Theatre Lyrique, Opera company at Place du Châtelet, Paris, France
The Theatre Lyrique was an opera company that operated from 1847 to 1872 in several Paris venues, including the Cirque Olympique and the Salle du Théâtre-Lyrique. It regularly performed both classic operas and new French compositions for its audiences.
Adolphe Adam founded the company in 1847 as the Opéra-National, establishing it as one of Paris's four major opera institutions. Its influence grew significantly under director Léon Carvalho's leadership from 1856 to 1860.
The Theatre Lyrique served as a platform for French composers to present their works alongside foreign operas, making it a key venue for discovering new music. The company helped shape what audiences could hear and experience in Paris opera culture.
The company moved between different Parisian venues during its existence, so today there is no single location to visit. To learn more about its history and performances, visitors can explore archives at Paris theaters, museums, and music libraries.
The company hosted Paris's first performance of Wagner's Rienzi, a significant event for French opera audiences of that time. Even more notably, it premiered Gounod's Faust, which would later become one of the most performed operas around the world.
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