Last Thursday (I know, I'm a little behind on these posts), our Art & Architecture class went to the Opéra de Paris, also known as the Opéra National de Paris. After the original Opera house burned down, Napoleon III and Haussman worked together to find someone who would help bring about the Reconstruction of Paris.
Haussman organized a competition, accepting applications for a design of the new Opera. A relatively unknown architect, Charles Garnier, managed to win the competition and began working on the architecture of what would become known as the Palais Garnier. His design focused on Corinthian columns, mosaics, marble, and lavish decor. When asked what style his design was, he responded with "The design of Napoleon III." In 1875, the Opera opened its first performance to the public; ironically, Garnier had to pay for his ticket in order to attend.
The Opera house not only has phenomenally ornate architecture on the inside and out, but underneath. There are many levels below the stage, and once was even a subterranean lake. During construction, the lake had to be pumped out because of the swampy foundation it created; the flood of 1910 effected the Opera house as well, with a damaging amount of water finding its way back to the underground lake.
Today, operas, ballets, concerts and recitals are all performed on a regular basis at the theater, which seats 2,200 people.
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