Opéra de Monte-Carlo

Opéra de Monte-Carlo

Introduction

In 1878, Charles Garnier was commissioned to add a concert hall to the Casino, which was officially opened on 25 January the following year. Six directors succeeded one another between 1879 and 1892. Initially, it proved challenging to establish a befitting artistic policy, but soon composers Camille Saint-Saëns and Jules Massenet rose to the occasion, featuring regularly at the Monte-Carlo Opera. In 1892, Prince Albert I appointed Raoul Gunsbourg Director of the Opera. Gunsbourg held the position until 1951, completing the longest tenure in the theatre's history. Under his direction, the Monegasque stage became a pinnacle of the European operatic scene. Since 2000, the Monte-Carlo Opera has included a second stage, the Grimaldi Forum (1,800 seats).

This new facility made way for co-productions that were not previously possible due to the limited size of its historic auditorium. In May 2001, after 122 seasons, the Salle Garnier was closed for five years to accommodate extensive refurbishment. This meticulous restoration and modernisation of equipment has resulted in a spectacular venue.

Since its official opening in 1879, the Monte-Carlo Opera has garnered esteem for its prestigious casts and exceptional performances, and thanks to Raoul Gunsbourg, has hosted a plethora of premiers from as far back as 1892, which has continued through successive directors. Since his appointment in 2007, Jean-Louis Grinda, a Monegasque and great admirer of Raoul Gunsbourg, with several years of experience under his belt as an opera director and stage director, has upheld the prolific international reputation of the Monte-Carlo Opera by launching world premieres such as Die Marquise von O and Tannhäuser. In the 1861 French edition in Paris, he created, distributed and co-produced new productions worldwide, enlisting top international artists to perform. In 2016, he created the baroque ensemble Les Musiciens du Prince-Monaco with Cecilia Bartoli, artistic director, performer, and the face of the Monte-Carlo Opera at the greatest European theatres and festivals. Bartoli became Grinda's successor in January 2023 as the first female director of the Monte-Carlo Opera. 

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Place du casino, Monaco

00377 98 06 28 00

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