Bijoux de scène de l'Opéra de Paris: an exhibition of marvellous jewellery at the Palais Garnier

It's glittering, sparkling and thrilling! From November 28, 2024 to March 28, 2025, theOpéra national de Paris invites you to plunge into the fascinating world of stage jewelry, on display at the Bibliothèque-musée du Palais Garnier. Under the guidance of dramaturge Isabelle Stibbe and chief curator Jérôme Fronty, these sparkling treasures reveal the secrets behind the jewels that illuminate the Opéra's shows.

Here, no precious stones or rare metals, but a true illusion: brass is mistaken for gold, colored glass pretends to be a ruby, and rhinestones play at being diamonds. In short, simple materials are transformed into spectacular jewels by the fairy-like fingers of the Opéra ateliers. These jewels are not just props, they are actors in their own right, imbued with symbolism and power, lending their sparkle to the characters and enhancing the stories.

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Let's go back in time - In the 18th century, singers and dancers wore their own jewelry on stage, as a sign of social status or success. But by the Second Empire, the Opéra had decided to standardize all this: the stage jewelry was specially designed for each role! Costume designers such as Charles Bianchini and Joseph Porphyre Pichon, who dressed the boards during the second half of the 19th century, set about drawing meticulous sketches, with all the indications needed to create these magical adornments. And then the workshops get busy. Fabrications were made, adapted and sometimes even improvised, because they had to be impressive while remaining light and practical for movement.

Jewels are a source of obsession and desire... In Gounod's Faust, jewels precipitate Marguerite's downfall, and gold triggers Richard Wagner's Tetralogy cycle. They also serve to designate roles: a crown for the king, a helmet for the Valkyrie... to the point of bewitching with their brilliance, conferring a seductive and almost erotic aura, integrated intostage acting under the Second Empire. Carmen, adorned with her jewels, would be no less fatal!

Thejewelry exhibition unveils nearly 4,000 pieces, accumulated over time, tracing the evolution of styles and fashions that have punctuated Opera creations, from the Romantic era to postmodern follies. Sometimes faithful to historical sources, sometimes resolutely whimsical, the jewels follow the thread of trends, with inspirations as diverse as Aida's Egyptomania or the exoticism of the great discoveries of the time.

Today, the illusion continues, but with new materials: plastics, resins and other contemporary finds are added to the repertoire, making these ornaments ever more surprising and ingenious. More than ever, the secret of these jewels lies not in their material value, but in the art of staging.
For at theParis Opera, gold is above all in the dreams it inspires.

The exhibition is available as part of a visit to the Palais Garnier