The Théâtre d'Orléans was a theater in New Orleans, first opened in November, 1809. This marked the beginning of continuous French opera anddrama throughout the nineteenth century. The plans for the Theater were drawn up by Louis Tabary, a refugee from the French colony of Saint-Domingue. After a fire, it was rebuilt and opened in 1817 led by another emigre from Saint-Domingue, John Davis. It housed the French Opera until 1859. Davis became one of the major figures in French theatre in New Orleans.[1]
Under the leadership of Davis, and then his son, Pierre, the Théâtre presented shows from autumn through the spring, ending only when the heat and humidity forced it. Unable to perform during the summer months, John Davis came up with a way to continue to make money even during the summer.[1] The Théâtre sent touring groups to the Northeastern United states, beginning in 1827, bringing non-English operas to many places for the first time.[2]
The Théâtre soon became part of a rivalry with the Camp Street Theatre, run by James Caldwell and founded in 1824; Camp Street focused on English operas.[1] In 1835, the Théâtre produced Robert le diable, but was upstaged by a successful production of an English adaptation by Caldwell's Camp Street Theatre.[2] Nevertheless, the Théâtre d'Orléans remained the dominant venue in New Orleans during the pre-Civil War period. Later that year, the Camp Street Theatre opened a new facility, the St. Charles Theatre, and hired opera companies from Havana to perform Italian opera. The rivalry ended in 1842, when a fire destroyed both Caldwell's St. Charles Theatre and his New American Theatre.[1]
With Caldwell's competition out of the way, the Théâtre d'Orléans entered a period of dominance in New Orleans' cultural life. It staged many American premieres, and featured international stars like the German soprano Henriette Sontag and the Italian Erminia Frezzolini (1818–1884). It was replaced by the French Opera House in 1859.[1]
The following American premieres took place in the Théâtre d'Orléans:
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