Opera tragic actresses (1875-1939)

from June 7, 2011 to September 25, 2011 Opéra Library

Free access during heritage days, on Saturday 17 September and Sunday 18 September, from 10 a.m. to 4.30 p.m.

Opera lives on its divas as almighty goddesses and objects of sexual fantasies but also as artists enslaved to lyrical art, composers and audience. Discovering the story of their lives and their personalities as objects of worship is an opportunity to discover the story of lyrical theater. This exhibition focuses on key personalities connected to the Palais Garnier as the brand new temple devoted to lyrical art and its excessive aspects: Rose Caron who was the first performer of Reyer’s works and created the part of Sieglinde in « La Walkyrie » or the part of Desdémone in « Othello »; Gabrielle Krauss who created the last works by Gounod; Sybil Sanderson for whom Massenet created « Thais »; Lucienne Bréval as the model of the noble prima donna who reigned over the Palais Garnier during 30 years. In the early years of the century, a wind of modernity blew over the Palais Garnier thanks to passionate natures such as Aino Ackté, Emma Calvé or Mary Garden as a demonic Salome. This exhibition revives memory of these exceptional women thanks to photographs, objects, jewels, costume sketches and rare documents. Presented at the Palais Garnier, it is also an opportunity to focus on the transition from one century to the next, a transition mirrored by the répertoire and relationships maintained between divas and their audience.