Théâtre des Champs-Élysées

The theatre is built of reinforced concrete and features rectangular forms, straight lines, and decoration attached to the outside on plaques of marble and stucco, which was a radical departure from the Art Nouveau style, and, at the time, shockingly plain in appearance. The building's concrete construction was not merely a stylistic choice. Subsoil conditions and the site's proximity to the Seine made concrete necessary. Henry van de Velde was the initial architect, resigning when it was clear that the contractors, the Perret brothers, had a far deeper understanding of reinforced concrete construction than he did, although the Perrets, were not licensed architects and had another designer, Roger Bouvard, sign their plans. The building includes an exterior bas relief by Antoine Bourdelle, a dome by Maurice Denis, paintings by Édouard Vuillard and Jacqueline Marval, and a stage curtain by Ker-Xavier Roussel. The building houses two smaller stages, the Comédie des Champs-Élysées theatre on the 3rd floor, and the Studio des Champs-Élysées on the 5th floor. The building is considered a landmark of modern architecture, and has been a monument historique of France since 1957. File:Théâtre des Champs-Élysées DSC09330.jpg|Perspective view File:Theatre-des-champs-elysees-.jpg|Street façade with bas-reliefs by Antoine Bourdelle File:Antoine Bourdelle, 1910-12, Apollon et sa méditation entourée des 9 muses (The Meditation of Apollon and the Muses), bas-relief, Théâtre des Champs Elysées DSC09313.jpg|The Muses Running to Apollo and Apollo at his Meditation File:Theatre Champs Elysees 35.jpg|View of the auditorium and stage File:Scène du Théâtre des Champs-Élysées.jpg|Stage File:Plafond du Théâtre des Champs-Élysées.jpg|Ceiling ==Early history==

'' at the Théâtre des Champs-Elysées Gabriel Astruc was the first director of the theatre, and programmed contemporary music, dance and opera, including works by Claude Debussy and Igor Stravinsky. Although Astruc was soon financially overextended, the first season was "nothing short of dazzling." The theatre opened on 2 April 1913 with a gala concert featuring five of France's most renowned composers conducting their own works: Claude Debussy (''Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune), Paul Dukas (L'apprenti sorcier), Gabriel Fauré (La naissance de Vénus''), Vincent d'Indy (Le camp from Wallenstein), and Camille Saint-Saëns (Phaéton and excerpts from his choral work La lyre et la harpe). This was followed the next day with a performance of Hector Berlioz's opera Benvenuto Cellini conducted by Felix Weingartner which included a "dance spectacular" by Anna Pavlova. Later there was a series of concerts devoted to Beethoven conducted by Weingartner and featuring the pianists Alfred Cortot and Louis Diémer, and the soprano Lilli Lehmann. The Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra of Amsterdam conducted by Willem Mengelberg gave two concerts: Beethoven's Ninth Symphony and the Paris premiere of Fauré's opera Pénélope (10 May). The second performance (4 June) was less eventful, and, according to Maurice Ravel, the entire musical work could actually be heard. Pavlova's ballet company presented a short season of dance performances in 1919. ==Later history==

The theatre was purchased by Madame Ganna Walska (Mrs. Harold Fowler McCormick) in 1922, although not with the intention of being its manager. She stated that she had purchased the nine-year lease from Jacques Hébertot, who would remain the manager. In 1923 Louis Jouvet was named director of the smaller Comédie des Champs-Élysées (located upstairs, over the foyer of the main theatre). The Comédie stage was the home of Jules Romains' long-running medical satire, Dr. Knock (1923), in which Jouvet played the title role. Jouvet also staged Charles Vildrac's Madame Béliard (1925), Bernard Zimmer's Bava the African (1926), Jean Sarment's Leopold the Well-Beloved (1927), and Marcel Achard's Jean of the Moon (1929). On 4 October 1923, the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées was the site of a spectacular location shoot for Marcel L'Herbier’s film ''L'Inhumaine''. More than 2,000 invited guests filled the theatre to play the audience at a fictional concert, while ten cameras recorded their reactions. George Antheil performed his own dissonant music to stir up whistles, applause, and protests before Georgette Leblanc appeared on stage. Among those present were leading artists and intellectuals of the period, including Erik Satie, Pablo Picasso, James Joyce, Ezra Pound, and the Prince of Monaco. On 4 December 1924 the Ballets Suédois production of Francis Picabia's Relâche, described by him as a ballet instantanéist was premiered in the main theatre. The music by Erik Satie was conducted by Roger Désormière. The ballet included an interlude with a film by René Clair (shot on the roof of the theatre), which was accompanied by Saties's "new and astonishing film score Cinéma." At the conclusion of the ballet, Satie took his curtain call in Désormière's car. Duran Duran filmed the video for New Moon On Monday here in January 1984. ==Current use==

and the Petits chanteurs de Sainte-Croix de Neuilly perform on the main stage in 2017 The theatre shows about three staged opera productions a year, mostly baroque or chamber works, suited to the modest size of its stage and orchestra pit. In addition, it houses an important concert season. It is home to two orchestras: the Orchestre National de France and Orchestre Lamoureux, as well as the French base of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra. The Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France, the Orchestre des Champs-Élysées and Ensemble orchestral de Paris play most of their concerts here too, along with other dance, chamber music, recital and pop events. Although the theatre is privately owned, it is supported by the Caisse des Dépôts et Consignations, which has owned the building since 1970. The theater houses a restaurant on its roof, called Maison Blanche. Yasmina Reza's 'Art' premiered on the Comédie stage in 1994, winning two Molière awards. Prices can be expensive for the main stage, and vary widely even for a particular event, from €15 for restricted visibility to €180 for the best seats (April 2022). The theater, both outside and inside, was featured in the 1973 French espionage movie Escape to Nowhere. It appeared in Jan Kounen's 2009 film Coco Chanel & Igor Stravinsky, starring Mads Mikkelsen and Anna Mougalis in the title roles. The film begins with a brief exterior shot followed by an extensive recreation of the original staging of the "Rite of Spring" and the audience reaction. The theater was the main venue for the 2006 romantic comedy ''Fauteuils d'orchestre'' (Orchestra Seats), starring Cécile de France and directed by Danièle Thompson. ==Notes==