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Floral carpets, wine yellow boudoirs, huge chandelier, gilding and silks on the walls … The imperial Theater of the castle of Fontainebleau is a jewel of beauty that wakes up after 140 years of sleep. " Everything is here. We will show the theater as it was at the time ", Proudly exposes Jean-François Hebert, director of the castle.
On April 12, 2007, France and the Emirate of Abu Dhabi signed an extraordinary contract. Charmed by the place, the President of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, puts on the table a check for ten million euros before the Minister of Culture of the time, Renaud Donnedieu de Vabres. The theater today bears the name of the Arab patron … Tuesday, June 19, the French Minister of Culture Franck Riester and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Emirates, Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, inaugurate the place.
An almost perfect state of conservation
Twelve years of work will have been necessary for its complete restoration. Two stages marked the work: a first installment, completed in 2014, renovated the hall and its access, as well as the living room-foyer of the emperor, for 5 million euros. The other half of the envelope concerned the upper level lounges, the screened boxes and the stage cage with its blue painted curtain, machinery and decorations.
The imperial theater of Fontainebleau restored stage side
With the exception of asbestos, lead and stump on carpet and walls, " due to the high humidity of the soil, because the site of Fontainebleau is a basin ", Details the chief architect Patrick Ponsot, the theater was in" an almost perfect state of conservation "Says the director of the place. Thus, nearly 80% of the materials are of origin which confers a particular authenticity to the place. As if time had stopped. A large bronze chandelier sublimates the curvaceous room with its two horseshoe balconies, reminiscent of the famous external staircase at the entrance of the castle (1). The machinery is also intact.
An ephemeral imperial caprice
It must be said that the theater was hardly used at the time of its creation, in 1857. Built by the architect Hector Lefuel in a single year – a feat due to the day and night work of the workers – it only works a dozen times. " It's an imperial whim "Says Vincent Cochet, Chief Curator of the castle's heritage. This eccentricity would have been wanted in 1853, during the first stay at the castle of Napoleon III and his wife Eugénie, as it is mentioned in The Theater of the imperial court at Fontainebleau, writes under the curator's direction.
"The iconic stairs of Fontainebleau are saved"
However, the theater will not be used again today for artistic performances. " There will be five, six shows a year (first, this Tuesday, June 19th) but this is exceptional », Says Jean-François Hebert. Involved, the non-compliance of the room with current safety standards. In addition, the city of Fontainebleau already has a theater with 400 seats. " With its 200 seats, the Imperial Theater could in no way compete with it Says Jean-François Hebert.
On the other hand, the public will be able to benefit from guided tours every day (except Tuesdays) as well as "dramatized visits" (11th, 12th, 13th, 17th, 18th and 19th of July in the evening) to immerse themselves in bourgeois theatrical atmosphere of the nineteenthe century.
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