A View To The Opéra Garnier Inwards Paris

I'd similar to outset my posts on my recent trip to Paris amongst i of the to the lowest degree obvious amid my visits, that to the fascinating Palais Garnier, also known equally the Opéra. Paris has 2 opera houses, the other i beingness Opéra Bastille, but this is the near interesting from a historical as well as artistic indicate of view. It is situated at the halt of Avenue de l'Opéra (which starts exterior the Louvre), as well as at that topographic point is a special tube station dedicated to it, called Opéra. It is curious that the venue is instantly used primarily for ballet, rather than for opera, for which it was expressly designed inward the 19th century.

The opera house seen from the busy street inward front end of it

Every fourth dimension y'all accept seen adaptations of the Gothic novel The Phantom of the Opera it is this opera trouble solid they are referencing. Some of the legends as well as episodes related to the palace were integrated inward the novel (and inward the adaptations). One of the counterweights of the magnificent and big chandelier inward the auditorium, for instance, actually crashed as well as killed a fellow member of the audience inward 1896!

 

The entrance fee is €10 for an unguided visit, as well as €13,50 for a guided one. Unfortunately, Opéra Garnier is i of the few attractions that are non included inward the Paris Museum Pass, of which I volition beak inward about other post. There are automatic machines at the entrance, situated at the dorsum of the edifice (they are doing about restoration plant equally of Nov 2013),  making the queue practically nonexistent, at to the lowest degree inward depression season.

The history of Opéra Garnier is linked to that of the Second Empire established past times Napoleon's nephew. Napoleon III had smashing projects for the renovation of the city, as well as i of them included a novel grand opera house. When the contest for its realization was won past times a immature unknown architect, Charles Garnier, many people were surprised. Empress Eugénie was fifty-fifty disappointed that her favourite architect, Violet-le-Duc, did non win the competition. The plant began inward 1861, but the palace was inaugurated solely inward 1875.  

The see to the opera trouble solid includes access to the sumptuous foyers as well as avant-foyers (the halls where spectators meet during breaks or earlier the show), to the grand staircase, the library as well as the modest museum, as well as of class the phase room, provided they are non rehearsing or performing. In the smaller avant-foyers there is a small exhibition amongst about of the dresses used inward diverse past times performances. People similar opera vocalist Maria Callas as well as ballet dancer Rudolf Nureyev accept made the history of this palace, as well as thence much that the funeral of the latter was held here.
 

The Grand Staircase

The rooms of Palais Garnier tin competition those of Versailles for refinement, golden decorations as well as opulence. The grand foyer particularly reminded me of the Hall of Mirrors in Versailles. You tin easily imagine 19th-century French aristocrats climbing the grand staircase on the agency to their favourite show, or enjoying a flute of champagne as well as chatting inward the many beautifully-decorated halls. Some people intend it is also much, as well as prefer other buildings of the period, but I was stunned amongst all the gilded as well as the decorations.



Grand Foyer inward Opéra Garnier

The grand foyer



 

The ceiling of the primary hall was painted past times March Chagall inward 1964.  For the occasion, a removable panel was pose on the ceiling to encompass the master copy frescoes. Even though Chagall is i of my favourite painters, I found his fine art inward this item house slightly out of house inward this context. His flamboyant as well as evidently childish agency is completely dissimilar from that of the palace, built to a greater extent than than a century earlier inward the beaux-arts decor design.



The ceiling painted past times Chagall amongst the big chandelier

Would y'all similar to see Opéra Garnier during a see to Paris? What produce y'all intend of the ceiling?

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