Opéra de Monte-Carlo

The Opéra de Monte-Carlo, housed within the Salle Garnier, is among the most beautiful and storied opera houses in the world. The hall was designed by Charles Garnier, architect of the Palais Garnier in Paris, and opened on 25 January 1879 with a celebrated performance by Sarah Bernhardt. Garnier completed the auditorium in just eight and a half months, a remarkable achievement that produced a jewel-like space seating 524 guests — intimate by operatic standards, yet acoustically exceptional. The interior is an extravagance of gilded mouldings, frescoes, red velvet and sculpted ornament, every surface a testament to Second Empire craftsmanship. Situated within the Casino de Monte-Carlo at Place du Casino, the Salle Garnier became one of Europe's great opera stages, with its stage history including world premieres and performances by some of the finest singers and conductors of the twentieth century. Today the opera is directed by the celebrated mezzo-soprano Cecilia Bartoli and presents an ambitious seasonal programme of opera, ballet and concerts from autumn through spring. Major international artists and conductors appear regularly, and the 2025-2026 season includes works by Mozart, Verdi, Debussy and Wagner alongside recitals by Roberto Alagna and Plácido Domingo.