Reims Opera House, Opera house in Reims, France
The Reims Opera House is a performance venue and theater building in the French city of Reims with roughly 748 seats arranged in a horseshoe-shaped auditorium. The interior features ornamental decorations throughout, with musical and lyrical motifs adorning the walls and ceiling.
The building was constructed in 1873 by architect Alphonse Gosset but sustained fire damage during World War I. Following the war, a comprehensive restoration took place between 1931 and 1932 to return the structure to working condition.
The foyer ceiling, 20 metres long and 8 high, carries medallions and painted figures by Émile Bin on a gold ground: heroic, lyric, pastoral and satirical poetry. Two side salons are devoted to Tragedy and Comedy, each with three portrait medallions of actors such as Talma, Rachel and Mlle Mars in famous roles.
The venue sits centrally in Reims and is accessible on foot; ticketing is available online and at the door. Visitors should check the current schedule in advance, as opening times vary depending on performances.
The 7.5-metre-wide chandelier by Edgar Brandt hangs beneath a ceiling painted by René Rousseau-Decelle. Brandt, a master of wrought iron, also made the building's ironwork after the 1931–1932 reconstruction by François Maille and Louis Sollier. Look up from the stalls to see the fixture against the painted ceiling.
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