Opéra Garnier
The second home of Paris opera is known by several names including Palais Garnier, Opéra Garnier, and often referred to as the Paris Opera. Located in the Place de l’Opéra, the opera house is believed to have been the inspiration for the novel, “Phantom of the Opera,” written by Gaston Leroux. Designed by Charles Garnier, the Opéra Garnier seats 2,200 and is recognized as an important architectural landmark of ornate Baroque design. The Palais dates back to Napoleon III, who appointed Baron Haussmann to build a second theater for Paris opera, music, and ballet in 1858 as a part of the Second Empire reconstruction. Thirteen painters, 73 sculptors, and 14 plaster and stucco artisans were employed to undertake the building of what was then the world’s largest opera house, measuring approximately 568’ long x 333’ wide x 185’ high. Construction did not move smoothly from the beginning, however, as the swampy land of the underground lake had to be drained continually for eight months before a foundation could be laid. Further delays were encountered with the Franco-Prussian War, the fall of the Second Empire, and the Paris Commune, as well as a major fire in 1873 that destroyed the interior.
Completed in 1874, the Palais Garnier officially opened on January 15, 1875, with performances of ballet and opera from La Juive, Les Huguenots, and Le Corsaire.
By 1989, the Paris opera company had moved to the Opéra Bastille for their grand performances, and now, mostly smaller scale performances are staged at the Palais Garnier. Many great performing artists have appeared here under the former director Rudolph Nureyev, and the current director Dupond who replaced him in 1990.
The Palais Garnier is an elaborate structure of 11 varieties of European and African multicolor marble, 36 different types of stone, and statues from Greek mythology. Bronze busts of famous composers such as Mozart and Beethoven stand between the massive columns at the grand entrance to the building. Golden sculptures of Liberty by Charles Gumery, and Apollo: Poetry and Music by Millet adorn the roof, with a Lyrical Drama by Perraud across the front of the building. The interior of the opera house features a 94’ high marble and onyx staircase, mosaic floors, and an auditorium with a stage for up to 450 artists, and filled with red velvet seats and surrounded by cherubs and gold leaf. Beneath a 7-ton, 340-lighted chandelier, large groups of theatergoers mingle at intermission in over 118,000 square foot of space. Outside the auditorium in the 5400 square feet of the Grand Foyer are 33 paintings completed by Paul Baudry over a period of nine years.
Extensive renovation and restoration to the Opéra Garnier have taken place through the years. The original ceiling mural was painted over by Marc Chagall in 1964, and the electrical wiring was updated in 1969, along with an expansion the original foyer to allow more rehearsal space for the ballet company. Further improvements were made in 1994 to the stage machinery and interior decor, as well as a strengthening of the frame and foundation. Again, in 1999, a major project by Perrott and a large group of artisans from 25 companies cleaned, repaired, and replaced stones and mosaics. New patina was added to the copper, bronze, and iron statues including the large sculpture Danse by Carpeux. Additional repairs were made to the two domes, the columns, the Grand Foyer, the gutters, and even the streetlights. Total cost of the project, due to be completed this year in 2007, is estimated at $45 million.
The small Museum and Library, located on the orchestra level of the Opéra Garnier, feature costumes from famous designers such as Lacroix, set models, and drawings taken from the history of the opera house. The ornate interior and exterior of this Paris landmark reflect the Beaux-Arts concept of French and Italian baroque integrated with classical Greek and Roman stonework. Today, the Palais Garnier is recognized as a significant historical attraction in the city of Paris, serving primarily as the home of the national Ballet de l’Opera, a venue for contemporary and classical music and dance.
Box Office: 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., Monday – Saturday. Closed January 1 and May 1. Tickets also available online or by mail.
Visiting Hours: Open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (6 p.m. in July & August). Closed to visitors during performances.
Admission: 7 Euros for adults, Students and under 19 – 4 Euros.
Gift shop on ground floor.
(Note: The man-made underground lake still exists far below the Palais Garnier and is used as a reservoir for firefighters in Paris.)