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1975 » Italy » Theatre architecture
Italy
Theatre architecture in Italy at present is concentrating upon tne restauration
and functional adaptation of historical theatres and tne adaptation of halls,
which in the past were used for different purposes. To an increasing extent the
endeavour of directors and stage designers to find new theatre space is conspicious.
Proietti-V-azioni by Franco Berdini are multi-purpose architectural models made of aluminum,
essentially closed geometrie bodies, situated in a circular of rectangular theatre area,
which can open up and form variable space configurations on the basis of the
principles of perspective, electronics and light. The Teatro continuo, realized by
Albert Burri in tne Sempione Park in Milan at tne occasion of the XVth Triennale in 1973,
in the sector called The Relation Between Art and the City, which was iniciated and organised
by Guilo Macchi, was built on a lawn; its framework is formed by the Castello Sforzesoo on the
one side and an Arch of Triumph on the other. The stage-park /because such a desig-
nation also fits the Teatro continuo, placed under the open sky/, is composed
of movable stages and turnable wings, which are remote controlled and
can be made to react independently to light reflected from their surface of
to have the natural colour of the panels on one side, while their other side
has a white of dull surface, whose colour can be changed as desired. Light
and shadows on the steel surface form facinating effects by their chromatic
qualities.The Teatro continuo is situated in a natural environment and is
at the same time an object of sculpture, which fulfils both an aesthetic and
a practical function. Its light structure, the geometrically precisely composed
vertical and horizontal lines, form a beautiful view in the park.
Exhibiting artists / ateliers
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- Alberto Burri
Additional information: Text from the Catalogue PQ1975:
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Born in 1915 in Citta di Castello.By profession a physician /doctor of me-
dicine/, he began to paint while in a prisoner of war camp in Texas, USA,
where he was from 1943. Since the end of World War II he has devoted himself
to painting; he settled in Rome but often visits Citta di Castello and
the US. In 1955 he married the American dancer and choreographer Minsa
Craig. His rationalistic abstract paintings proclaiming freedom of artistic
creatvity were first successful in 1949. Burri's cycle Burning, under
the influence of tachism dates from 1956. After 1958 he made Metals, Wood
and Plastics, whose essence is in no case determined by the value of the
material - he uses scrap material, which has its own history and past
/Argan/. At the Teatro continuo Burri uses cement and steel.The Adventures
of a Poor Christian by Silone holds a special place in his work for the
theatre and stage desings, as well as the stage sets for Pistoni's ballet
in the Teatro alla Scala in Milan and the stage sets for the Minsa Craig
Ballet at the Teatro dell'Opera in Rome.○○○○○
Text from the Catalogue PQ79:○○○○○
Born in 1915 in Citta di Castello. His original profession is a physician; he began to paint in a POW camp in Texas, USA , where he was from 1943. After the end of the war he devoted himself entirely to painting and settled in Rome, but often visited Citta di Castello, as well as the US. In 1955 he married the American dancer and choreographer Minsa Craig. He was first successful in 1949 with rationalist abstract paintings proclaim ing the freedom of artistic creation. In 1956 he produced a collection of ceramics influenced by Tachisme. After 1956 he began to work in metals, wood and plastics - the value of these pieces is not in the price of the materials used, since Burri mostly uses scrap material. From among his designs of theatres we must mention the Teatro Continuo where he used steel and concrete at the Sempione Park in Milan in 1973 at the XVth Triennial, in the section devoted to art and the city; the theatre was placed on a green lawn framed on the one side by the Sforza palace and a Triumphant Arch on the other. Also his design of an open theatre in the town of Arcevia near Ancona, built within the framework of the construction on the Comunita Esisten - ziale should be mentioned. Among his stage designs his sets for Pistoni's Ballet Spirituals, produced in 1963 at the La Scala in Milan was of great interest, as well as those for Silone's The Adventures of a Poor Christian played at San Miniato al Tadesco in 1969, for November Step, a ballet by Minsa Craig produced in 1972 at the Teatro dell'Opera in Rome and for Wagner' s Tristan and Isolda at the Teatro Regio in Turin in 1976. He participated in the Prague Quadrennial in 1975, in the section for theatre architecture.
Exhibiting works
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: (Teatro continuo),
0 ;
Comments: The concept of the Teatro continuo is based on dual action upon the stage. The open structure of the stage is formed by a composition of three rectangular wings on both sides of the stage, around the main axis of depth view. The wings rotate and are fixed to the platform made of reenforced concrete.
preliminary project 30x42, general view 21x30,9 photos 20x30
- Franco Berdini
