Special issue from the Symposium on the acoustics of ancient theatres

Abstract

Ancient theatres are some of the most significant cultural and architectural masterpieces of the ancient world. The Greeks and Romans developed these spaces for entertainment, political and social commentary, religious rituals and artistic expression. They were built with great attention to acoustics and sightlines. The use of materials such as marble, stone, and brick helped to reflect and amplify sound, while seating arrangements and other architectural features were used to optimize the audience's listening experience. Today, many ancient theatres have been restored or preserved and are often still used for public performances including opera, drama, speech and music. Furthermore, researchers continue to study the acoustic properties of these ancient spaces, seeking to better understand the technical and artistic innovations that enabled the creation of such remarkable buildings. These aspects, as well as more interdisciplinary studies, were presented and discussed during the Symposium on The Acoustics of Ancient Theatres, held in Verona from 6 to 8 July 2022. The Symposium, organized by the Acoustical Society of Italy (AIA) and the European Acoustics Association (EAA), with the collaboration of the Hellenic Institute of Acoustics (HELINA), was the second on this topic after the one held in Patras (Greece) in 2011. The program of the Symposium included keynote speeches, presentations in structured sessions, posters, technical visits to the Verona Arena and Roman Theatre, workshops and demos. The visit to the Verona Arena was particularly inspiring, as it was possible to enter the technical areas and backstage usually closed to visitors, thanks to the Stage Director who guided the visit. The evolution and development of new technologies for the multichannel measurement systems, together with acoustic simulations, auralisation methods and virtual reconstructions, have generated renewed interest in these ancient spaces and it is commendable that the Rivista Italiana di Acustica (RIA) is devoting an entire issue to publish some of the works presented during the Symposium. The special issue includes 10 papers, divided into 5 invited contributions, 3 scientific papers and 2 technical notes. Papers dealing with issues related to Italy and its theatres were prioritised.