Sibiu's fabulous Sala Thalia has played host to the city's philharmonic orchestra since reopening in 2004. Built as a theatre in 1787-8, it hosted its first performance in June 1788, and was the first purpose-built theatre in the country. Note that in those days performances were in German: the first Romanian-language play was staged only in 1867, and featured poet Mihai Eminescu as narrator. A fire in 1949 left the building derelict, and it was not until 1990 that the local council decided to restore it. Work was finally completed in 2004, the neo-classical facade a faithful reproduction of the original. Sala Thalia is unquestionably one of the finest cultural buildings in Romania.