BERTRAND GUAY / AFP
The Opéra Garnier in Paris, here photographed in 2020.
PARIS – It’s not for now. The National Opera of Paris will carry out renovation work forcing it to close the stage of the Palais Garnier of “mid-2027 to mid-2029” then that of the Opéra Bastille from “mid-2030” for at least two years.
At the Palais Garnier, an almost 150-year-old building classified as “ historical monument » in 1923, “ the most important work will begin in the summer of 2027 and will involve the renovation of stage equipment and the stage cage”the National Opera told AFP this Thursday, October 31.
In a report released last week, the Court of Auditors had estimated that “ the replacement of the motors of the hanger (located above the stage and allowing the manipulation of the sets, editor’s note) of the stage cage was a priority » for this building.
“The plateau being inaccessible” from mid-2027 to mid-2029, its artistic programming “ will be interrupted for a period of two years”added the Paris National Opera, according to a “ estimated work schedule » adopted in July by the board of directors.
At the Opéra Bastille, inaugurated in 1989, “ the heavy renovation work (stage equipment in particular) will not begin before mid-2030, with the stage closed for an estimated period of two years”he continues.
Buildings « aging » And “ long-standing underfunded »
A 2019 audit noted several “ priorities » like the “ renovation of stage machinery »there “ modernization » hangers, the stage frame or even the orchestra pit, according to this study cited in the report of the Court of Auditors.
According to the institution, from mid-2027 to mid-2029, “ The Opéra Bastille’s programming will host an equal proportion of opera and ballet performances. Shows will also be scheduled outside the walls, in Paris, in partner venues, and more widely in France”. “ These same principles will be applied during the work on the Opéra Bastille”.
The Garnier building will also remain “ accessible for visits »with “ predictable restrictions for the performance hall ».
In its report published last week, the Court of Auditors described the buildings as “ aging » and “ long-standing underfunded » and mentioned a “ investment plan » of 200 million euros by 2030.
This amount is “ being updated, based on ongoing diagnostics »specified the Opera. “ It will be based on the self-financing of the Opera and on the support of the State”.
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