With the accession to the throne of King José I in 1750, the organisation of a court opera establishment began, involving the recruitment in Italy of some of the finest singers of the time, the renowned Neapolitan composer David Perez as musical director, and the distinguished theatrical architect Giovanni Carlo Sicinio Bibiena, who was entrusted with the task of building a magnificent opera house in Lisbon.¹
This Casa da Ópera, also known as the Ópera do Tejo, was located on the site later occupied by the Arsenal da Marinha. It was a grand and luxurious theatre by the standards of the time, inaugurated on 31 March 1755 with a performance of Alessandro nell’Indie by David Perez, featuring several of the most celebrated Italian singers of the period.
The earthquake of 1 November 1755 led to its destruction just seven months later, and the reconstruction plan for the capital carried out under the direction of the Marquis of Pombal did not include the rebuilding of this project.²
Video about the earthquake of 1755
