Opéra Garnier and the Phantom of the Opera
The Opéra Garnier, also known as the Palais Garnier in homage to its brilliant architect Charles Garnier, remains one of the finest examples of 19th-century Parisian architecture.
Its construction, declared a public project by Napoleon III in 1860, also spurred a vast urban renewal of the surrounding area.
The Place Napoléon (today’s Place and Avenue de l’Opéra) and the grand Avenue Napoléon (Avenue de l’Opéra) were indeed created to showcase this spectacular bulding.
However, construction was not without its challenges.
During excavation work, workers indeed discovered an underground lake, the remnant of a former branch of the Seine. Garnier had pumps installed that drained the lake in eight months. He also had an imposing, watertight reservoir built of brick and concrete to protect the foundations and safeguard the building from future water seepage.
This unusual episode later inspired Gaston Leroux‘s famous 1909 novel, The Phantom of the Opera, which achieved international success thanks to Andrew Lloyd Webber‘s 1986 musical adaptation.
The Franco-Prussian War of 1870-1871 , followed by the Paris Commune, further delayed construction at the Palais Garnier. Still, the stunning Paris opera house was finally inaugurated on January 5, 1875, in the presence of President MacMahon.
Opéra Garnier, a masterpiece of Neoclassical architecture
The Palais Garnier embodies the magnificence of the Second Empire style.
Garnier’s design harmoniously blends balanced and clear forms with lavish ornamentation, creating a structure that is both solid and richly decorated.
Measuring 172 metres in length and 101 metres in width, the building’s facade is a indeed masterpiece of symmetry and proportion.
Four sculptural groups representing the arts adorn its lower arcades: Harmony (or Poetry) by François Jouffroy, Instrumental Music by Jean-Baptiste Claude Eugène Guillaume, Lyric Drama by Jean-Joseph Perraud, and the spirited Dance by Jean-Baptiste Carpeaux.
Corinthian loggias on the upper part of the facade add rhythm, while playful masks enliven the wide frieze.
At each end, the allegorical figures of Harmony and Poetry by Charles Guméry crown the composition.
And from atop the Opera Garnier’s dome, gilded Apollo, the Greek god of the arts, his lyre raised in eternal song, by sculptor Aimé Millet, reigns supreme!
Chagall’s ceiling
Nearly a century later, the Palais Garnier theatre acquired a decidedly modern touch.
On September 23, 1964, the Minister of Culture, André Malraux, indeed inaugurated Marc Chagall‘s new ceiling fresco, superimposed on the original by Jules Lenepveu.
This vibrant and surreal creation by Chagall, with its luminous palette and floating figures, was intended as an “allegorical circulation,” a representation of the “dreams and creations of actors and musicians.”
This fresco paid homage to fourteen composers while evoking the magic of live performance and Parisian cultural landmarks.
Needless to say, this creation provoked a heated controversy at the time! Many detractors indeed cried foul, claiming that this colourful fresco was in complete contradiction with the theatre’s traditional decor.
Behind the curtain of the Opéra Garnier
Beneath the opulent auditorium lies an extraordinary labyrinth: five underground levels connected by walkways and platforms!
These subterranean installations are essential to the smooth operation of the stage, accommodating the complex machinery and logistics for major productions. Over time, the Palais Garnier has undergone significant renovations, notably in 1937 and 1952. Current efforts are focused on preserving its gilded interiors and refined ornamentation.
The largest opera house in the world, the Opéra Garnier, the Académie Nationale de Danse et de Musique – National Academy of Dance and Music, offers much more than its sheer size. With 2,200 seats and a stage that can accommodate 450 performers, it indeed embodies the very spirit of performance.
Today, while the Opéra Bastille is primarily dedicated to showing operas, and the Palais Garnier has become the home of the Paris Opera Ballet, an institution as timeless and elegant as the building that houses it.
Directions: 9th district – Place de l’Opéra
Metro: Opéra on Lines 3, 7, 8
Coordinates: Lat 48.871934 – Long 2.331767
