The Grand Théâtre de Québec is an arts

ARts

aRts, which stands for analog Real time synthesizer, is an audio framework that is no longer under development. It is best known for previously being used in KDE to simulate an analog synthesizer....

 complex in Quebec City

Quebec City

Quebec , also Québec, Quebec City or Québec City is the capital of the Canadian province of Quebec and is located within the Capitale-Nationale region. It is the second most populous city in Quebec after Montreal, which is about to the southwest...

, Canada

Canada

Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...

. It was conceived to commemorate the Canadian Centennial

Canadian Centennial

The Canadian Centennial was a year long celebration held in 1967 when Canada celebrated the 100th anniversary of the Canadian Confederation. Celebrations occurred throughout the year but culminated on Dominion Day, July 1. 1967 coins were different from previous years' issues, with animals on each...

 of 1967 and the Quebec Conference, 1864

Quebec Conference, 1864

The Quebec Conference was the second meeting held in 1864 to discuss Canadian Confederation.The 16 delegates from the Province of Canada, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island had agreed at the close of the Charlottetown Conference to meet again at Quebec City October 1864...

, one of the key meetings leading to the Canadian Confederation

Confederation

A confederation in modern political terms is a permanent union of political units for common action in relation to other units. Usually created by treaty but often later adopting a common constitution, confederations tend to be established for dealing with critical issues such as defense, foreign...

 of 1867.

Designed by Polish-Canadian architect Victor Prus, construction began in 1966 under Premier Jean Lesage

Jean Lesage

Jean Lesage, PC, CC, CD was a lawyer and politician in Quebec, Canada. He served as the 19th Premier of Quebec from 22 June 1960, to 16 August 1966...

 but was stopped by the Union Nationale government of Daniel Johnson

Daniel Johnson

Daniel Johnson may refer to* Daniel Johnson , English buccaneer* Daniel Johnson, Sr. , politician, leader of the Union Nationale party and Quebec premier, 1966–1968* Daniel Johnson, Jr...

. 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 1875 seats, is named after the 19th century French-Canadian writer Louis-Honoré Fréchette
  Louis-Honoré Fréchette
  Louis-Honoré Fréchette, , was a Canadian poet, politician, playwright, and short story writer.-Biography:...
  
  .
• Salle Octave Crémazie, with 506 seats, is named after the 19th century Canadian poet, Octave Crémazie
  Octave Crémazie
  Octave Crémazie was a French Canadian poet. He has been called "the father of French Canadian poetry" for his patriotic verse, often rhetorical in style, celebrating such subjects as Montcalm's defence of Fort Carillon in "Le drapeau de Carillon"...
  
  , who was known as "the father of French-Canadian poetry".

Since October 1972 the Conservatoire de musique du Québec à Québec

Conservatoire de musique du Québec à Québec

The Conservatoire de musique du Québec à Québec is a music conservatory located in Quebec City, Quebec. Founded by the Quebec government in 1944, it became the second North American music institution of higher learning to be entirely state-subsidized...

 has been located in the Grand Théâtre's complex. As of 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 an impressive 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

Brian Mulroney

Martin Brian Mulroney, was the 18th Prime Minister of Canada from September 17, 1984, to June 25, 1993 and was leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada from 1983 to 1993. His tenure as Prime Minister was marked by the introduction of major economic reforms, such as the Canada-U.S...

 entertained U.S. President Ronald Reagan

Ronald Reagan

Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....

.

Organizations which use the theatre include the Orchestre symphonique de Québec

Orchestre Symphonique de Québec

Orchestre symphonique de Québec is a Canadian symphony orchestra based in Quebec City. Founded in 1902 as the Société symphonique de Québec, the OSQ is the oldest active Canadian orchestra. Joseph Vézina was the OSQ's first music director, from 1902 to 1924...

, the Théâtre du Trident, and the Opéra de Québec. The Quebec City Summer Festival

Quebec City Summer Festival

The Festival d'été, or Summer Festival , has been taking place annually since 1968. It is organized by groups of businesspersons and artists of Quebec City in order to show the artistic, economic, and tourist potential of the region...

often hosts events in the theatre.

External links

• Grand Théâtre de Québec - official site