In contrast with other European cities, where the monarchy took on the responsibility for the building and upkeep of opera houses, the Liceu was built with private shareholders, organized in a similar way to a trading company or societat.
This affected the structure of the building; it has, for example, no royal box.
The auditorium is huge and gorgeous.
Rebuilt after the 1994 fire, it is a faithful rebuilding of the 1861 auditorium, with some improvements and 2,292 seats, one of the biggest opera houses in Europe.
