Salle Le Peletier facts for kids
The Salle Le Peletier was a famous opera house in Paris, France. It was the main home for the Paris Opera company for over 50 years, from 1821 until 1873. Sadly, the building was destroyed by a big fire.
A talented architect named François Debret designed and built this theatre. It was constructed on the land where an old building called the Hôtel de Choiseul used to be. During its history, the theatre had many different official names. This was because the government and the people in charge of the theatre kept changing. Some of its important names included:
- Théâtre de l'Académie Royale de Musique (from 1821 to 1848)
- Opéra-Théâtre de la Nation (from 1848 to 1850)
- Théâtre de l'Académie Nationale de Musique (from 1850 to 1852)
- Théâtre de l'Académie Impériale de Musique (from 1852 to 1854)
- Théâtre Impérial de l'Opéra (from 1854 to 1870)
- Théâtre National de l'Opéra (from 1870 to 1873)
Contents
Why Was the Salle Le Peletier Built?
Finding a New Home for the Paris Opera
The Paris Opera needed a new home after a difficult event. In 1820, the Duke of Berry, a member of the royal family, was killed near their old theatre. This made the king, Louis XVIII, decide to tear down the old theatre. He wanted to build a new one somewhere else.
The king ordered a temporary theatre to be built quickly. This new theatre was to be located on Rue Le Peletier. It was meant to be a temporary solution. However, it ended up being the home of the Paris Opera for over five decades.
Designing the New Opera House
The architect François Debret was chosen to design the Salle Le Peletier. He had to work fast to get the theatre ready. The design included a large stage and a seating area for the audience. The theatre was built to host grand opera and ballet performances.
The building was designed to be functional and impressive. It had many rooms for performers, costumes, and sets. The stage was very big, allowing for elaborate productions.
What Was the Theatre Like Inside?
The Grand Auditorium and Stage
The Salle Le Peletier had a large main hall called the Grande Salle. This was where the audience sat to watch the shows. It was designed to hold many people. The stage was very deep and wide. This allowed for complex scenery and large groups of performers.
The theatre also had special machinery. This equipment helped create amazing effects on stage. It could lift and lower parts of the set. This made the performances even more exciting for the audience.
Backstage Areas and Rehearsal Spaces
Behind the stage, there were many rooms. These areas were used by the performers and crew. There were dressing rooms for the singers and dancers. There were also spaces for storing costumes and props.
The theatre had special rehearsal rooms. Performers would practice their singing and dancing here. These areas were busy with activity before every show.
What Happened to the Salle Le Peletier?
The Great Fire of 1873
The Salle Le Peletier was destroyed by a terrible fire. This happened on October 29, 1873. The fire started late at night. It burned for 27 hours straight. The building was completely ruined.
Luckily, no lives were lost in the fire. However, many valuable costumes and sets were destroyed. This was a huge loss for the Paris Opera. The fire was a major event in the city's history.
Moving to a New Opera House
After the fire, the Paris Opera needed a new home again. They moved to the new Opéra Garnier. This grand building was already being built. It was designed by Charles Garnier. The fire at Salle Le Peletier made the move to the Opéra Garnier even more urgent. The Opéra Garnier became the new and permanent home for the Paris Opera.
Images for kids
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The Théâtre de l'Académie Royale de Musique, the official title of the Paris Opera ca. 1821 -
Performance of Charles-Simon Catel's opera Les bayadères for the inauguration of the Paris Opera's Salle Le Peletier on 16 August 1821
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Fire of 29 October 1873 -
Perspective view of the fire -
After the fire -
Perspective view of the façade on the Rue Le Peletier (ca. 1870) -
Lithograph of the Grande Salle (1854) -
Site plan, floor plan, and interior perspective view (1822) -
The backstage area (ca. 1840)
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