Historically informed digital reconstruction of the Roman theatre of Verona. Unveiling the acoustics of the original shape

Abstract

The Roman theatre of Verona is one of the most beautiful open-air theatres, still in operation by keeping the artistic programs throughout the winter and summer seasons. Inaugurated during the 1st century BCE, the theatre fell in disuse caused by natural (e.g. fire, earthquake, flooding) and human (e.g. barbaric devastations, private properties) destructions. During the following centuries, many iconographies and drawings interpretations have been made in form of sketches by painters and architects (Caroto, Palladio, Guillaume), other than amateurs (Monga, Pinali) of the arts. Only recent excavations undertaken during the 20th century allowed a faithful reconstruction of the theatre owed to the critical and archaeological approach kept by scholars (i.e. Franzoni, Bolla) who compared the historical documents with the discoveries conveyed on site. On this basis, acoustics measurements have been undertaken in order to photograph the existing conditions of the incomplete ima cavea, which is what has been left by the original monument. The first digital model has been realized in order to calibrate the absorbing coefficients of the applied materials with the results obtained by the survey. Additionally, another 3D digital reconstruction has been realized, and used for the performance of acoustic simulations that allow to restoring the listening environment inside the theatre at its primordial shape. A comparison between the existing and the original volume size highlights the difference of the acoustic parameters, indicating that better listening conditions would be if attending a live performance during the ages of the Roman Empire.