Marigny Opera House

Marigny Opera House, also called the Church of the Arts, is an opera house and performing arts center in Faubourg Marigny, New Orleans. The Marigny was originally a Catholic parish called Holy Trinity Catholic Church, which was closed by the Archdiocese of New Orleans in 1997. It was reopened as an opera house in 2011. A resident professional contemporary ballet company, Marigny Opera Ballet, was founded there in 2014.

Marigny Opera House
Church of the Arts
Address725 Saint Ferdinand Street
New Orleans, Louisiana
United States
TypePerforming arts center
Construction
Opened1853
Closed1997
Reopened2011
Years active2011 - present
ArchitectTheodore Giraud
Website
marignyoperahouse.org

History

Holy Trinity Church

In 1847 the Catholic priest J.M. Masquelet purchased a property on the corner of Dauphine Street and St. Ferdinand Street in Faubourg Marigny for $3,000 to build a parish church.[1] He commissioned the architect Theodore Giraud to design the church building. The following year the parish is dedicated as Holy Trinity Church, a Catholic church serving the German immigrant community.[2] The original church was destroyed in a fire in 1851. In 1853 a new church is built under the direction of Rev. Matthias Schifferer.[1]

Mary garden at Holy Trinity.

In the late 1860s New Orleans suffers from an outbreak of yellow fever, killing two of the church's priests. In 1873 a chapel is built and dedicated to St. Roch, whom the congregation credited with ending the outbreak.[1]

Holy Trinity opened a Catholic School in 1871, run by Benedictine sisters.[2] The school became a free parochial school in 1910. In 1876 the parish established St. Roch Cemetery.[1]

The church was damaged by Hurricane Betsy in 1965.[3]

In 1997 Holy Trinity closed and was deconsecrated by the Archdiocese of New Orleans. In 1999 the stained glass windows and organ were removed from the building. The building was badly damaged by Hurricane Katrina in 2005.[3]

Marigny Opera

In 2011 the church building is bought by Dave Hulbert and Scott King, converted into a performing arts venue, and renamed the Marigny Opera House. In 2011 it hosted the New Orleans Fringe Festival.[3] The Marigny Opera House was officially opened on January 2, 2012. It is supported by the Marigny Opera House Foundation, a non-profit organization.[4] The Marigny is used as a performance venue for dance, theatre, opera, jazz, and classical music performances.[5]

The interior of the opera house in 2016.

In 2013 Depeche Mode used the Marigny as a set for the music video for their song Heaven.[2]

In 2014 the Marigny Opera Ballet, a resident professional contemporary ballet company, formed at the Marigny.[5][6]

The Marigny also operates as a wedding venue.[3] Celebrity weddings, including the weddings of Solange Knowles and Alan Ferguson and of Lake Bell and Scott Campbell, have been celebrated at the Marigny.

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References
  1. "History & Community".
  2. Pontchartrain, Blake. "Blake Pontchartrain: Marigny Opera House". The Advocate.
  3. Siese, April (November 18, 2014). "The Inspiring History of the Marigny Opera House". Curbed New Orleans.
  4. "Details". FrenchQuarter.com.
  5. "Marigny Opera House". www.neworleans.com. June 10, 2016.
  6. "'Orfeo' Premiers This Weekend at the Marigny Opera House | NewOrleans.Me". www.neworleans.me.

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