Lyric Opera House

Opened as the Music Hall on Halloween Night in 1895 with a performance by Dame Nellie Melba and the Boston Symphony Orchestra. The theatre was designed after the Gewandhaus in Leipzig. It was not designed for motion pictures but did fill in with them during slow times, especially during the early part of the 20th Century.

The name was changed to the Lyric Theatre in October 1903, and it reverted back to Music Hall some time later. It is the home of the Baltimore Opera Company and I also read that the Baltimore Opera Co. has filed for Chapter 11. The two scheduled performances have been cancelled.

The theatre was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1986.

Recent comments (view all 3 comments)

rsalters (Ron Salters) on February 11, 2009 at 10:45 am

This theater is profiled in the newest issue of Marquee Magazine (Theatre Historical Society) because the THS plans to visit it during their annual convention in July. The profile states that it was opened Oct 1894 rather than 1895. The auditorium is pictured and has a single large balcony, with side galleries. I seem to recall that it is housed in a large free-standing building.

lostmemory on February 12, 2009 at 9:53 am

Here are some undated photos of the Lyric.

Photo1

Photo2

Photo3

Photo4

rsalters (Ron Salters) on February 12, 2009 at 11:09 am

The Lyric has been renovated inside at some point after Lost’s 4 old photos were made. According to the photo in Marquee Magazine, the balcony has been greatly enlarged, with a shallow front section, a cross-aisle, and a large rear section. But the side walls are the same.