The first public opera house, Teatro San Cassiano, opened in Venice in 1637.
Teatro San Cassiano began operating as a commercial public theatre in Venice on 6 March 1637. Its opening production was Francesco Manelli’s Andromeda, with a libretto by Benedetto Ferrari. Unlike court opera, which was generally performed for invited aristocratic audiences, the Venetian model sold tickets to members of the public.
The theatre belonged to the Tron family and stood in the San Cassiano area of Venice. Its opening helped transform opera from a courtly entertainment into a commercial art form that could attract paying audiences. Venice subsequently became a major centre for opera production and theatre building.
The phrase “first public opera house” can be confusing because earlier opera performances had taken place in other settings, including courts and temporary venues. The key distinction is the regularly operating, ticketed public theatre. Teatro San Cassiano is therefore associated with the beginning of public opera-house culture.