Bruxelles: Théâtre Royal de la Monnaie /
Brussel: Koninklijke Muntschouwburg

Country: Belgium (Belgique/België)
Province: Bruxelles / Brussel
City: Bruxelles / Brussel
Location: 4, rue Leopold / Place de la Monnaie

[1st theatre built 1700 on a neighbouring site as "Grand Théâtre de la Monnaie" by Paolo Bezzi and Pedro Bezzi. Named after a royal mint in the neighbourhood. Opened 17 Oct 1700 with Lully's "Atys". Demolished 1820.

2nd theatre built 1816-1819 as "Théâtre Royal" by Luois Emmanuel Aimé Damesme on a neighbouring site. Opened 25 May 1819. Destroyed by a fire on 21 Jan 1855.]

Current theatre built 1855-1856 by Joseph Poelaert, on the site of the 2nd theatre, using the portico of the 2nd theatre. Opened 25 Mar 1856 with Halévy's "Jaguarita". Stage house collapse in the 19th century, re-built in the 1950s. 1985-1986 major exterior and interior rebuilding and renovation by A.2R.C., Urbat, and Charles Candenhove. Originally 1200, today 1770 seats.

Notable world premieres:

  • Jules Massenet: Hérodiade (19 Dec 1881)
  • Ernest Reyer: Sigurd (7 Jan 1884)
  • Emanuel Chabrier: Gwendoline (10 Apr 1886)
  • Benjamin Godard: Jocelyn (25 Feb 1888)
  • Ernest Reyer: Salammbô (10 Feb 1890)
  • Vincent d'Indy: Fervaal (12 Mar 1897)
  • Vincent d'Indy: L'Etranger (7 Jan 1903)
  • Ernest Chausson: Le Roi Arthus (30 Nov 1903)
  • Darius Milhaud: Les Malheurs d'Orphée (7 May 1926)
  • Arthur Honegger: Antigone (28 Dec 1927)
  • Sergej Prokofiev: Igrok (The Gambler, 29 Apr 1929)
  • John Adams: The Death of Klinghoffer (19 Mar 1991)

Links: www.lamonnaie.be / www.demunt.be

[Bruxelles: Theatre Royal de la Monnaie / Brussel: Koninklijke Muntschouwburg] Front Text: "Bruxelles / Brüssel - Théâtre Royal de la Monnaie / Königl.Oper"; inscription: "Theatre Royal"
Type: Divided Back
Size: Classic
Not sent.

[Bruxelles: Theatre Royal de la Monnaie / Brussel: Koninklijke Muntschouwburg] Front Text: "Bruxelles - Théâtre Royal de la Monnaie et Eglise Sainte-Gudule "; inscription: "Theatre Royal"
Type: Divided Back
Size: Classic
Sent: from Bruxelles to Gerderath (Germany), 1929

[Bruxelles: Theatre Royal de la Monnaie / Brussel: Koninklijke Muntschouwburg] Picture: before the 1985-1986 renovation
Front Text: inscription: "Theatre Royal de la Monnaie - Koninklijke Muntschouwbourg"
Reverse Text: "Bruxelles / Brussel - Théâtre Royal de la Monnaie, Koninklijke Muntschouwburg, The Royal Opera House, Königliches Opernhaus, Teatro Reale dell'Opera"
Publisher: Editions Demol
Size: Modern
Sent: from Bruxelles to Weissenthurm (Germany), 1977

[Bruxelles: Theatre Royal de la Monnaie / Brussel: Koninklijke Muntschouwburg] Picture: after the 1985-1986 renovation
Front Text: inscription: "Theatre Royal de la Monnaie - Koninklijke Muntschouwbourg"
Reverse Text: "Brussel, Koninklijke Muntschouwburg - Bruxelles, Théâtre Royal de la Monnaie"
Publisher: Plazier, Brussels; P 400
Size: Modern
Not sent.

[Bruxelles: Theatre Royal de la Monnaie / Brussel: Koninklijke Muntschouwburg] Picture: entrance hall after the 1985-1986 renovation
Reverse Text: "Koninklijke Muntschouwburg, Brussel - Théâtre Royal de la Monnaie, Bruxelles"
Publisher: Plazier, Brussels; P 1221
Size: Modern
Not sent.

[Bruxelles: Theatre Royal de la Monnaie / Brussel: Koninklijke Muntschouwburg] Picture: auditorium after the 1985-1986 renovation
Reverse Text: "Brussel, Koninklijke Muntschouwburg - Bruxelles, Théâtre Royal de la Monnaie"
Publisher: Plazier, Brussels; P 1306
Size: Modern
Not sent.


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