When several plaster decorations fell from the ceiling of Teatro Argentina during the spring and summer of 1958, it was thought best to temporarily move the Accademia symphonic concerts to another hall to permit the necessary restorations to the historic theater. Thus it was that the Accademia di Santa Cecilia moved to the Auditorio Pio on Via della Conciliazione; based on the design of architect Marcello Piacentini, construction had begun in the 1940's but was only completed in time for the Holy Year 1950.
The hall, which has about 2,000 seats and was conceived for public Papal audiences, did not have acoustics particularly suited to symphonic concerts; nevertheless it became the site of Santa Cecilia concerts for almost 50 years. During that same period, the chamber season continued at the Sala Accademica, while from 1958 to 1960 the summer season took place at the Stadio di Domiziano on the Palatine hill, only to return to the Basilica di Massenzio from 1961 to 1979. In 1980 summer concerts were given at the Parco dei Daini at Villa Borghese and in 1981 at Piazza del Campidoglio. In 1971 the custom of progressive numbering of concerts was discontinued, although the Accademia intends to resume the tradition in years to come. At the end of the 1971 season, the Accademia counted a total of 5,431 concerts given since its inception.
