The excellent "Conference by Candlelight" (4-6 June 2026) was held across the three historic 18th-century court-theatres of Drottningholms, Confidencen and Gripsholms in Stockholm, which Jon Greenfield and Paul Atkin attended on behalf of Teatro San Cassiano. All three theatres date from the second half of the eighteenth century, and so circa 130 years after the Teatro San Cassiano and the birth of public opera in Venice. Being court-theatres, the design of both stage and auditorium, and the consequent interaction between performers and audience create an entirely different reality compared to a public-theatre, such as our own San Cassiano, let alone the huge differences in time given our origins in the late sixteenth century (1581). Even so, there is so much to learn and for this we are extremly grateful to Drottningholms and Confidencen for their generous collaboration.

 

 

While it was a privilege to meet so many theatre experts and to visit three historic theatres in one city, it also reminded us both of the tragedy today that Italy has no active working 17th -century opera house. But, it also reminded us of the huge weight of responsibility on us to deliver our reconstruction project and to create a world-leading centre for the study, exploration and performance of the spectacle that is early opera. We left feeling inspired and ever more determined to fulfil our vision and to return the San Cassiano to Venice.

 

 

The conference was the brainchild of Drottningholms' brilliant Åsa Tillman before Covid caused its delay for six years. Day one was hosted by Åsa on stage at the Drottningholm court theatre where delegates gave a fascinating insight into the use of rope and candlelight within performance, before a tour of the theatre and chances to meet so many great experts in the historic theatre world.

The highlight of the conference came on the second day at the Confidencen court theatre when students were adorned with historically-informed make-up and then walked the Confidencen stage, fully-lit by candlelight. Just seeing the Confidencen theatre lit solely by candlelight gave a glimpse of the magical world of HIP opera that the reconstructed Teatro San Cassiano will bring to life. Opera as its composers and librettists would know it!

 

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Day Three saw a visit to the Gripsholm court-theatre, which is maintained as a museum without performance, but also has stage machinery not dissimilar to that which will be employed in the Teatro San Cassiano. It also gave Jon and Paul a chance to finally get their pictures taken! 

 

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A truly enriching experience in which much of our own research was shared and insights gratefully received. 

A big thank you to Perspectiv, OISTAT, STTF and SLF for organizing this amazing conference and especially to Åsa Tillman and Christer Nilsson from Drottningholm Court Theatre and Perspectiv President Mark Fox and also to the organising committee:

Åsa Tillman, Technical Director and Cultural Heritage Manager Drottningholms Slottsteater, Vice-President PERSPECTIV

Johan Mansfeldt, Technical Director Kulturhuset Spira, Chair STTF - Swedish OISTAT-centre

Ulf Nielsen, Board Member and Commissioner, Technology Commission (TC), OISTAT