From Wagner to Wagner: reminiscences of the Bayreuth Festspielhaus in the reconstruction of the Carlo Felice Opera House in Genoa

Aldo Rossi's reconstruction of Genoa's Carlo Felice Opera House (1991) drew on Richard Wagner's Festspielhaus in Bayreuth, blending Wagnerian architectural principles with a renewed urban integration. This study identifies the enduring and omitted elements of Wagner's design in later opera houses, analyzing their evolution from mid-19th-century reforms to Rossi's project. By contrasting these structures, it reveals how Wagner's vision—initially detached from its urban context—was reinterpreted to restore architectural harmony with the city.

Delledonne, N. (2022). From Wagner to Wagner: reminiscences of the Bayreuth Festspielhaus in the reconstruction of the Carlo Felice Opera House in Genoa. Frontiers of Architectural Research, 11(5), 917–933. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foar.2022.04.001