Théâtre national de Chaillot
Encyclopedia
The Théâtre national de Chaillot is a theatre located in the Palais de Chaillot at 1, place du Trocadero, in the 16th arrondissement of Paris. Close by the Eiffel Tower
and the Trocadéro Gardens
—the Théâtre de Chaillot is among the largest concert halls in Paris. It has long been synonymous with popular theatre and is especially associated with stars such as Jean Vilar
and Antoine Vitez
. In 1975 the French Ministry of Culture designated it as one of the four national theatres of Paris.
. Starting in 1973 the interior of the theatre was completely renovated by the team of Valentine Fabre and John Perrottet and now houses a theatre school and three theatre venues: the Salle-Jean Vilar with 1250 seats, the Salle Gémier with 420 seats, and an 80-seat studio dedicated to small productions and avant-garde shows.
In 2007, France's Ministry for Culture under Christine Albanel
directed the Théâtre national de Chaillot to promote contemporary dance—especially the work of French choreographers. This announcement was greeted by controversy and outright hostility in some quarters. Nevertheless, according to the Paris convention and visitors bureau, the Chaillot is dedicated to a presenting world class international dance, theatre, circus and visual arts—to being "a theatre that welcomes art in all its diversity". It regularly hosts international dance companies such as The Forsythe Company
, the Royal Swedish Ballet
, and the Irish troop Colin Dunne
.
The Chaillot is a frequent venue of au courant fashion shows featuring top designers such as Giorgio Armani
, Elie Saab
, and Claude Montana
.
Directors of the new theatre (rebuilt in 1937);
Eiffel Tower
The Eiffel Tower is a puddle iron lattice tower located on the Champ de Mars in Paris. Built in 1889, it has become both a global icon of France and one of the most recognizable structures in the world...
and the Trocadéro Gardens
Jardins du Trocadéro
Jardins du Trocadéro is an open space in Paris, located in the 16th arrondissement of Paris, bounded to the northwest by the wings of the Palais de Chaillot and to the southeast by the Seine and the Pont d'Iéna....
—the Théâtre de Chaillot is among the largest concert halls in Paris. It has long been synonymous with popular theatre and is especially associated with stars such as Jean Vilar
Jean Vilar
Jean Vilar was a French man of the theatre, who created in 1947 the Avignon theatre festival.After he gave up his literature studies, in 1932 he followed in Paris a course of philosophy of Alain and the theatre courses of Charles Dullin...
and Antoine Vitez
Antoine Vitez
Antoine Vitez was a French actor, director, and poet.He was born in Paris, France and became an actor at the age of 19. He was director of the Théâtre national de Chaillot for seven years before being named to head the Comedie Francaise, a French theater company.-References:...
. In 1975 the French Ministry of Culture designated it as one of the four national theatres of Paris.
History
The Théâtre national de Chaillot was built between 1934 and 1937 by the brothers Jean and Édouard Niermans for the Paris Exhibition of 1937 on the site of the former Trocadero Palace, itself an elaborate structure built for the Paris World's Fair of 1878Exposition Universelle (1878)
The third Paris World's Fair, called an Exposition Universelle in French, was held from 1 May through to 10 November 1878. It celebrated the recovery of France after the 1870 Franco-Prussian War.-Construction:...
. Starting in 1973 the interior of the theatre was completely renovated by the team of Valentine Fabre and John Perrottet and now houses a theatre school and three theatre venues: the Salle-Jean Vilar with 1250 seats, the Salle Gémier with 420 seats, and an 80-seat studio dedicated to small productions and avant-garde shows.
