Building of the Grand Theatre, woodcut

Building of the Grand Theatre. The Grand Theatre – The edifice by the present-day Teatralny Square was built in place of the demolished Marywil (a commercial and service centre). The author of the architectural design, Antonio Corazzi, decided to adapt the eastern wing of Marywil which had been added to the building at the beginning of the 19th century according to Piotr Aigner’s design. It survived until today as the eastern part of the theatre’s facade. After the November Uprising (1830–1831), an unsuccessful attempt to regain independence, the Russian tsar did not agree either to the name “National Theatre” or to the performance of a Polish work on the theatre’s inauguration. Eventually, the Grand Theatre opened with the premiere of “The Barber of Seville” by Gioacchino Rossini (24th February 1833).