Teatre del Liceu

Teatre del Liceu
1844-1848
Presented by Drew Olson

Founded in 1847, Gran Teatre del Liceu is an opera house that has retained its role as a culture and arts center throughout its history and one that represents one of the symbols of the city. Today, it is a publicly-owned theater – by the Catalan Regional Government, Barcelona City Council, Barcelona Provincial Council and the Ministry of Culture. The first building opened on 4 April 1847, was constructed according to the plans of architect Miquel Garriga i Roca, soon assisted by Josep Oriol Mestres. On 14 April 1861, a fire broke out and the reconstruction took just one year, and the theater reopened on 20 April 1862. On 7 Nov. 1893, during the opening act, two bombs were thrown by an anarchist into the stalls of the opera house. Only one of the two bombs went off, leaving 22 dead and more injured. During the Second World War, Spain’s neutrality had allowed Catalan textile industry to amass great wealth. Bringing forth many prosperous years and establishing itself as a world renown opera house. Ticket sales decreased easing into the 1970’s and on January 31, 1994 another fired doomed, destroying nearly everything, leaving a major impact on Catalan society. This brought forth the question of its own existence. In 1999 the theater was rebuilt, expanded and reopen as one of the largest in Europe.