The Gran Teatre del Liceu
The Gran Teatre del Liceu is one of the most famous opera houses in Spain, located in the historic center of Barcelona. The theater was established in 1847. The best opera singers of the planet performed here, and the creative careers of Jose Carreras and Montserrat Caballé were launched. Today, the repertoire and performers of the Liceo Theater are known all over the world.
.In the 1990s, the theater building was completely reconstructed, so nowadays it meets the most modern requirements. The auditorium is decorated in red velvet, has a horseshoe shape, covers an area of 360 m² and can accommodate 2,292 people. Each chair is equipped with a monitor so that the audience can watch the development of the opera’s libretto.
Video: Liceo Theater
History of the theater
Teatro del Liceo is one of the few theaters in cities in Europe that was created with private donations. It was founded on the basis of the “Filodramatic School of Montaillon” and built by architect Miguel Garriga y Roca on the site of an old Christian cloister. The theater received its first audience in the spring of 1847. The new establishment was used not only for performances, but also as an educational institution.
In 1861, the theater building was severely destroyed in a fire, so architect Josep Oriol Mestres had to rebuild it almost anew. Only the facade, the Hall of Mirrors and the staircases remain from the old theater.
A tragic event took place here in 1893. Radical anarchist Santiago Salvador planted two bombs in the building. During the performance from the explosion killed 20 people, and many spectators were injured. What happened shocked the residents of the capital of Catalonia, so the theater season resumed only the following year. For a long time tickets were not sold for the seats of the victims, and 20 chairs stood empty as a reminder of the terrible tragedy.
.The heyday of the theater group came in the 1920s. At this time, actors of the Russian theater figure Sergei Pavlovich Diaghilev performed in the theater, Fyodor Ivanovich Chaliapin sang. When the Spanish Civil War was going on, the Liceo Theater held performances with funds from the city council, and in 1939 it was nationalized.
.Visitor information
The Liceo Theater stages classical operas such as Carmen, Faust, Rigoletto, Otello, La Freite enchantée and Aida. The opera “Gaudi”, which is dedicated to the outstanding Catalan architect, is also performed here. A separate stage is open for children, where fairy tale shows and musical performances for the youngest spectators take place. Tickets for the productions are sold at the theater box offices and online.
.Many visitors to the capital of Catalonia come to the Liceo Theater not only for the performances. The beautiful architecture and exquisite interiors make the theater building very attractive to tourists. The elegant lobby, built in the best traditions of the Renaissance, is open to travelers. They can also admire the luxurious Hall of Mirrors, decorated with portraits of opera singers who performed here, gilded stucco and a large number of mirrors.
.Tours of the Liceo Theater take place every day from Monday to Friday and last 25 minutes. The guides talk about the theater in English, French, Spanish and Catalan. German and Russian tourists can use audio guides in their native language. Such a tour costs 16 €.
.How to get there
The Liceu Theater is located in Barcelona, on the famous Rambla, next to the Liceu metro station, through which the L3 line trains run. Buses 59 and V13 stop near the theater building.
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