DUSHANBE, September 25, Asia-Plus -- On Saturday September 23, the Paris Grand Opera donated more than 300 costumes to the Sadirddin Ayni Opera and Ballet Theatre in Dushanbe. 

The Dushanbe Opera and Ballet Theatre deputy director, Ziyoboy Toshev, said  “The French Embassy in Dushanbe regularly provides assistance to our theatre in holding various cultural events, but this is the first time we have received costumes.” 

The Grand Opera is the state opera theatre and France’s largest center of music and theater. It was founded in 1669 as Academe Royale de Musique (Royal of Academy of Music) through the efforts of Colbert and the composer Pierre Perrin.  Later, it was officially renamed to Opera National de Paris.  In 1871, the theatre received its present name, the Grand Opera.