The UEA Opéra-comique database was established at the University of East Anglia in 1989, supported by an initial grant from the British Academy. It was developed through the facilities and expertise provided by the Computing Centre at UEA and its mainframe VAX/VMS machine. The design was originally organised within SQL (Structured Query Language) using the INGRES programme. This article describes the twin foundations of the project: the day-to-day repertory of the Comédie-Italienne/Opéra-Comique, and the establishment of accurate records for each music-theatre work given on its stage, extending from 1755 to 1815. The relation of the project to past work by Clarence D. Brenner is described, and then the archival bases which should lead to the correction of several kinds of inaccuracy often found in reference works, both current and historical. The article goes on to discuss the areas and types of analysis that the computer should be able to perform.