Sitting on the edge of Place de la Mairie, directly opposite City Hall, is the Rennes Opera House, considered to be the smallest in France (with seating for only 642 patrons). Reflecting the 18th century trend for curved architecture, it was opened in 1836 and was nicknamed “The Theater.” It’s convex facade fits the concave shape of City Hall across the plaza ( although they were built in different eras).
Prior to the Opera House’s construction, the area was a large empty space that, reportedly, was awaiting the construction of a private mansion for the governor of the Provence. That never happened. Opera House architect, Charles Millardet, was inspired by the ancient Theater of Marcellus in Rome. Thus, his design was dominated by ten statues depicting Apollo (Greek god of the arts), surrounded by his muses. The building’s rounded facade, built in Italian-style, was not very popular with Rennes’ inhabitants, who would have preferred it being constructed in the flat facade French-style, because of national pride.
During 1856, a chimney fire in the Opera House’s foyer destroyed the building. It was subsequently rebuilt to its original appearance. The seating plan for opera attendees mirrored the class distinctions of the times; facing the stage on the ground floor was seating reserved for the “middle class,” while the first balcony and box seats were designated for the upper class/ wealthy patrons. The top balcony , nicknamed by locals as “the gods’” section, was designated for students and prostitutes ( we will leave to your imagination as to why these two groups were intermingled). Located under the stage proper was space for rehearsals.
At the time of the Opera House’s opening, the stated primary reason for attending a performance was “to see and be seen.” Thus, its interior horseshoe shape, with the boxes facing the public (rather than the stage) made it more of a place for socializing than respecting the actors’ performance.
While the Opera House’s origins were steeped in the early 19th century traditions, its life today reflects modern technology. Every two years, its performances are displayed onto the big screens of thirty cities around the Brittany area. In addition, open-air performances, displayed on City Hall Plaza’s big screens, attract at least twenty thousand patrons.
Prior to the Opera House’s construction, the area was a large empty space that, reportedly, was awaiting the construction of a private mansion for the governor of the Provence. That never happened. Opera House architect, Charles Millardet, was inspired by the ancient Theater of Marcellus in Rome. Thus, his design was dominated by ten statues depicting Apollo (Greek god of the arts), surrounded by his muses. The building’s rounded facade, built in Italian-style, was not very popular with Rennes’ inhabitants, who would have preferred it being constructed in the flat facade French-style, because of national pride.
During 1856, a chimney fire in the Opera House’s foyer destroyed the building. It was subsequently rebuilt to its original appearance. The seating plan for opera attendees mirrored the class distinctions of the times; facing the stage on the ground floor was seating reserved for the “middle class,” while the first balcony and box seats were designated for the upper class/ wealthy patrons. The top balcony , nicknamed by locals as “the gods’” section, was designated for students and prostitutes ( we will leave to your imagination as to why these two groups were intermingled). Located under the stage proper was space for rehearsals.
At the time of the Opera House’s opening, the stated primary reason for attending a performance was “to see and be seen.” Thus, its interior horseshoe shape, with the boxes facing the public (rather than the stage) made it more of a place for socializing than respecting the actors’ performance.
While the Opera House’s origins were steeped in the early 19th century traditions, its life today reflects modern technology. Every two years, its performances are displayed onto the big screens of thirty cities around the Brittany area. In addition, open-air performances, displayed on City Hall Plaza’s big screens, attract at least twenty thousand patrons.
Opened in 1836, the convex shape of Rennes’s Opera House was designed to fit the concave shape of City Hall across the plaza (even though they were constructed in different eras). This is considered to be the smallest Opera House in France.
A fire in the hearth of Rennes’s Opera House foyer, during 1856, was not dealt with properly, resulting in the destruction of the building . Afterwards, it was decided to rebuild the structure according to the original plans.
Visitors can avail themselves of guided tours of the building...
...or explore it on their own.
Legends have it that the original horseshoe shape of the seating area was more conducive to socializing than watching the performances. Designed by J.J. Lemordent in 1913, the ceiling frescoe covering the dome depicts a Breton “Farondole” ( a dance in which participants lock arms in a chain pattern) leading to the sky.
Located under the main stage is space for rehearsals.
A 2017 advertising brochure image depicting one of the Opera House’s performances being shown electronically on big screens to 20,000 patrons in City Hall Plaza (the Opera House is in the background and the attendees are facing City Hall).
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