Opéra de Monte-Carlo facts for kids

The entrance to the Salle Garnier

The Opéra de Monte-Carlo is a famous opera house located in the small country of Monaco. It is actually part of the well-known Monte Carlo Casino.

Back in the 1870s, Monaco didn't have many fun cultural activities. So, Prince Charles III and a company called the Société des bains de mer decided to build a concert hall. This hall would be connected to the casino. People could enter through the casino, but Prince Charles III had his own special entrance. It opened in 1879 and was named the Salle Garnier. It got its name from the architect, Charles Garnier, who designed it.

When the Salle Garnier was being fixed up in 2004 and 2005, the opera company performed in another place. They used the Salle des Princes inside the Grimaldi Forum. This is a modern building where groups like Les Ballets de Monte Carlo and the Monte-Carlo Philharmonic Orchestra often perform.

The Amazing Salle Garnier

The side of the Salle Garnier facing the sea

Inside the auditorium and stage (around 1879)

The Royal box (around 1900)

The same architect, Charles Garnier, also designed the famous Paris opera house. That one is now called the Palais Garnier. The Salle Garnier in Monaco is much smaller. It can seat 524 people, while the Paris opera house holds about 2,000.

Even though it's smaller, the Salle Garnier was built super fast! It took only eight and a half months. The Paris theatre, on the other hand, took 14 years to finish. The style of the Monte Carlo theatre is very fancy and looks a lot like the Palais Garnier. Many of the same artists, like Gustave Boulanger, worked on both buildings.

At first, the Monte Carlo theatre wasn't really meant for opera. But it quickly became popular for opera performances. So, in 1898 and 1899, it was updated by Henri Schmit. He mainly changed the stage area to make it better for operas.

First Shows and Famous Faces

The hall officially opened on January 25, 1879. A famous actress named Sarah Bernhardt performed there, dressed as a nymph. The very first opera performed was Le Chevalier Gaston by Robert Planquette on February 8, 1879. Three more operas were shown that first season.

The opera house became very important in the world of opera. This was thanks to its first director, Jules Cohen, and especially to Raoul Gunsbourg. He became the new director in 1892 and stayed for 60 years! Also, Princess Alice, who loved opera, helped a lot. She was the American wife of Albert I, Prince Charles III's son.

Under Gunsbourg's leadership, many new operas were performed for the first time. This included Hector Berlioz's La damnation de Faust in 1893. Famous singers also came to perform. In January 1894, the amazing Italian singer Francesco Tamagno sang in Verdi's Otello. He was the first person to ever sing that main role! Arturo Vigna was the music director from 1895 to 1903.

Great Performers of the 20th Century

In the early 1900s, many other famous singers performed at the Salle Garnier. These included Nellie Melba and Enrico Caruso. They sang in operas like La bohème and Rigoletto in 1902. Feodor Chaliapin sang in the first performance of Jules Massenet's Don Quichotte in 1910. The opera company had a long and special connection with Massenet and his operas. Two of his operas were even performed there after he passed away.

Other well-known singers who appeared at Monte Carlo included Titta Ruffo, Geraldine Farrar, Mary Garden, Tito Schipa, Beniamino Gigli, Claudia Muzio, Georges Thill, Lily Pons, and Mary McCormic.

New Operas and Today

Besides Massenet, other composers had their new operas performed for the first time in Monte Carlo. These included Saint-Saëns with Hélène in 1904. Also, Mascagni's Amica in 1905, and Puccini's La rondine in 1917. Since it opened, the theatre has hosted 45 world premiere productions of operas!

The "Golden Age" of the Salle Garnier, when it was at its peak, has passed. This is because smaller opera companies often find it hard to put on very expensive shows. However, the Opéra de Monte-Carlo still presents a season with five or six operas each year.

Special Gala Events

Three times in its long history, the Opéra de Monte-Carlo has been changed into a fancy place for special gala dinners.

• The first time was in 1966. This was to celebrate 100 years of Monte-Carlo. Grace Kelly and Rainier III hosted the event.
• The second time was for the royal wedding of Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene.
• The Opéra was transformed for the third time on July 27, 2013. This was to host the Love Ball, a special event to raise money for the Naked Heart Foundation.

See also

• Ópera de Montecarlo para niños (In Spanish)
• Category:Opera world premieres at the Opéra de Monte-Carlo
• Mondial du Théâtre