The Paris Opera House

The Paris Opera House

The Paris Opera House is perhaps one of the most beautiful buildings in the world. It contains numerous floors, and levels beyond levels of cellars, fountains, a lake, chandeliers and even its own ghost!

Origin of the Opera House The cause for this new opera house actually came

from Napoleon III. Napoleon III went to the opening of an opera at a nearby opera house, Rue Le Peletier. On the way an explosion injured and killed 150 people. He attended the performance anyway. He decided a new more secure facility was needed. However, he was also interested in building a new opera house so the world would look up to him. He picked out the perfect location in the center of Paris.

Architect• There was a contest

for the best design.• Charles Garnier was

named as the architect.• 171 people entered• 700 drawings• Work began on the

opera house in 1861.

Problems• They discovered an

underground stream.• Napoleon would not change

the location.• It could not be drained.• Eight steam pumps worked

day and night for 8 months.• They finally built a double

layer concrete foundation and built the building over it.

• They created a lake by damming up the stream.

• It was used for hydraulic stage machinery.

War• The Franco/Prussian War

broke out in 1869/1870.• The uncompleted opera

house was used mainly as a food warehouse, arsenal, military prison, but also a communications center and observation post.

• Zoo animals were eaten by the rich. The poor ate rats, cats and dogs.

Labyrinth!!

In Garnier’s design, he created a LABYRINTH in the bottom few floors of the opera house.

This is a maze consisting of secret passages, narrow halls, trap doors, staircases, and hidden rooms.

In the story of The Phantom of the Opera, the Phantom lives in the labyrinth. It is his lair.

The public is not allowed to go into the labyrinth today.

The Paris opera house• It is the largest in the

world. ( 3 acres)

• 17 stories high

• 118,500 square feet

• Staff of 1500

• 2500 doors

• 80 dressing rooms

• Stables in basement

• Chandelier weighs 7 tons

• Finally opened in January of 1875.

Origin of the Building

• Who wanted the opera house built?

• Why did he want to build a new opera house?

Architect

• How did they determine who would get the job as architect?

• Who was selected?

• What made his design unique?

Problems

• What did they find at the building site?

• What ways did they try to solve the problem?

• What finally worked?

• Why did construction stop?

War

• Which war broke out in 1870?

• How was the unfinished opera house used?

• What was used as food during the war?

Opera House• When did it open?• How many floors is the

opera house?• How many square feet?• How many people

worked there?• How many dressing

rooms• How much did the

chandelier weigh?

The Novel

• Gaston Leroux wrote a novel in 1911 based upon the story of the opera house

•He was heavily influenced by Edgar Allan Poe

•Novel was a “flop” in France, but USA loved it.

Evolution to today’s Phantom

• 1923 – Universal Studios made it into a silent movie– Lon Chaney was the first to play the Phantom– Several other versions followed

•1984 – Andrew Lloyd Weber wrote the musical, which was released in London and then in the U.S.

•This is what we know today as the famous play.

Summary of PlotAt the Paris Opera House in France, legend exists about a ghost living there. Strange occurrences have left many people afraid. The opera house is a working theater where many plays are performed. The phantom turns out to be a musical genius and befriends a young girl who dreams to be a star. Her fiancé, however, does not like her associating with the creature she calls “teacher.” Watch for mystery, romance, and suspense!!