This is the most incredible dream of a Brazilian Governor of State in the end of the last century. The monarchy, (in the person of Emperor Pedro II, descendant from the Portuguese Royal House) had just been deposed and the Rubber Cycle in the Amazon Jungle was at its peak. The Manaus society wanted to build a fantastic theatre. Not any theatre, but a theatre to be best among peers, to compete not only directly either with Rio de Janeiro or Sao Paulo main houses but also with the european main Grand Theatres. Swimming in money due to the Rubber extraction, the Governor committed to the Italian architect Domenico de Angelis the design and construction of the Theatre. The Italian artist planned and built a true Opera House, in Italian Renaissance Style. The construction itself was very difficult because all materials like Italian marble, French furniture, Baccarat crystal chandeliers, and whatelse, had to arrive in Manaus by ship, going up the Amazon River. Much similar, but not as weird as Werner Herzog's FITZCARRALDO. The works began in 1896 but the Theatre was inaugurated during the turn of the century, when the Governor was the Baron (nominated by the Pope) Antonio Constantino Nery, my greatgrandfather. It is a real jewel of architecture. And the most complete nonsense if one can figure out who would travel weeks to go to Manaus to see an Opera. Even so, after being in decay through the decades, the Theatre was restored to its original beauty and now is, again, an Amazonian Pride. The photo above pictures the Vitoria-Regia, a typical amazonian aquatic plant that can reach more than 5 feet wide.

PROJETO , CRIACAO E GRAFICOS POR IVAN COSTA-PINTO� -TARZANA-CA-1997-

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