Lithuania and it's turbulent history was a subject of operas long before the appearance of the national opera in Lithuania. "Everardo II, re di Lituania" ("Everardo II, King of Lithuania"), music by João de Sousa Carvalho, libretto by Gaetano Martinelli was written in 1782 to celebrate the birth of Pedro III, King of Portugal. "I Lituani" ("The Lithuanians") - is an opera consisting by Amilcare Ponchielli to an Italian libretto by Antonio Ghislanzoni, based on the historical poem Konrad Wallenrod written by Adam Mickiewicz. It premiered at La Scala in Milan on 7 March 1874.