Library-museum of the Opera

History

The royal Academy of music created in 1669 comprised an office of copy which made it possible to make to the partition S. These last, preserved at the office, constituted little by little a true musical library, of which a part was lost thereafter. In addition, the institution preserved its files in a distinct service.

The librettist Charles Nuitter, appointed archivist of the Opera, obtains the official creation of the library of the Opera by a decree of the May 16th 1866. Appointed librarian a little later it contributes to classify and catalog the documents, but also to enrich the funds, by in particular receiving books resulting from the Registration of copyright.

In 1875, the service takes the name of file-library of the Opera. In 1882, Nuitter is authorized to use the house of the Emperor of the Garnier palate to install the library there and to associate a museum there.

The files, except the registers, mainly pass to the Public records in 1932. The service then takes its current name of library-museum. In 1935, the service forms, with the library of the Conservatoire and the musical funds of the National library, the meeting of the musical libraries of Paris, integrated into the Réunion of the national libraries of Paris.

To the creation of the department of the music in 1942, the library-museum of the Opera is attached to him.

Collections

The library-museum of the Opera preserves close to: 600000 documents of which: : 100000 delivers S: 1680 periodic titles of and various printed papers form: 16000 partitions: 30000 booklets: 10000 Program S: 10000 documentary files: 250000 letters autographs: 11000 materials of orchestra: 100000 Photography S: 30000 Print S with some: 25000 Draft S of Costume S and Decoration S, seventy meters linear of Drawing S, hundred meters linear of Poster S and: 3000 documents of Files of which: 2378 administrative registers, created at the time of the many assembled spectacles, operas or ballets, and of the acquisitions carried out with the wire of time.

It shelters in particular the international Archives of the dance gathered by Rolf de Maré and given to the library in 1953.

The first catalog of the musical funds is that established by Theodore de Lajarte and heading musical Bibliothèque of the theater of the Opera (1878).

The many files making it possible to know the collections are gradually integrated in the catalogs computerized of BnF, and in particular BN Opal-More.

The museum

The museum is integrated in the visit of the Garnier opera. It is composed of five rooms in row presenting of the tables, the Maquette S and the costumes.

In top of the staircase leading to the Museum is set up since 1990 the bronze of the principal dancer Alexandre Kalioujny seized by the sculptor Jacques Gestalder in a jump of the dances of Prince Igor.

The visitors can also see shelves of books and partitions protected by grids. These documents can be communicated to the public, but insofar as the public attends these spaces, the communication is differed one day.

The funds of the museums are far from being completely exposed since they are estimated at approximately: 8500 objects, of which: 2500 models of decorations: 3000 various works including 500 tables: 3000 jewel X of scene.

The library-museum of the Opera organized twenty-five exposures since 1992 and collaborates in those of BnF or besides. Parts resulting from the collections of the museum are also presented alternatively to the Musée of Orsay.

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