Teatro National de Sao Carlos or the São Carlos National Theater is one of the major opera houses of Portugal. The magnanimous opera was built in 1792 following the plans of José da Costa e Silva. Another opera house previously existed in this site, which was completely destroyed by the 1755 earthquake. The ideal location of Teatro National de Sao Carlos at the south of Rua Serpa Pinto makes it easily accessible by tram route 28, bus route 58 and the metro route of Chiado.
Unlike the first opera house the new one was built with a modern concept of the rising bourgeoisie society. The wealthy citizens gathered the funds for the new building. The initial performances of this opera house resembled those of the Italian operas with predominantly Italian casts. Lisbon opera achieved a good reputation during the 19th century. The famous musicians who performed during the early years of the Teatro National de Sao Carlos includes Toscanini, Liszt, Saint-Saëns, Paganini, Richard Strauss, Rubinstein and Padarewsky.
The classically designed Teatro National de Sao Carlos
The neo-classical architecture of Teatro National de Sao Carlos is worth admiring because of its enormous structure and intricate patterns. The Teatro Nacional de Sao Carlos is referred to as one of the nation's earliest
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classical buildings. The architect was inspired by the Milanese Scala and the Naples opera, while designing this opera house. The outer portico of the opera is harmoniously balanced with simple yet elegant patterns. 3 arched balcony overlooks the entrance, the balconies are again surmounted by a lovely veranda. The internal decor is subtle but elegant. The entrance hall boasts an outstanding ceiling painting by Volkmar Machado. The large concert hall open for performances features an oval ground plan, succeeded by five circles one above another. Smaller concerts take place in the Salao Nobre chamber.
Ever since 1946, the Portuguese national Ministry of Culture has been supervising this theater and opera house. In the past few years, several leading music directors and singers have appeared on the stage of this opera house. Some of the prominent names are Beniamino Gigli, Mario del Monaco, Tito Gobbi, Renata Scotto, Birgit Nilsson, Alfredo Krause and many others. After the recent large-scale renovation of the opera, a commendable range of backstage facilities were added in the early 1990s.
The seating capacity of Teatro National de Sao Carlos is around 1148 individuals. For organizing events, booking in person, phone, fax or postal is recommended. The opera is open to general public from 1.00 pm to 7.00 pm ( Monday-Sunday). This opera is accessible through wheel chair.
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