The Palais Garnier is the thirteenth opera house established in Paris since it was founded by Louis XIV in 1669. The fourteenth hall, Opera Bastille, was inaugurated three centuries later, in 1989.
Its construction is decided by Napoleon III as part of major renovations Capital completed its order by Baron Haussmann. Opera is advertised and Charles Garnier, architect unknown young 35 years, won the race. The work lasted fifteen years, from 1860 to 1875, interrupted by numerous incidents, including the 1870 war, the fall of the imperial regime and the Commune. The Palais Garnier was inaugurated on January 15, 1875.
Garnier began when the foundations of the building, he encountered the presence of a huge aquifer. It took a year to dry with 8 pumps running day and night vapors. The water table gives rise to the legend of a subterranean lake, taken in 1925 by Gaston Leroux in his famous novel "The Phantom of the Opera"
Today the Palais Garnier is undoubtedly the most architecture Representative of the art of the Second Empire, a symbol of luxury and pleasures of the capital. 73 14 painters and sculptors have worked under the direction of the architect. 173 m long and 124 m wide, the Opera Garnier is the largest opera house in Europe, accommodating over 2,000 spectators.
Outside, the dome Lead Green crowned with gold, capping the room, which holds the first spectator's eye. The front, 173 meters long, is decorated at the ends of four sculptural groups: The Lyric Poetry, The Instrumental Music, The Lyrical Drama and Dance.
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Inside, the grand staircase, the great room and grand foyer spaces are most remarkable.
The staircase inspired curves and cons-curves of the Rococo style, impresses the eye. A first flight leads to the central level, it communicates with the orchestra and baths, with an entrance guarded by maidens. Two stolen perpendicular conducting large fireplace and all around arcaded balconies allow you to see and be seen.
The big focus was not designed as a meeting place but as a place to walk during the intermission. It is open to all spectators, without distinction of classes. Garnier wishing that 9 people can walk there in front of their home, calculates that it takes a width of 10 meters, he ends up increasing to 13 meters for maximum comfort. 18 meters high and 54 meters long, this gallery is lighted by ten golden chandeliers.
The large room, with Italian, 20 m in height has 1991 seats in red velvet. In 1962, the Minister of Culture André Malraux order a new Marc Chagall ceiling. The work, covering an area of 220 square meters, was completed two years later. You can watch 14 works very famous opera and ballet, with Giselle D'Adam, The Firebird by Stravinsky and Mozart's Magic Flute. At the center of the ceiling is a chandelier of bronze and glass designed by Garnier himself. It is 7 tons and has 340 light bulbs. As for the scene, with its 52 m wide, its 60 m high and its 37 m deep, it can contain up to 450 extras and boasts an impressive machinery.
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