Opéra National de Bordeaux

One of the landmark attractions & one of the most beautiful neoclassical constructions of the 18th century in the city is Bordeaux’s Grand Theatre –  the Opéra National de Bordeaux. The history of the Grand Theatre of Bordeaux, inaugurated on 7 April 1780, has been punctuated by various events over the ages. The building is still considered one of the most beautiful theatres in the world and was the work of renowned architect Victor Louis. In addition to its aesthetic value, the building has exceptional acoustics thanks to the wooden structure surrounding it. On its façade, the 12 Corinthian columns are crowned by 9 muses and 3 goddesses from ancient mythology gazing into the distance, designed by Pierre Berrier.

Nearly a century after its construction, Charles Garnier drew inspiration from the grand staircase for his design for one of the Opéra de Paris. The task of decorating the dome in the theatre was entrusted to Jean-Baptiste Robin. The theme chosen by the artist was “Apollo and the muses approving the dedication of a temple built by the city of Bordeaux”, a three-fold tribute, both allegorical and realistic, to the arts, the craftsmen who built the theatre and the city of Bordeaux. The current chandelier was installed in 1917. Weighing 1.2 tonnes, it is made of Bohemia crystal and holds an impressive 400 lights.

Some of the most celebrated artists have performed and captivated audiences in this architectural masterpiece in Bordeaux, including Liszt, Cinti-Damoreau, Falcon, Viardot, Talma, Nourrit, Duprez, Rubini, Petipa, Chaliapin, Schipa and, in more recent years, Plácido Domingo, Gustav Leonhardt, Natalie Dessay, Cecilia Bartoli, and Carolyn Carlson. Today, the venue is managed by the National Opera of Bordeaux which performs a large part of its program there, headed by Marc Minkowski. The Grand Theatre is also home to the Artistic, Technical, Administration and Finance, and Development and Communication Departments, as well as housing the workshops and guest artists. More