What to do and see in Haute Ville, Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur: The Best Concerts & Shows

The Grand Théâtre de Toulon was inaugurated on October 1, 1862. It replaces the old Salle de la Comédie, not yet centenary (1770), but very old-fashioned, cramped and uncomfortable according to the good society of Toulouse. The construction of a new hall was made possible by the extension of the city decreed in 1853 and the transfer of its ramparts further north. The Grand Theater, as it is named, is the first monument (1856-62) erected in the new Toulon, the surface of which is multiplied by three. Admirably located in the heart of the new city, the monument is oriented North / South, with a monumental facade to the South, cleared by a place originally created for this purpose along the Rue Royale (current Jean Jaurès street) and a Façade also "historié" in the North, dressing remarkably the brand-new boulevard Louis-Napoléon. It is enhanced by a judicious use of the natural declivity of the ground, which allows to the south a large staircase which releases it of the place in a spectacular way, like a square of cathedral, or rather of temple to Seen from the architecture with columns and pediment. Obviously we enter the Temple of Art. Apollo is present in many places. Indeed Toulon saw very great for his theater by opening a room of 1797 places at the origin, barely 100 less than the Palais Garnier in Paris. Its population had doubled in less than 20 years, from 35,000 in 1830 to 70,000. We will mention that L'Opéra de Paris, commissioned in 1861 to Charles Garnier, will not be inaugurated until 1875, thirteen years after the Grand Théâtre de Toulon! The neo-classical building with its semicircular arches, gray and pink columns and pediment, has many interesting details among which are noteworthy geometric friezes of Byzantine inspiration, oriental style which will be highly prized At the end of the century. The building, designed by the architect Léon Feuchères occupies a floor area of ​​27 x 70 meters, or nearly 2000m2. It has an infra structure of stone masonry and metal beams according to the principles of construction of the time (semi-metallic). The Grand Théâtre de Toulon was first performed on October 12, 1862, with a revival of the comic opera by Fromental Halevy (1799-1862), "Les Mousquetaires de la Reine", composed in 1846. Halévy had just died Year) in Nice where he was staying for health reasons.