engravingOpéra De Tours
1794 - A convent became a theater
After the Revolution, the State organized the sale of national property. A local man, M. Bucheron acquired the Cordeliers Church, dating from the 13th century, and transformed it into an 800-seat concert hall.
Grand Thâtre de ToursOpéra De Tours
1872 - Inauguration of the Théâtre municipal de Tours
No longer meeting the requirements of modern shows (seats had no backrests, there was no gas lighting) the City of Tours bought the hall and inaugurated in 1872 the first Municipal Theatre of the city of Tours.
Interior view of the Theater after the fireOpéra De Tours
1883 - The fire after a show
One night in August 1883, a fire burnt down the theatre. Only the façade and walls still stood up. A jury chaired by Charles Garnier entrusted the reconstruction to the architect J.-M. Hardion, the paintings to G. Clairin and the sculptures to F. Combarieu.
facadeOpéra De Tours
1889 - Inauguration of the Grand Théâtre de Tours
The second theatre is inaugurated, its architecture is the one we know today.
Orchestre Symphonique Centre- Val de Loire / ToursOpéra De Tours
2002 - The Orchestre symphonique Region Centre-Val de Loire/ Tours
The orchestra of the opera obtains the label "Orchestre national en région". It interprets a repertoire lyric, symphonic and chamber musician. A professional permanent choir was established in 1983.
sceneOpéra De Tours
2023 - Historical Monument List
The Minister of Culture Rima Abdul-Malak announces the classification as Historical Monuments of the Grand Theatre of Tours in its entirety. It is one of the few operas in France to be fully classified.
Photo Credits: Marie Pétry, Ingrid Pico-Heide and Gérard Proust
Some images come from the Municipal Archives of Tours and/ or are taken from the book
«The lyrical theatre in Tours, from the origins to the present» by Jacques Derouet.
Bibiliography:
- Jacques Derouet - Le théâtre lyrique à Tours. From its origins to the present day, Tours, 1989
- Vincent Droguet and Marie-Thérèse Réau - Towers, decor and furniture of religious and public buildings
- Cahiers du Patrimoine n°30, Service Régional de l'Inventaire Général - Direction Régionale des Affaires Culturelles du Centre, 1993
