File number: brqf0152

© South American Pictures/ Tony Morrison

Brazil: Amazonas state: The Sala Nobre or 'Noble Room' of the Manaus Opera House, the Teatro Amazonas built in 1896 - at a cost of about 3 million dollars. Most of the materials came from Europe: some 36,000 decorated ceramic tiles from France for the magnificent cupola, and English cast iron for the seats, main columns and balconies. The Sala Nobre is lit by chandeliers of Italian crystal and French bronze, and decorated with paintings by the Italian artist Domenico de Angelis. This is a photograph taken soon after the opening