Visiting three Big Bugs
by Igor Wolfango Schiaroli

The new "Auditorium of Roma" with three concert halls, shaped like three big bugs, is able to accommodate audiences ranging from 700 to 2,700 people, and an amphitheatre capable of holding up to 3,000 visitors.



Designed by Renzo Piano, one of Italy's star architects, "Il Nuovo Auditorium di Roma" is a campus of several concert halls architecturally, acoustically and technically innovative. Piano devised plans for buildings with shapes, dimensions, and precise measurements that provide optimal and natural acoustics. Each of three concert halls is independent of the others, and architecturally reminiscent of classical Roman antiquity.
There has been exacting research, as well as several other tests, conducted. One test included the building of large models in which lasers could be used to measure the best possible sound reflection.

The three halls have different capacities and characteristics. As might be expected, their versatility is inversely proportional to their size. The smallest, with 700 seats, is totally flexible space, using some of the solutions adopted in IRCAM in Paris (www.ircam.fr) twenty years earlier: movable floor and ceiling, the ability to alter the acoustic properties of the walls. The hall that seats 1,200 people has a number of flexible elements, including a movable stage and an adjustable ceiling: these features recall the auditorium at Lingotto. It will be used for concerts of chamber music and dance performances. The main hall, finally houses 2,700 people. Piano said that more would be impossible because of the acoustics: in the back rows the sound would be overwhelmed by the echo.

It's always been said that "Rome was not built in a day". This is especially true for large technical installations. The Auditorium of Roma was built precisely with that philosophy.
It opened 21st April 2002 after the mid-size hall had been completed.
The 21st of december 2002 was inaugurated the third hall, the biggest one with 2700 seats.

So, the 21st April when "Auditorium Parco della Musica" was born, an innovative musical space opened for the city. The Park of the Music (Il Parco della Musica) represents the most important urban and cultural event realized in Rome since the 1960's, and appears to be the most important structure of this type in Europe.
Il parco della musica is located in the heart of Flaminio quarter in the area delimited to Villa Grori (Glori Park) and Villaggio Olimpico.

There are guided visits respecting the programm:

From Monday to Friday:
Three : at 11.00 – at 14.00 – at 18.00
Other visits at different time for schools and groups from 10 to 40 people, contact : Noemi Di Muro - tel. 06 80.24.11 - n.dimuro@musicaperroma.it

Saturday, Sunday and holiday days
Every 60 minuts from 10.30 to 18.30

Tichets:
Regular EURO 9,00
Groups from 10 to 40 persone, over 65 years, special cards EURO 7,00 Yunger than 26 years, Students, Schools EURO 5,00
There are also special visits for Architects

The guided visit comprends:
Cavea, Foyier, Parco pensile, Sala 700, Sinopoli hall, S. Cecilia hall, Musical istruments Museum and Archeological museum.
Informations and fees at:
Musica per Roma website: www.musicaperroma.it
Phone 0680241206
fax.0680241211.

Address
Auditorium Parco della Musica
Viale Pietro de Coubertin, 30
(close to Palazzetto dello Sport of viale Tiziano).

Public Bus: 910, 53, 217, 231.
Subway: Metro A , Stop at Piazzale Flaminio than take Tram 2.
Railway: Roma-Nord, stop at Piazza Euclide.
By car: G.R.A. (the Rome ring) exit Flaminio Saxa Rubra, direction Corso di Francia. Or Lungotevere Flaminio Viale Tiziano, altezza Palazzetto dello Sport..