La muette de Portici
The theatre was formally inaugurated on 5 January 1875 with a lavish gala performance attended by Marshal MacMahon, the Lord Mayor of London and King Alfonso XII of Spain. The program included the overtures to Auber's "La muette de Portici" and Rossini's "William Tell", the first two acts of Halévy's 1835 opera "La Juive" (with Gabrielle Krauss in the title role), along with "The Consecration of the Swords" from Meyerbeer's 1836 opera "Les Huguenots" and the 1866 ballet "La source" with music by Delibes and Minkus. As a soprano had fallen ill one act from Charles Gounod's "Faust" and one from Ambroise Thomas's "Hamlet" had to be omitted. During the intermission Garnier stepped out onto the landing of the grand staircase to receive the approving applause of the audience.