VENUE

The ShowBoats Design Awards will be held at the magnificent Monaco Opera House, in the Principality of Monaco.

Built by Charles Garnier, the Salle Garnier of the Opera of Monte-Carlo is an architectural treasure, fully reflecting the lyrical and choreographic history of the 20th century. Today it continues to welcome the greatest names of the opera world, whilst remaining open to original creations and to future talents.

After the war of 1870, international high society started to flock back to the Principality of Monaco. The casino and the Hôtel de Paris were again shining over Monte-Carlo. Yet, it still lacked a cultural dimension, whereas in the great European capitals, the opera was an essential highlight of the social calendar. The Société des Bains de Mer therefore commissioned in 1878 the creation of a new concert hall, inside the Casino of Monte-Carlo itself.

Covered by a copper dome, decorated with sculpted elements adorned with multicoloured mosaics, the facade of the Salle Garnier dominates the sea. A perfect square of 20 metres on each side, the hall accommodated at the time 600 seats and a single row of elevated boxes, on each side of the Prince’s box. The brown columns and pillars in Aberdeen marble, the red seats and the abundance of gold that covers the stucco elements are all illuminated by a crystal chandelier of 4 metres in diameter hiding no less than five tons of embossed bronze. The walls and the ceiling are covered with rich ornaments and on the vault are four panels painted using marouflage: La Musique by Gustave Boulanger, Le Chant by François Feyen-Perrin, La Danse by Georges Clairin and La Comédie by Frédéric Théodore Lix.

During all of its history, the Salle Garnier underwent several series of renovation work, the main sequence being in 1897. In 2003, 126 years after its creation, a team of experts in art renovation met up “in the footsteps of Garnier” in order to help the hall regain its initial spirit and to provide it with state of the art stage equipment. The mosaics on the floor were restored in accordance with the colours originally desired by Garnier and the hall was officially opened on the 19th of November 2005, during the holiday of the Sovereign Prince H.S.H. Albert II.

For more information, please visit www.opera.mc