In 2007, France's Ministry for Culture under Christine Albanel
Christine Albanel
Christine Albanel is a French civil servant. From May 2007 to June 2009 she was France's Minister for Culture and Communication in François Fillon's government.Albanel is agrégé in classical Letters...
directed the Théâtre national de Chaillot to promote contemporary dance—especially the work of French choreographers. This announcement was greeted by controversy and outright hostility in some quarters. Nevertheless, according to the Paris convention and visitors bureau, the Chaillot is dedicated to a presenting world class international dance, theatre, circus and visual arts—to being "a theatre that welcomes art in all its diversity". It regularly hosts international dance companies such as The Forsythe Company
The Forsythe Company
The Forsythe Company is a dance ensemble of eighteen dancers based in Dresden, Germany. It was founded in 2005 by William Forsythe following the closure of the Frankfurt Ballet...
, the Royal Swedish Ballet
Royal Swedish Ballet
The Royal Swedish Ballet is one of the oldest ballet companies in Europe. Based in Stockholm, Sweden, King Gustav III founded the ballet in 1773 as a part of his national cultural project in response to the French and Italian dominance in this field; he also founded the Royal Swedish Opera and the...
, and the Irish troop Colin Dunne
Colin Dunne
Colin Dunne is an English performer of Irish dance.-Training:Dunne trained at the Marion Turley Academy of Irish Dance in Coventry. In 1978 at the age of nine, Dunne swept the "Grand Slam" of Irish dance competition by winning the World Championships, All Ireland and All England titles...
.
The Chaillot is a frequent venue of au courant fashion shows featuring top designers such as Giorgio Armani
Giorgio Armani
Giorgio Armani is an Italian fashion designer, particularly noted for his menswear. He is known today for his clean, tailored lines. He formed his company, Armani, in 1975, and by 2001 was acclaimed as the most successful designer to come out of Italy, with an annual turnover of $1.6 billion and a...
, Elie Saab
Elie Saab
Elie Saab , sometimes known simply as 'ES', is a Lebanese fashion designer.In 1982, Saab launched his Beirut-based fashion label when he was 18 years old. His main workshop is in Lebanon. He also has workshops in Milan and Paris.Born to Maronite Catholic parents in Beirut, Saab is self-trained...
, and Claude Montana
Claude Montana
Claude Montana is a French fashion designer. His company, The House of Montana, founded in 1979, went bankrupt in 1997.Born in Paris in 1949 to a Catalonian father and German mother, Montana began his career by designing papier-mâché jewelry covered with rhinestones...
.
Directors
Directors of the old theatre (demolished in 1935);- 1920—1933 Firmin Gemier
- 1933—1935 Albert Fourtier
Directors of the new theatre (rebuilt in 1937);
- 1938—1939 Paul Abram
- 1941—1951 Pierre Aldebert
- 1951—1963 Jean VilarJean VilarJean Vilar was a French man of the theatre, who created in 1947 the Avignon theatre festival.After he gave up his literature studies, in 1932 he followed in Paris a course of philosophy of Alain and the theatre courses of Charles Dullin...
- 1963—1972 Georges WilsonGeorges WilsonGeorges Wilson was a French film and television actor. He is the father of French actor Lambert Wilson.Wilson was born in Champigny-sur-Marne, Seine , to a French father and an Irish mother...
- 1973—1974 Jack LangJack Lang (French politician)Jack Mathieu Émile Lang is a French politician. A member of the Socialist Party, he served as France's Minister of Culture from 1981 to 1986 and 1988 to 1992, and as Minister of Education from 1992 to 1993 and 2000 to 2002. He was also the Mayor of Blois from 1989 to 2000...
- 1974—1981 Andre-Louis Périnetti
- 1981—1988 Antoine VitezAntoine VitezAntoine Vitez was a French actor, director, and poet.He was born in Paris, France and became an actor at the age of 19. He was director of the Théâtre national de Chaillot for seven years before being named to head the Comedie Francaise, a French theater company.-References:...
- 1988—2000 Jérôme SavaryJérôme SavaryJérôme Savary is a French theater director and actor. His work has democratized and widened the appeal of musical theater in France, drawing together and blending such genres as opera, operetta, and musical comedy.- Biography :...
- 2000—2008 Ariel Goldenberg
- 2008—present Jose Montalvo and Dominique Hervieu