The modern opera house is often the beating cultural heart of many cities around the world. It is both a centre of musical excellence and a barometer for cultural change. Throughout its long history, the opera house has not simply been a place of lyrical excellence, but a venue where the great and good have come to meet and where music lovers have come to be uplifted, educated and enthralled. Singers dazzled, directors outraged, and conductors often cut their musical teeth in theatres that were as awe inspiring as they were daunting.