“The color and the material are beautiful, it’s not expensive, for two euros you have a dress. We recycle and we have fun!” As more than 500 other curious, Myriam came to take a look at the costumes of the Rennes Opera, on sale at reduced prices in the workshops, located on the plain of Baud. After two editions canceled because of the health crisis, the opera organized with the association “La belle déchette” a big sale this Saturday March 12.
A score of the Marseillaise dating from 1792
“We go a little into the legend, into the skin of the people who worked at the opera”, launches Myriam, who came with friends from Normandy. “It’s like being behind the scenes of the opera, it’s always very intriguing, adds Marie, who walks the aisles with her three-and-a-half-year-old daughter. It’s a bit like at my grandmother’s, there’s a side of Proust’s madeleine.”
– Maxim Glorious
Alexandra has very old scores in her hand, the paper is fragile. “Chopin…Vivaldi…Tino Rossi!”. Some date from the 20th century, others from the 18th. “I found a Marseillaise from 1792”rejoices this mother, with her daughter by her side, both musicians.
The association operates with 80% self-financing
These objects, given by the Rennes opera to the association “La belle déchette”, were sold all afternoon. All the proceeds then go to this Rennes resource centre, specialist in second-hand products. “The association works with 80% self-financing, and that also allows us to create jobs”, explains Maïté Magnier, the communications officer. Eight employees work for “La belle déchette”.
– Maxim Glorious
The sale is supervised by Hélène Corre, deputy technical director at the Rennes Opera. “We find some elements of the decor of La Belle Hélène, an opera that was created a few years ago. We also have on sale this year old chairs and elements that were, until last September, still in the rotunda of the opera. A counter for the cloakroom, but also the bar. We renewed all the furniture last September.” Among the participants, there are individuals but also theater companies. “I have seen companies leave with whole bags of costumes. They have also dipped into shoes, boots”, adds Hélène Corre.