the aptly
that will book seats for some More traditional is Trastevere’s named Rome Meets the World
performances for you (for a community festival, the Festa summer festival in Villa Ada.
small fee) are Orbis and Box de Noantri (see p71), with music, For smaller venues you might
Office. Many theatres do not processions and fireworks. need to buy a monthly or
accept telephone bookings – This religious festival begins annual membership card
you have to visit the box office on the Saturday after 16 July, (between €2 and €11), which
in person. They will charge you and celebrations continue often includes the entrance fee
a prevendita supplement (about until the end of the month. for smaller bands.
10 per cent of the normal price)
for any tickets sold in advance. Classical Music Cinema and Theatre
The Teatro dell’Opera box
office handles sales for both and Dance Cinema-going is a popular
summer and winter seasons. Classical concerts take place in pastime in Rome, with around
Tickets for most big rock and a surprising number of venues. 40 films on show on an average
jazz events can be bought at Tickets for opera premieres may weekday. Most Roman cinemas
Orbis and at larger record shops, be hard to find, but soloists, are prima visione (first run)
such as Ricordi Media Store. groups or orchestras playing and show the latest inter-
Look out for due per uno in gardens, churches, villas or national films in dubbed
coupons in local bars – these ancient ruins are easier to obtain versions. The best cinemas for
allow two people entrance for and more reasonably priced. decor and comfort are the
the price of one. World-renowned soloists and Fiamma (two screens) and the
orchestras make appearances Barberini (three screens). Films
throughout the year in venues in their original language are
Open-Air Entertainment
such as the stunning Renzo often shown at the excellent
Open-air opera, cinema, Piano-designed Parco della Casa del Cinema and at the
classical music and jazz concerts Musica and the Accademia Nuovo Olimpia. Smaller art
fill the Roman calendar from Filar monica Romana. Past cinemas, such as the Azzurro
late June until the end of visitors have included Luciano Scipioni, are more likely to
September. Both the Cineporto, Pavarotti and Placido Domingo, show subtitled versions of
a festival held along the Tiber, at the Berlin Philharmonic and foreign films.

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