| Théâtre de l'Athénée Louis-Jouvet |
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Exterior of the Théâtre de l'Athénée |
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| Address | 7 rue Boudreau, sq de l'Opera-Louis-Jouvet, 9th. Paris |
| City | Paris |
| Architect |
Stanislas Loison (1893), |
| Capacity | main theatre: 570 small theatre: 91 |
| Opened | 1893 |
| Previous names | Éden-Théâtre (1880-1890) Grand Théâtre (1890-1893) Théâtre de la Comédie-Parisienne (1893-1896) Athénée Comique (1896-1899) |
| www.athenee-theatre.com | |
The Théâtre de l'Athénée is a theatre at 7 rue Boudreau, in the 9th arrondissement of Paris. Renovated in 1996 and classified a historical monument, it is among the most beautiful buildings in Paris. In addition to its architectural treasures, the Athénée inherits a priceless artistic tradition marked by the figure of Louis Jouvet who directed the theatre from 1934 to 1951. During the period when he was director, it became known as the Athenée Théâtre Louis-Jouvet.
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The Éden-Théâtre was a large 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.[2][3][4]
The current Théâtre de l'Athénée is actually a former foyer of the Éden-Théâtre converted into an intimate theatre in 1893 by the architect Stanislas Loison and opened the same year under the name Théâtre de la Comédie-Parisienne.[5] Further modifications were carried out by the architect Paul Fouquiau in 1894.[1] Oscar Wilde's play Salomé (originally written in French) was premiered there on 11 February 1896 in a staging by Aurélien Lugné-Poë's theatre group, the Théâtre de l'Œuvre.[6] The location had become rather unsafe, as demolition work was in progress all around it. The police considered banning the performances due to the risk of fire or accident. Their concerns were somewhat reduced by the construction of a temporary 12-meter-long passageway from the theatre to the Rue Boudreau.[7] Later that year the theatre was reconstituted as the Athénée Comique, and the construction work on the site of the former Eden theatre was finally completed by Fouquiau. The theatre was renamed Athénée in 1899.[1]
Pierre Renoir was artistic director here, briefly, from 1951 until his death the following year.