Théâtre Louvois

The Théâtre Louvois (French pronunciation: [teɑtʁ luvwa]) or Salle Louvois ([sal luvwa]) was a theatre located at what is today 8 rue de Louvois in the 2nd arrondissement of Paris. Inaugurated in 1791 and closed in 1825, it was used by the Théâtre-Italien from 20 March 1819 to 8 November 1825.^[1] Gioachino Rossini became Director of Music on 1 December 1824.^[2]

Facade elevation of the theatre in 1821

History

• 1791–1794: building by Francescal on plans by Alexandre-Théodore Brongniart; inauguration on 16 August; known as the Théâtre de Louvois or Théâtre de la rue de Louvois up to January 1794, under the direction of Michel-André Delomel^[3]
• 1794–1796: known as the Théâtre des Amis de la Patrie from 13 January 1794 to December 1796^[4]
• 1796: direction Mlle Raucourt, as the Théâtre Français de la rue de Louvois' from 25 December 1796 to 10 September 1797^[3]
• 1798: direction César Ribié, as the Théâtre d'Émulation from 17 April to 31 December^[3]
• 1799: used by the players of the Théâtre de l'Odéon from 20 March to 12 April,^[5] under the direction Louis-Benoît Picard
• 1799–1801: known as the Théâtre des Troubadours from 1 August 1799 – 20 April 1801^[6]
• 1801–1808: used again from 5 May 1801 – 12 June 1808 by the players of the Théâtre de l'Odéon^[7] under Picard, then Alexandre Duval
• 1804: becomes known as the Théâtre de l'Impératrice until June 1808, when the players returned to the new Odéon, taking the name with them^[8]
• 1807: acquired in December by the state for use by the Paris Opéra as rehearsal space and for concerts, including some by the Concerts Spirituels^[9]
• 1808: closed by order of Napoléon, it then served as a storage room for the Opéra, at that time performing in the Théâtre des Arts located just across the rue de Louvois from the Salle Louvois; communication between the two buildings was via an iron bridge over the rue de Louvois
• 1811–1812: an annex was constructed for the storage of scenery^[9]
• 1819–1825: primary venue of the Théâtre-Italien^[10]
• 1821: after the closing of the Salle Favart, the theatre was used as an opera house by the Opéra, while the company was awaiting the completion of the Salle Le Peletier.^[11] The company gave a concert on 25 May and performed operas on 1 and 15 June. Both opera performances included Rousseau's Le devin du village, and the second also featured the premiere of Adalbert Gyrowetz's divertissement La fête hongroise.^[12]
• 1825: closing of the theatre
• 1827: order issued to remove all stored scenery for the sale of the theatre^[13]
• 1899: demolition^{[citation needed]}

Architectural drawings of 1821

• 
  View of the auditorium
• 
  Transverse section
• 
  Plan

See also

• List of former or demolished entertainment venues in Paris