Il teatro di Orfeo — Orfeo Tamburi

The exhibition 'Il teatro di Orfeo' in Jesi

The foyer of the G.B. Pergolesi Theatre in Jesi, in the heart of the Marche region and in the province of Ancona, hosts the exhibition 'Il teatro di Orfeo' from April 19 to September 6, 2026. It is dedicated to six works recently acquired by the Municipality of Jesi and signed by Orfeo Tamburi (1910-1994), an internationally renowned painter from Jesi. These are six tempera sketches on cardboard depicting the history of Theatre, from its origins to contemporary times.

An encyclopedic undertaking left unfinished

In the 1940s, Tamburi was involved in the major works undertaken in Rome for the planned Universal Exhibition of 1942. Architect Cipriano Efisio Oppo commissioned him to create large decorative panels, to be realised in mosaic, depicting the history of Theatre from its origins to Opera. The project, almost encyclopedic in scope, remained unfinished due to the outbreak of war: these preparatory sketches are all that remain today, a rare testament to Tamburi as a set designer and decorator, who also created sketches for the Teatro E42 in EUR, Rome.

The return of the Premio Rosa Papa Tamburi

The exhibition marks the resumption, after thirteen years, of the 'Città di Jesi – Rosa Papa Tamburi' Award, established by the artist himself in 1974 in memory of his mother and transformed into a purchase prize in 1994. The acquisition of the six works by the Municipality of Jesi thus revives the bond between the city and one of its most illustrious sons, intertwining art, theatre, and civic memory.

A dialogue between theatre and museum

The initiative stems from the collaboration between the Jesi Civic Museums and the Pergolesi Spontini Foundation, with the support of the Marche Region. It is part of a broader tribute to the art of scenography, complementing the project dedicated to Mario Pompei and the musical fairy tale 'Le peripezie di Pinco Pallino', presented in its absolute premiere on the opening day. The scientific curation is entrusted to art historians Pierfrancesco Giannangeli and Maria Letizia Paiato.

Why it's worth a visit

• Six tempera sketches on cardboard exhibited for the first time since their municipal acquisition.
• A journey through the history of theatre seen through the eyes of a great painter from the Marche region.
• Free admission, in the heart of Jesi's historic centre.
• An opportunity to discover the Teatro Pergolesi, the city's 18th-century jewel.