Bijoux de scène de l'Opéra de Paris : Du Second Empire à nos jours

Description

The Paris Opera and the Bibliothèque nationale de France have a prestigious collection of around 4,000 pieces of stage jewellery.

Crowns, bracelets, bustiers and tiaras, worn by illustrious singers and dancers, fascinate by their brilliance and contribute to the aura of the performers. Although stage jewellery was a 'prop', its role was often fundamental in nineteenth-century operas and ballets. In many librettos, the brilliance and value of the jewellery acted as catalysts to arouse the characters' lust, concupiscence and coquetry... Jewellery thus acted as a theatrical springboard.

Whether attributes of power or adornments of seduction, jewellery plays an important role in the staging of historical or exotic subjects. From the 19th century to the present day, the place accorded to jewellery and the way it is produced have undergone constant change.

This book accompanies the exhibition presented as part of the Opéra Library-Museum, and presents a selection of around 70 exceptional pieces of jewellery from operas and ballets, most of which date from the second half of the 19th century.

Richly illustrated, it follows the exhibition itinerary and presents all the objects on display, not just the jewels themselves, but also models of costumes and sets, photographs, paintings and posters.