Ford's Grand Opera House was a major music venue in Baltimore, Maryland, located between Lexington and Marion Steets, just east of Eutaw Street. It was founded by theatre manager John T. Ford (also the owner of Ford's Theatre) and designed by architect James J. Gifford. The opera house opened to the public on October 2, 1871 with a show that included readings from Shakespeare's As You Like It as well as vocal and orchestral performances.
The opera house was later the site of Horace Greely's nomination as the Liberal Republican Party candidate for the 1872 U.S. presidential election.
Famous quotes containing the words opera house, ford, grand, opera and/or house:
“The opera house sparkled with tiers
And tiers of eyes, like mine enlarged by belladonna,”
—James Merrill (b. 1926)
“Off Highway 106
At Cherrylog Road I entered
The ‘34 Ford without wheels,
Smothered in kudzu,
With a seat pulled out to run
Corn whiskey down from the hills,”
—James Dickey (b. 1923)
“There aren’t any good, brave causes left. If the big bang does come, and we all get killed off, it won’t be in aid of the old-fashioned grand design. It’ll just be for the Brave New-nothing-very-much-thank-you. About as pointless and inglorious as stepping in front of a bus. No, there’s nothing left for it, me boy, but to let yourself be butchered by the women.”
—John Osborne (1929–1994)
“Opera once was an important social instrument—especially in Italy. With Rossini and Verdi people were listening to opera together and having the same catharsis with the same story, the same moral dilemmas. They were holding hands in the darkness. That has gone. Now perhaps they are holding hands watching television.”
—Luciano Berio (b. 1925)
“This is the end, the redemption from Wilderness, way for the
Wonderer, House sought for All, black handkerchief washed clean by
weeping—page beyond Psalm—Last change of mine and Naomi—to Gods perfect Darkness—Death, stay thy phantoms!”
—Allen Ginsberg (b. 1926)