One of the first theatres in Piemonte to be equipped with gas lighting as early as 1855 was the Teatro Civico. Opened in 1815 to replace the Teatro dei Nobili which had collapsed in 1798, it was built to a design by the architect Nicola Nervi; in 1842 it was bought by the Municipality of Vercelli, acquiring its current name. Destroyed by fire in 1923, it was rebuilt with a spacious stalls area and just one circle in place of the four featured in the original design. Work was completed in 1931 and the theatre was opened with a performance of Giuseppe Verdi’s Aida. Nowadays the theatre hosts concerts, conferences and the municipal drama season.