Rivoli Theatre

The Rivoli Theatre is a Portuguese theatre and concert venue in civil parish of Cedofeita, Santo Ildefonso, Sé, Miragaia, São Nicolau e Vitória, in the municipality of Porto, in northern Portugal.HistoryThe National Theatre was inaugurated on 5 October 1913. Its first property-owner was the merchant Manuel Pires Fernandes. The coliseum reached its zenith under the management of D. Maria Fernandes Borges, daughter of the owner, who lived in the house alongside the theatre, with a direct passage to the building.From 1926, its program of events included theatre, opera and concerts (but also exhibitions of some popular film), and at this time its name had been substituted in the publicity as the Rivoli. Restoration work at the theatre began in 1928, when they began to exhibit films of higher acoustic quality, normally associated with events with specialized voices.In the course of the city's urban renewal, in 1932, the immense building (which occupied a large block) was included in the re-purposing of space, thereby reducing its footprint: part of its area was occupied by a branch of the Caixa Geral de Depósitos. The project director altered the theatre's elevation and facade (in 1940), with the installation of the existent base relief sculpture in order to better integrate with the re-created D. João I Square. But, by 1942, the space was once again the attention of intervention; the interiors were remodelled, obtaining new furniture and interior decoration during the mid-century. This work included placement of new flooring and staircases in marble, more comfortable furniture in the hall and balcony, installation of a cloakroom and illuminated displays, lightly painted halls, decoration of the buffets, new armchairs and sofas, and an electric refrigeration system.