Background

During Venetian rule the people of Corfu developed a fervent appreciation for Italian opera, which was the source of the island’s extraordinary musical development. In 1720 it was decided to convert a club for the Venetian noble class into a theatre named “Nobile Teatro di San Giacomo” after the neighbouring Catholic Cathedral. In 1733 the first opera was performed there and for over two hundred years, nearly every major opera from the Italian tradition, as well as many others by Greek and French composers, were performed on the stage of San Giacomo.

Verdi’s Nabucco had its first international performance in Corfu and Donizetti wrote 4 of his operas for a Corfiot mezzo-soprano. This tradition produced a host of international composers including Nikalaos Xyndas (composer of ‘The Parliamentary Candidate’ the first opera to be performed in Greece, Mantzaros (composer of the Greek National Anthem), Karrer (8 operas) and Samaras (composer of the Olympic Hymn and 14 operas).

In 1902 San Giacomo’s place (above) was taken by the Municipal Theatre (below), which was an exact replica of La Scala, Milan, and maintained the operatic tradition vividly until its destruction during World War II as a result of a German air raid.

The Future

The Corfu Arts Foundation seeks to regenerate the tradition and appreciation of opera in particular and the performing and visual arts in general. Our aim is to produce operas, concerts, drama, dance and art exhibitions raising money to fund performances in Corfu town and the outlying villages. In addition we plan to develop workshops with the Ionian University (the oldest university in Greece with a strong music department) and bring international performers to the island. We also want to sponsor rising young musicians from Corfu to enable them to develop their careers, to develop a September festival and to work with schools to bring the arts directly to the children.

Become A Supporter

None of the above can be achieved without funding. For more information on how you can support us please click here.