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 Garniers 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 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 todays 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 Plot At 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!!