Théâtre des Champs-Élysées, on avenue Montaigne since 1913

The Théâtre des Champs-Élysées opened in 1913 at 15 avenue Montaigne, at the initiative of the impresario Gabriel Astruc. Auguste Perret built it in concrete, a first for a concert hall, and clad it in travertine; it is counted among the first Art Deco buildings.

Antoine Bourdelle carved the reliefs on the façade, Maurice Denis painted the dome and René Lalique made the lights and stained glass. On 29 May 1913 the Ballets Russes premiere of Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring, conducted by Pierre Monteux, caused a riot. In 1925 Josephine Baker caused a sensation here in the Revue Nègre.

Jacques Hébertot had brought the Ballets Suédois here in 1920. In 1954 Edgard Varèse’s Déserts caused a second scandal. The façade was listed in 1957. In 1970, to prevent a sale to developers, the Caisse des Dépôts bought 80 per cent of the shares; it still owns the building and remains its main patron.

On avenue Montaigne, the 1,905-seat main hall hosts opera, orchestras, recitals and dance, with the Orchestre National de France in residence. Above it, the Comédie and the Studio des Champs-Élysées stage plays.