OPÉRA GARNIER: THIS IS HOW PARIS CELEBRATED ITS 350TH ANNIVERSARY
So, do you want to be a part of one of the largest cultural events in France?
The Paris opera was founded on June 28, 1669 by Louis XIV as the Académie d’Opéra.
In 1860 a little-known 35-year-old architect by the name of Charles Garnier won the competition to build Paris a new opera house.
It is the work of art that we love and celebrate today: le Palais Garnier, and I’d like to share with you a few ways you can be a part of the party.
Read this article to find out what makes Opéra Garnier one of the most unique palaces in the world, the best conversation today, and watch the video for some French worth singing.
(This week: the verb CHANTER – to sing)
You may be one of the people who go to the opera every season.
Or, you may be a person who loves beautiful architecture.
It may be that what attracted you to this article is the history of this magnificent establishment.
Either way, I’d like to share with you a few ways you can be a part of the celebrations this year.
1. The history
In 1860 a little-known 35-year-old architect by the name of Charles Garnier won the competition to build Paris a new opera house. Launched under the auspices of Emperor Napoleon III and his civic planner, Baron Haussmann, the contest attracted 171 proposals and was part of the duo’s plans to remake their capital.
Opening in 1875 after 15 years of construction plagued by such monumental setbacks as the discovery of an underground lake beneath its future foundations, the 1870-71 Franco-Prussian War and Siege of Paris, the Paris Commune and ultimate fall of France’s second Empire, and an 1873 fire, the Opéra Garnier finally became what its creator had intended: a place for fun and fêtes and fantasy among the world’s super rich. The building was part palace, part temple, part administrative center; a space where money was the new king, the new power, the new god. [Bonjourparis.com]
2. The architecture
We are transported by the beauty of this palace, and if you haven’t been there, here are a few parts of the building that you have to see with your own eyes. Pictures don’t do them justice.
The statues of Apollo, Poetry and Music by Aimé Millet, dominate the roof.
Harmony, the left roof sculpture (the picture above), together with La Poésie by Charles Gumery, the right roof sculpture, make this building unmistakeable in the Parisian skyline.
I’m not showing you every detail in this article, because I want to entice you to go there and see them yourself. You still have time to buy your airplane ticket 😉
The four statues of the facade, Poetry by Francois Jouffroy (the picture above), Instrumental music by Eugène Guillaume, La danse by Jean-Baptiste Carpeaux (replica by Paul Belmondo), and Lyrical drama by Jean-Joseph Perraud, make us fall in love with the building for life.
An we’re not even inside yet.
Inside l’Opéra, visit la salle, la scène, l’orchestre, le balcon et les loges du côté, cour, les loges du côté jardin (picture above), l’Orchestre de l’Opéra, painting by Edgar Degas, 1870, and le vestibule.
Of course, it will be difficult to miss le grand escalier. Pay particular attention to milieu du grand escalier, le bas du grand escalier and le plafond du grand escalier (picture above).
You can end your visit with le grand foyer
and la bibliothèque
OK, enough with the neck gymnastics 🙂 let’s see what show will you be able to attend this year.
3. Shows for the 350th anniversary
22 Jun to 14 Jul 2019, MATS EK.
08 Jun to 13 Jul 2019, Don Giovani.
From 28 May to 01 Sep 2019, to celebrate the 350th anniversary of France’s first operatic stage, the French National Library and the Paris Opera have retraced the work of the Royal Academy of Music from the time of the Sun King up until the demise of the Ancien Régime. Click here for details.
And another mega event, from 24 Feb to 26 Dec 2019, Battle Opéra.
“Between the hip-hop battles, the audience will also have a chance to appreciate the virtuosity and excellence of some of the great stars of street dance, such as Salah Benlemqawanssa and Neguin as well as dancers from the Paris Opera Ballet in performances celebrating movement and music – all forms of music from electronic to baroque…”
And this is just the tip of the iceberg. I know you’re now hooked 😉
NOW IT IS YOUR TURN!
Tell us in the comments below, what are your favorite corners of Palais Garnier?
Let me guess.
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…and now, please SHARE this article with your friends. They’ll love you for it! : )
Always in your corner,
Llyane
Photo credit: Amazon.com, Wikimedia.org, A.G.Photographe
