Opéra Comique

The Opéra Comique was founded in 1714 under the reign of Louis XIV. It is one of the oldest French dramatic and musical institutions along with the Opéra de Paris and the Comédie-Française. Before the French Revolution, the Opéra Comique became a symbol of the French culture, widely spread in Europe and abroad. It produced the best known French operas still performed today as Berlioz’s La Damnation de Faust, Bizet’s Carmen, Delibes’ Lakmé, Offenbach’s Les Contes d’Hoffmann, Debussy’s Pelléas et Mélisande, Ravel’s L’Heure espagnole …

After the 1939’s merger with the Paris Opéra, the Opéra Comique recovered its autonomy in 1989 and became a national theatre in 2005. Since 2015 the Opéra Comique is led by Olivier Mantei and produces masterpieces from the repertoire and baroque pieces as well as creations. 

Hosted since 1783 in the Salle Favart, which burnt down twice, the actual Opera Comique was inaugurated in 1898. Jewel of the architectural and decorative art of that time, the Opera Comique became a listed monument in 1977.

Opéra comique as a genre is represented by the Opéra Comique company. The term ‘comique’ does not mean that laughter is compulsory. Rather, sung lines are interspersed with spoken drama. Opéra comique stands in contrast with opera, which is sung throughout.