History of Opera Glasses

Opera glasses make performances more accessible, because they allow patrons in large concert halls to see the performers on stage in greater detail. They come in a variety of colors and styles, including some that resemble standard binoculars.

Galileo

Galileo developed the first telescope in 1609, which could magnify up to 30 times. The first opera glasses in the 1730s were monocular and used like a telescope.

Binoculars

Two opticians working independently--Johann Friedrich Voigtlander in Vienna and J.T. Hudson in England--developed binocular opera glasses between 1815 and 1823. Two spyglasses were connected by a bridge, and they could be adjusted independently or together.

Paris

In 1823, the use of binocular opera glasses became popular in Paris, the seat of fashion at the time. Opera glasses reflected the taste and standing of their owners, with gold and jeweled accents and matching purses or holders.

Styles

Today, traditional folding opera glasses with handles are called lorgnette opera glasses, but modern versions can resemble compact binoculars and are not unusual at a rock concert, lecture or circus.

Memorabilia

U.S. President Abraham Lincoln was using opera glasses when he was assassinated in 1865 at Ford's theater in Washington, D.C. This pair is valued at $4.25 million today.

References

• OperaGlasses.com