The foundation Calouste Gulbenkian (pronounced in Portuguese as [Kalush’te Gul’benkyan] takes up a large building of modern construction with lots of light and open space that is adjacent to Museu Gulbenkian. Calouste Gulbenkian was a wealthy oil magnate who left a large art collection and a charitable trust to the foundation that has a lot of cultural events year round. The building has several installations of modern art. Large bathrooms with no lines even in the lady’s room are worth mentioning. Each floor has large windows, which face a well-maintained park with a rosarium. The Grand Auditorium, where concerts take place, has mahogany paneling on the walls (easily dating it as built in 1960s when wooden paneling was popular) with yellow/orange velvet rows of chairs, good modern acoustics and a stage that can be made smaller or larger by moving a large light wood screen. We had tickets for the balcony (10 euros each, reserved through the hotel concierge), however the usher told us that the hall wasn’t going to be full, so we could seat on the main floor. The floor is lined with cushy carpet of khaki color.

We were there for the concert of baroque music – selections from Beethoven – concerts for piano and cello – in two parts with intermission. It was a beautiful concert with music flowing through the concert hall and lifting up. The pianist was a real delight – a true virtuoso. They had two encores and performed also a piece by Chopin and by Brahms for the encores. When during the intermission I went to check if I could get tickets for the performance of Mozart opera that same week, the tickets were sold out. If during your visit to Lisbon, they have a performance scheduled, make an effort to go – you will really enjoy it.

In one part of the museum are remains from Greece, Rome and Egypt as well as oriental works. it would be difficult to overstate how good they are. Clearly Gulbenkian only bothered with articles of the very highest standard and he put all his collection into the keeping of the Portuguese state in return for the terrific reception he received there during the second world war. The other major part is devoted to European art and again it is high class stuff. Rembrandt, van Dyck manet, Monet, and Renoir are all represented. To cap it all on a Sunday morning this feast of treasures can actually be enjoyed free!!