Opéra Royal de Wallonie

The Royal Opera of Wallonia is an opera house on the Place de l'Opéra, in the center of Liège. Together with La Monnaie and the Flemish Opera, it is one of the three major opera houses in the kingdom. From the beginning, the institution has been located in the Royal Theater in Liège, a building that opened on November 4, 1820.

The city became owner of the building in 1854. The statue in front of the building is by the Liège composer André Grétry and is the work of sculptor Guillaume Geefs.

The musician's heart was placed in the base of the statue in 1842. In 1861, architect Julien-Étienne Rémont renovated the hall and the building, which was extended by several meters at the back and the sides. The new Second Empire-style hall accommodatet 1,500 visitors.

From 2009 to 2012, the building underwent a major renovation/restauration, both on the outside and on the inside. The historic parts have been returned to their original state (large foyer, staircase and hall). The 'Italian' hall (1,041 seats) and the stage make it one of the most modern theaters in the world. The project was carried out by architect Yves Jacques + Origin Architecture & Engineering (restoration), A2RC (renovation and extension), Architectes Associés (technical specialists), Bureau Greisch (construction), Arte (stage equipment) & Daniel Commins (acoustic)

The building is also being enlarged. Similar to the renovation of the 'Opéra de Lyon' by architect Jean Nouvel fifteen years earlier, an ultra-modern structure was installed to increase the height of the stage tower. The hall is equipped with a so-called multifunctional hall (Raymond Rossius Hall) that can accommodate smaller performances, rehearsals, symposia and lectures.