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Muti received at least three curtain calls and a standing ovation at the end of the two-hour-long concert, and in comments to the audience at its conclusion, thanked the orchestra which he first conducted in 1970 at the beginning of his musical career " Applause thundered out as Riccardo Muti took to the stage and conducted the Fenice orchestra and chorus in the national anthem While the audience generally praised Fenice's acoustics, some winced at its bright new colors ââ‚¬â€? much in the same way that many people used to the worn look of centuries find the renovated Sistine Chapel almost cartoonish Using sketches and photographic documentation, the project by the late Aldo Risso sought to reproduce the original theater built in 1792, from its inlayed wooden floors and frescoed ceilings to the minute papier-mÃ¢chÃ© gilded detailing of the loges In the ensuing years, the rebuilding of the ornate 18th century theater was delayed by red tape, political disputes and the mere difficulty of reaching the site, which is between two canals connected by tiny bridges Opera House La Fenice Reopens Its Doors Dec 15, 5:24 AM EST True to its namesake the phoenix, La Fenice has risen up from the ashes The total cost of the renovation is estimated at $90 million "It's a bit bright Seven years after it was torched by its own workmen and burned down, La Fenice opened its gilded new doors to the public Sunday with a black-tie gala concert that drew the Italian president, European royalty and Italy's glitterati "Tonight is exhilarating Mark's Square for the gala performance, which also included works by Stravinsky, Caldara and Wagner Italian critics have largely agreed: the Milan daily Corriere della Sera recently wrote that Fenice's new pink velvet upholstery has to go 29, 1996 to avoid stiff fines their company risked for being behind in its work They were charged with arson and sentenced to up to seven years in prison He then led the musicians in Beethoven's fitting overture, "Consecration of the House," as well as works by composers whose lives were touched by Venice To Venetians and opera and Venice lovers throughout the world, the 18th century theater represents the soul of this unique lagoon city, and its resurrection from the ashes was cause for celebration across Italy and beyond The city lit up the theater as well such landmarks as the Rialto bridge and the bell tower in St At the time of the fire, La Fenice (pronounced feh-NEE-chay) was undergoing renovation On Jan Two electricians set the theater ablaze during the night of Jan Then La Fenice will shut down again until November, when Maazel will inaugurate the opera season in the reborn theater with "La Traviata" by Giuseppe Verdi, first performed there in 1853 "I want to express a wish for culture in our country, that it always be upheld, aided and protected," he said Italian President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi, seated in the royal box, topped off a guest list of Hollywood stars and the Italian jet-set who dressed in black tie and long gowns for the occasion "And the music announces to us that the nightmare is over 1, Lorin Maazel will conduct the Fenice orchestra in a televised New Year's concert "The Great Fenice Theater is given back to Italy and the world!" Venice Mayor Paolo Costa declared at the start of the performance Opening night was the beginning of a weeklong series of concerts including performances by visiting orchestras and conductors, and a solo performance by pop singer Elton John New seating gives the renovated concert hall a total of 1,076 seats and new rehearsal and conference rooms have been created below the orchestra floor , the American organization that raised $300,000 for the rebuilding project and was responsible for the sea-green frescoed ceiling "When I came after the fire, there was such despair," Princess Michael of Kent, whose Venice in Peril organization donated the theater's gilded new chandelier, said during intermission Inside the bright new theater, the phoenix decorated the moss green curtain, while gilded moldings decorated each of the tiers and boxes But it will tone down with time," said Beatrice Guthrie, the executive director of Save Venice Inc " Fans lined up throughout the day to admire the theater's newly polished marble facade, with the Fenice's gilded phoenix symbol hanging in the entranceway