The Great Opera 1828-1867 - The Show of History - Exhibition catalogue

FRENCH LANGUAGE

The catalogue aims to retrace the evolution of this musical genre, from its origins to its decline. Favouring historical subjects, the great opera is the expression of the passions of time: Louis-Philippe's France, under the impetus of personalities such as Mérimée, Guizot or Viollet-le-Duc...

FRENCH LANGUAGE

The catalogue aims to retrace the evolution of this musical genre, from its origins to its decline. Favouring historical subjects, the great opera is the expression of the passions of time: Louis-Philippe's France, under the impetus of personalities such as Mérimée, Guizot or Viollet-le-Duc, is a journey to discover its past and its heritage.
Medea by Cherubini and La Vestale by Spontini are pioneering works. In 1828, Auber, with Portici's La Muette, truly brought the great French opera to the baptismal font. Rossini also tries it with William Tell. However, it was Meyerbeer who gave the great opera its letters of nobility: Robert the Devil, The Huguenots and The Prophet were all triumphs.
Through a hundred works (manuscripts, sketches, paintings, set models), an original and elegant layout, the catalogue offers a spectacular journey through these years of lyrical creation.

Exhibition at the Bibliothèque- musée de l'Opéra - Palais Garnier from 24 October 2019 to 2 February 2020

French language
192 pages / 100 illustrations

Rmn-Grand Palais Publishing