Published on January 21, 2022Updated on June 19, 2023
Standing five metres high, four metres wide, and bedecked in 328 lights, this majestic chandelier brings out the true architectural beauty of the Opéra Garnier Monte-Carlo, a smaller-scale reproduction of the famous Palais Garnier opera house in Paris. The charm of the Monaco locale just would not be the same without its grand three-tier centrepiece, carved from five tonnes of gilded bronze. Originally crafted by the Etablissements Lacarrière in 1878 and powered by gas, the light was converted to electric in 1889, then reduced to two tiers in 1904. It was restored by Mathieu Lustrerie in 2005.
For all that, it is still as sophisticated and elegant as ever! In a bid to preserve the beauty of this heritage piece, our teams take it down two to three times a year to polish the decorative elements and carefully check every bulb.
The Opera ceiling is embellished with a ceiling rose adorned with lyres and floral motifs, which also appear on the chandelier itself. Half of the rose lifts, both to allow the chandelier to be lowered and also to light up performances below: when it is opened, a series of projectors illuminate downstage and the orchestra pit! With this ingenious design, every single element of the piece plays its part in the unique architectural style of the historic opera house, which was opened by Charles Garnier all the way back in 1879.
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