History of Lyon: Lyon National Opera
History of Lyon: National Opera of Lyon
Proudly enthroned on the Place de la Comédie is one of the most emblematic buildings of the capital of Gaul. Between history and modernity, discover the history of this “new opera”.
Everything starts in 1754when Jacques Germain Soufflot, who also took care of the transformation work of the Grand Hotel Dieu, had the mission of carrying out the Grand Theater. The latter is unfortunately ravaged in 1826 by a fire. A few years later, the municipality of Lyon took the decision to build a new Grand Théâtre. She entrusts this project to the architects Antoine-Marie Chenavard and Jean-Marie Pollet. This new cultural place was established in 1831a few months before the first revolt of the Canuts.
The Muses of the Opera
The facade of the Opera is restored in 1842 by the architect Rene Dardel. In 1863, at the installation eight sculptures on the facade of the Opera. They represent the famous Muses of Greek mythology, daughters of Zeus and Mnemosyne. Each represents an art, such as Melpomene and tragedy, Thalia and comedy, or Terpsichore and lyric poetry. One of the Muses is indeed missing, Urania which represents astronomy. For lack of space or simply because the science of astronomy is not an art, the reason has never been clearly stated.
The New Opera
Over the years, the building deteriorates and becomes dilapidated. In 1986, the architect Jean Nouvel won the contract to renovate the opera house. He does keep, from the old theater, as the four facades and the public foyer. He completely redesigned the architecture and atmosphere of the building, where old and modern mix.
Image of Front page: Municipal Library of Lyon