VICHY OPERA

It is the work of the architect Charles Le Coeur, assisted by Lucien Woog, a Belgian architect, inaugurated in 1903. Its decorative style is unique, dedicated to floral delights. The front of the stage is decorated with two white peacocks protecting two harps and framing the dates 1864 and 1901 dominated by the mask of the tragedy. This decoration, of great originality, is the work of the Parisian painter-decorator Leon Rudnicki. The façade of the 1865 casino, preceded by a majestic staircase, is flanked by two forebodies crowned by curvilinear pediments in which are inscribed, supported by the chubby Bears, a barometer on one side, a clock on the other. You will also see caryatids representing the four seasons. They are the work of the French sculptor Carrier-Belleuse. The three large French windows are decorated with flowered grills, forged by Emile Robert, as are all the balustrades and railings of the building. The hall can accommodate more than 1,400 spectators. Designed as a shell, with no pillars to obstruct the spectators, thanks to a metal framework supporting the roof and the walls. Its decoration is remarkable for its patterns and its ivory and gold colors. A monumental dome is equipped with a hundred bulbs and a ventilation system hidden in the series of lyres. It is encircled by roses and on the pendants are portraits of celebrities of the time: Sarah Bernhardt, Réjane, Cléo de Mérode. The dressing rooms are in front of the stage and the whole is treated in golden yellow velvet. Since 1995, the Opera has regained its full glory. In the Vichy Opera Museum, a rich collection of documents retraces its entire life.