Comédie-Italienne

The Théâtre-Italien or the Opera - Italy was a Parisian theater and opera institution in the 18th and 19th century, which played in various homes.

History

The first operas that were played in Paris (since the mid-17th century ), were works in Italian, but for the French opera, the Italian lost then first in importance, especially since you founded the Académie Royale de Musique. Nevertheless, during the 18th century Italian singer came to Paris. In 1752, to mark the performances of Pergolesi's La serva opera buffa padrona to Buffonistenstreit, a dispute about the primacy of French and Italian music traditions.

In 1787, after the success of a particular troupe of Italian singers, the idea of ​​establishing a permanent theater group for the " opera buffa " came on in Paris. This initiative was implemented in January 1789 with the founding of the Théâtre de Monsieur, a company that ( later on.: Louis XVIII ) soon under the patronage of the Count of Provence was the brother of the king. First, there were performances in the theater of the Palais des Tuileries, even before the Théâtre Feydeau was. But in 1792 this theater closed after the departure of the company.

The Théâtre-Italien de Paris in 1801 re-established, buffe this time for the presentation of Opere serie and opere. The new company took over the theater in the Salle Favart, then at the Salle Louvois. 1808 joined the ensemble at the Théâtre de l' Odéon, which was then under the protection of the Empress ( Théâtre de l' Imperatrice ), and remained there until 1815.

At the Restoration of the Bourbons was planning King Louis XVIII. , To leave the theater soprano Angelica Catalani, but the reign of a hundred days under tied the plans of the king. Therefore, the ensemble members were slightly longer at the Théâtre de l' Imperatrice. After the restoration of King Louis XVIII. came the Catalani with her ​​troupe. But soon they went on a trip through Europe, so that the theater of Ferdinando Paër could be adopted.

1818 the royal privilege of Catalani was lifted and the theater closed. It was then placed as " Théâtre royal italien" under the same management as the Academie Royale de Musique, where the institutions maintained their independence. This structure, however, held only until 1827, when the theater known as the " royal " forfeited. The Théâtre - Italien played otherwise works of Paër, Mozart, Cimarosa, especially the operas of Gioacchino Rossini, who had come to Paris in 1823. The premiere of Rossini's Stabat Mater took place here. The Théâtre-Italien also produced works of Giacomo Meyerbeer and Verdi, in 1878 it closed its doors. Nevertheless, there was then still Italian theater and opera in Paris, at the Théâtre de la Gaîté about or the Théâtre du Châtelet, but especially in the Opéra.

In the drama sector, the Théâtre-Italien great merits acquired by the works of William Shakespeare, which met the Parisian public here.