It was the time of the industrial revolution in France during which the social barriers collapsed, promising a life full of joy, artistic creativity and cultural profusion. The atmosphere was conducive to the manifestation of the first cabarets, such as the Moulin Rouge in 1889. Moulin Rouge stands for Red Mill in French. Here the aristocrats, workers, middle-classes, artists and Bohemian gathered at the same table to enjoy a song or a theatrical act for the price of a drink. The public flocked to the cabaret to listen to anti-conformist songs and watch the performances of the dancers.
Situated at the foot of Montmartre, Paris in France, Moulin Rouge was an extravagant place with exotic colored interiors, a huge dance floor, galleries to watch the dance floor and an orchestra mounted above the stage. There was also a garden with another stage, cafe tables and a giant modeled elephant that housed an Arabian themed club. The place was an inspiration for many painters such as Toulouse-Lautrec who solemnized the colorful scenes of the night life and the tragic life of the lower-classes in his paintings such as Le Chat Noir and La Goulue. Over the years, the Moulin Rouge has remained a popular tourist destination for many visitors. Much of the original romance still hovers in the interiors of this music hall. Legendary performers at the Moulin Rouge have included La Goulue, Jane Avril, Mistinguett, Yvette Guilbert, Josephine Baker, Frank Sinatra and others.
The life in the Moulin Rouge was depicted on the silver screen in the 2001 musical film by Baz Luhrmann; “Moulin Rouge” that was nominated for the Academy Award. It is a tragic love story of a Bohemian poet Christian played by Ewan McGregor who falls head over heels for the club’s most famous courtesan Satine played by Nicole Kidman. |
