The Grand Théâtre de Québec is a

performing arts The performing arts are arts such as music, dance, and drama which are performed for an audience. They are different from the visual arts, which are the use of paint, canvas or various materials to create physical or static art objects. Perform ...

complex in

Quebec City Quebec City ( or ; french: Ville de Québec), officially Québec (), is the capital city of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Quebec. As of July 2021, the city had a population of 549,459, and the Communauté métrop ...

Quebec Quebec ( ; )According to the Canadian government, ''Québec'' (with the acute accent) is the official name in Canadian French and ''Quebec'' (without the accent) is the province's official name in Canadian English is one of the thirtee ...

, Canada. It was conceived to commemorate the

Canadian Centennial The Canadian Centennial was a yearlong celebration held in 1967 to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Canadian Confederation. Celebrations in Canada occurred throughout the year but culminated on Dominion Day, July 1, 1967. Commemorative coins w ...

of 1967 and the

Quebec Conference, 1864 The Quebec Conference was held from October 10 to 24, 1864, to discuss a proposed Canadian confederation. It was in response to the shift in political ground when the United Kingdom and the United States had come very close to engaging in war w ...

, one of the key meetings leading to the Canadian

Confederation A confederation (also known as a confederacy or league) is a union of sovereign groups or states united for purposes of common action. Usually created by a treaty, confederations of states tend to be established for dealing with critical issu ...

of 1867. Designed by Polish-Canadian architect

Victor Prus Victor Marius Prus (Mińsk Mazowiecki (Poland), 24 April 1917 – Montreal, 21 January 2017) was a Polish-born Canadian architect. He designed several major buildings in Quebec which won many prizes, such as the Grand Théâtre de Québec in Queb ...

, construction began in 1966 under Premier

Jean Lesage Jean Lesage (; 10 June 1912 – 12 December 1980) was a Canadian lawyer and politician from Quebec. He served as the 19th premier of Quebec from 22 June 1960 to 16 June 1966. Alongside Georges-Émile Lapalme, René Lévesque and others, he is o ...

but was stopped by the Union Nationale government of Daniel Johnson. Construction resumed in late 1967 but the theatre was not officially opened until January 16, 1971. The theatre has two venues: *Salle Louis Fréchette, with 1,885 seats, is named after the 19th-century French-Canadian writer

Louis-Honoré Fréchette Louis-Honoré Fréchette, (November 16, 1839 – May 31, 1908), was a Canadian poet, politician, playwright, and short story writer. For his prose, he would be the first Quebecois to receive the Prix Montyon from the Académie française, as w ...

. *Salle Octave Crémazie, with 510 seats, is named after the 19th-century Canadian poet,

Octave Crémazie Octave Crémazie (April 16, 1827 – January 16, 1879) was a French Canadian poet and bookseller born in Quebec City. Recognized both during and after his lifetime for his patriotic verse and his significant role in the cultural development of ...

, who was known as "the father of French-Canadian poetry". Since October 1972, the

Conservatoire de musique du Québec à Québec The Conservatoire de musique du Québec à Québec (CMQQ) is a music conservatory located in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada. Founded by the Quebec government in 1944, it became the second North American music institution of higher learning to be en ...

has been located in the Grand Théâtre's complex. In 1991, the theatre complex housed 49 classrooms, 70 teaching and practice studios, and a multi-media centre with a recording studio and electroacoustic lab. The complex is also home to a library which in 1991 included more than 60,000 documents of books, scores, monographs, periodicals, and recordings in various media formats. The theatre was used for the 1985 Shamrock Summit when Prime Minister

Brian Mulroney Martin Brian Mulroney ( ; born March 20, 1939) is a Canadian lawyer, businessman, and politician who served as the 18th prime minister of Canada from 1984 to 1993. Born in the eastern Quebec city of Baie-Comeau, Mulroney studied political sci ...

entertained U.S. President

Ronald Reagan Ronald Wilson Reagan ( ; February 6, 1911June 5, 2004) was an American politician, actor, and union leader who served as the 40th president of the United States from 1981 to 1989. He also served as the 33rd governor of California from 1967 ...

. In 2020, the Grand Théâtre de Québec was restored and covered with a glass envelope supported by a steel frame, designed by Lemay and Atelier 21, to preserve the structure's architecture and a sculptural mural from artist Jordi Bonet embedded into the façade. Protected from temperature and humidity fluctuations, the approach was considered a first in North America at the time of its implementation. Organizations which use the theatre include the Orchestre symphonique de Québec, the Théâtre du Trident, and the

Opéra de Québec Opéra de Québec or Opera of Quebec City is a Canadian opera company founded in 1983; it is related to Opéra de Montréal, founded in 1980. The company does not have its own venue but performs in the Grand Théâtre de Québec on 269 Boulevard R ...

. The

Quebec City Summer Festival Quebec ( ; )According to the Canadian government, ''Québec'' (with the acute accent) is the official name in Canadian French and ''Quebec'' (without the accent) is the province's official name in Canadian English is one of the thirtee ...

often hosts events in the theatre.

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Grand Theatre de Quebec Performing arts centres in Canada Buildings and structures in Quebec City Culture of Quebec City Modernist architecture in Canada Theatres in Quebec Tourist attractions in Quebec City Recording studios in Canada Music venues in Quebec Theatres completed in 1971 Opera houses in Quebec 1971 establishments in Quebec