Théâtre du Palais-Royal
Encyclopedia
The Théâtre du Palais-Royal is a 750 seat theatre at 38, rue Montpensier in Paris
. In 1637 Cardinal Richelieu began work on a theatre on the east wing of the Palais-Royal building, to break the theatre monopoly of the Hôtel de Bourgogne
, and it was opened in 1641. The troupe of Molière
and the troop of the Italians put on the shows here between 1662 and 1673.
On the death of his old collaborator, Lully
re-used the building for use as the Académie royale de Musique
, ejecting Molière
's troupe to a new home at the Hôtel de Guénégaud
. Lully had much building work done on it in order to allow the installation of new stage machinery designed by Carlo Vigarani
, capable of supporting the imposing sets of the opera
s he would later put on here. This replaced the old machinery designed by Giacomo Torelli
in 1645.
The distinctive exterior iron fire escapes of the current building date to an 1880 renovation designed by architect Paul Sédille
.
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
. In 1637 Cardinal Richelieu began work on a theatre on the east wing of the Palais-Royal building, to break the theatre monopoly of the Hôtel de Bourgogne
Hôtel de Bourgogne
Until the 16th century, the Hôtel de Bourgogne was the name of the Paris residence of the Dukes of Burgundy. Today, the last vestige is the Tour Jean sans Peur, 20 rue Étienne Marcel, in the 2nd arrondissement.-Theatre:...
, and it was opened in 1641. The troupe of Molière
Molière
Jean-Baptiste Poquelin, known by his stage name Molière, was a French playwright and actor who is considered to be one of the greatest masters of comedy in Western literature...
and the troop of the Italians put on the shows here between 1662 and 1673.
On the death of his old collaborator, Lully
Jean-Baptiste Lully
Jean-Baptiste de Lully was an Italian-born French composer who spent most of his life working in the court of Louis XIV of France. He is considered the chief master of the French Baroque style. Lully disavowed any Italian influence in French music of the period. He became a French subject in...
re-used the building for use as the Académie royale de Musique
Académie Royale de Musique
The Salle Le Peletier was the home of the Paris Opera from 1821 until the building was destroyed by fire in 1873. The theatre was designed and constructed by the architect François Debret on the site of the former Hôtel de Choiseul...
, ejecting Molière
Molière
Jean-Baptiste Poquelin, known by his stage name Molière, was a French playwright and actor who is considered to be one of the greatest masters of comedy in Western literature...
's troupe to a new home at the Hôtel de Guénégaud
Hôtel de Guénégaud
-3rd arrondissement:At 60, rue des Archives, this Hôtel de Guénégaud was built between 1651 and 1655 for Jean-François de Guénégaud des Brosses, secrétaire du Roi, maître des Comptes and conseiller d'État, by François Mansart . It now houses the Musée de la Chasse et de la Nature and the Club de la...
. Lully had much building work done on it in order to allow the installation of new stage machinery designed by Carlo Vigarani
Carlo Vigarani
Carlo Vigarani was an Italian scenic designer who worked as "ingénieur du roi" and then "intendant des plaisirs du roi" at the court of the French king Louis XIV until 1690. He is best known for his design of the Salle des Machines at the Tuileries Palace in Paris....
, capable of supporting the imposing sets of the opera
Opera
Opera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text and musical score, usually in a theatrical setting. Opera incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre, such as acting, scenery, and costumes and sometimes includes dance...
s he would later put on here. This replaced the old machinery designed by Giacomo Torelli
Giacomo Torelli
Giacomo Torelli was the most important set designer of the middle of the seventeenth century. Born in 1608 in the town of Fano, the year of Giulio Parigi’s work on Il Giudizio di Paride in Florence, Torelli was of noble birth. His work in stage design was extensively engraved and hence survives...
in 1645.
The distinctive exterior iron fire escapes of the current building date to an 1880 renovation designed by architect Paul Sédille
Paul Sédille
Paul Sédille was a French architect and theorist; and designed the 1880 reconstruction of the iconic Magasins du Printemps department store in Paris.- Life :...
.
Directors
- 1784-1790: de Lomel
- 1790-1812: Marguerite Brunet called "Mademoiselle MontansierMademoiselle MontansierMarguerite Brunet, known by her stage name of Mademoiselle Montansier , was a French actress and theatre director.-Background:...
" - 1812-1831: Closed
- 1831-1860: Charles Contat-Desfontaines called "Dormeuil"
- 1860-1880: Francis de Plunkett called "Fleury" & Léon Dormeuil
- 1880-1885: Briet & Delcroix
- 1885-1912: Mussay & Boyer
- 1912-1942: Gustave Quinson
- 1942-1954: Jean de Létraz
- 1954-1965: Simone de Létraz
- 1965-1989: Jean-Michel RouzièreJean-Michel Rouzière- Life :He headed the théâtre du Palais-Royal from 1965 then headed the Théâtre des Variétés from 1975. He was made a knight of the Légion d'Honneur.- Filmography :* 1942 : Vie privée by Walter Kapps...
- 1989-1998: Francis Lemonnier
- 1998–present: Francis Nani
External links
- Théâtre du Palais-Royal official website
- All the productions put on at the Théâtre du Palais-Royal during the 17th and 18th centuries on CÉSAR