Historical Archive of the Society of the Gran Teatre del Liceu

In 2011, the Society of the Gran Teatre del Liceu and the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona signed an agreement to open its historical archive to the public. Led by Professor Francesc Cortés from the Department of Art and Musicology at UAB, the project involves cataloguing and sharing over 50,000 documents created between 1837 and the 1990s, offering a unique insight into the history of opera and Barcelona’s cultural landscape.

This documentary collection not only sheds light on theatrical management and technical advancements but also reveals a crucial part of Barcelona’s social and cultural history.

Collection description: The Archive, established with the founding of the Society in 1838 and closed in 1999, encompasses key events such as the construction and inauguration of the theatre in 1847, the fire and subsequent reconstruction in 1861, and the formation of the Consortium of the Gran Teatre del Liceu in 1981-1982.

The collection includes administrative documents, photographs, performance and dance posters, as well as unique plans for reconstructions and stage design projects found nowhere else in Europe. It is continually expanding through digitisation and the addition of new materials.

Collection date range: 1838-1999 

Collection incorporation date: 2013- 

Depositary library: Humanities Library

Rights: Users agree to use this documentation solely for research purposes, to properly cite the source when disclosed, and to provide the Library with any work resulting from their consultation. Consultation or reproduction of the documents does not grant any rights to the intellectual property contained within. Any use that contravenes applicable laws and the rights arising from them is the sole responsibility of the user.