Opera house as wealthy patrons and it continues to have a large number of working opera houses such as Teatro Massimo in Palermo (the biggest in Italy), Teatro di San Carlo in Naples (the world's oldest working opera house) and Teatro La Scala in Milan. In contrast, there was no opera house in London when Henry Purcell was composing and the first opera house in Germany was built in Hamburg in 1678. In the 17th and 18th centuries, opera houses were often financed by rulers, nobles, and wealthy people who used patronage of the arts to endorse their political ambition and social
Opera in The Domain such a loved and enduring part of Australia's cultural landscape". In 2011, Opera Australia for the first time presented the crowd favorite "Carmen" which attracted over 40,000 people, almost bringing the Phillip Precinct to capacity. "Opera in the Domain" was preceded by "Opera in the Park" which commenced in 1982 with "La Traviata" starring Dame Joan Surtherland. Sutherland also sang the next five Operas in the Park, ensuring massive crowds. Opera in The Domain Opera in the Domain presented by Opera Australia is an open-air concert held in the Phillip Precinct of the Royal Botanical Gardens, Sydney. Every January, thousands