The Congregation of Saint Cecilia was born in 1585,
under Pope Sixtus V. Its first nucleus was composed
of 19 musicians and had its seat at the Pantheon. Over
the centuries the Congregation performed its concerts
in several Rome churches and its official functions
were the control over the music printing activities
and the study of music.
In the XIX century it acquired prestige and a recognised
position at European level for the control of and the
assistance to musicians. Within the activities of the
Congregation of Santa Cecilia, a Music School and a
Charity Institution were established.
When Rome was incorporated into the Kingdom of Italy,
the Congregation was turned into 'Royal Academy' and
in 1877 it moved to the Collegio delle Orsoline in via
Vittoria, Rome, its present seat.
In 1908, the Auditorium of Augustus in the archaeological
area of the Mausoleum of Augustus was opened. Rome finally
had a place dedicated to music.
The most famous orchestra directors from all over the
world performed on the podium of the Auditorium.
Since 1936, after the demolition of the Auditorium in
order to bring the Mausoleum back to light, concerts
are held at Adrian's theatre. During summer there are
also open-air concerts at the Basilica di Massenzio,
in the Campidoglio Square, at the Etruscan Museum of
Villa Giulia, at the Thermae of Caracalla.
The orchestra of the National Academy of Santa Cecilia has 90 members. It was the first Italian Orchestra to
concentrate its activity on symphonic music.Sine 1985
the Orchestra of the Academy of Santa Cecilia has performed
about 14.000 concerts, and has collaborated with the
most illustrious artists and directors.
Among them Mahler, Debussy, Strauss, Stravinsky, Hindemith,
Toscanini, Furtwängler, De Sabata and Karajan.
Among its permanent directors: Molinari, Ferrara, Previtali,
Markevitch, Schippers, Sinopoli, Gatti and, at present,
Myung-Whun Chung.
Leonard Bernstein was the Academy Honorary President
from 1983 to 1990.
The choir of the National Academy of Saint Cecilia,
born with the Academy itself, counts 90 members and
is fully dedicated to symphonic-choral repertoire and
to the Italian polyphonic music.
In the late 1850's the Choir acquired its final structure
and started to take part in performances of the symphonic
- vocal repertoire.
Auditorium - Parco della musica (Park of music)
Official opening : 21 Aprile 2002
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the choir of Santa Cecilia
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