[Belle Époque] Éden-Théâtre Colorful Large Éden-Théâtre Program on Rice Paper

[Belle Époque] Éden-Théâtre

Colorful Large Éden-Théâtre Program on Rice Paper

Visually striking single-sheet large program of March, 1891. Printed on surprisingly sturdy Chinese paper, the border with colorful woodblock scenes of Chinese life and entertainments. Inset mounted photograph of "Mlle. Noraly" within a printed laurel border, the program including her performance and "Une Noce a la Cour des Miracles" with narration and orchestra, the ballet "Pierrot Surpris," a "Pantomime Américian," and a ballet in 2 Acts, "La Tentation de Saint-Antoine." With a number of creases, but overall astonishingly well-preserved, bright, without tears or significant stains.

The Éden-Théâtre was a large Parisian theatre (4000 seats) in the Rue Boudreau built at the beginning of 1880s by the architects William Klein and Albert Duclos (1842–1896) in a style influenced by orientalism. The theatre, inspired by Moghol architecture, was inaugurated on 17 January 1883. It is particularly well known in operatic history as the site of the first Paris production of Wagner's Lohengrin, the performances of which aroused enormous opposition among the Parisian public. The colossal theatre soon ran into financial difficulties and was closed in 1894. After a period of demolition, it was remodeled, its former foyer converted into an intimate theatre which opened under the name Théâtre de la Comédie-Parisienne. Oscar Wilde's play Salomé (originally written in French) was premiered there in February 1896. (6302)

Program, unsigned Theater