- Parfaict, François, and Claude Parfaict. Histoire de l’ancien theatre italien
depuis son origine en France jusqu’à sa suppression en l’année 1697. Paris:
Rozet, 1767. xiv, 455, iii p. Facsimile reprint, New York: AMS Press, 1978.
PN2632 .P3.
Les Comédiens Italiens began performing on 19 May 1577 in Paris. A second
troupe arrived in 1584, a third in 1588. Presented here are plots and descrip-
tions of many plays, names of casts, and extracts from relevant privileges and
documents. Despite the book’s title, the period covered in the volume seen is
1645–1674. - Soubies, Albert. Le Théâtre-Italien de 1801 à 1913. Paris: Fischbacher, 1913.
iv, 186, iv p. ML1717.8 .P3 T3.
Features a vast foldout chart: “Tableau des pièces représentées,” which shows
performances of each work by season. Also letters, documents, good pictures,
and a narrative of each season. Without notes, index, or bibliography.
Paris: Théâtre Lyrique
This company was established in 1851 as an outgrowth of a Théâtre National that
began in 1847, taking its present name in 1852. It was the site of several major pre-
mieres, including Gounod’s Faust(1859), Berlioz’s Les troyens à Carthage(1863), and
Gounod’s Roméo et Juliette(1867).
- Walsh, T. J. Second Empire Opera: The Théâtre Lyrique, Paris 1851–1870.
New York: Riverrun; London: Calder, 1981. x, 348p. ISBN 0-7145-3659-8.
ML1727 .W227.
A thorough history, with much information on finances and audiences. Lacks
attention to concurrent activity in the Opéra and other Parisian houses, thus
offering an isolated view of “second empire opera.” Poorly printed illustra-
tions, backnotes, bibliography of about 100 entries, partly expansive index of
names and titles. - Lasalle, Albert de. Mémorial du Théâtre-Lyrique... Paris: Lecuir, 1877.
107p. ML1727.8 .P2 L33.
Covers 1847–1870. Chronology of performances with casts and comments;
various statistical tables. Index of names and titles. - Soubies, Albert. Histoire du Théâtre-Lyrique, 1851–1879. Paris: Fischbacher,
- ML1727.8 .P2 L35.
The repertoire of the period, in a foldout chart, tabular format.
Paris: Other Theaters
- Malliot, Antoine Louis. La musique au théâtre. Paris: Amyot, 1863. viii, 432p.
ML1727 .M15
The history and repertoire of L’Opéra, L’Opéra-Comique, the Lyrique,
L’Odéon, Théâtre des Nouveautés, La Renaissance, and (in most detail) Les
Bouffes-Parisiens. The last named, which opened on 5 July 1855, presented
almost all of Offenbach’s operas and became known as the Théâtre Offenbach.
Without documentation, index, or bibliography.
France 435