Opera Garnier, May 2014

Taking my sister D. around Paris for a week, I decided it would be fun to see to see the Opera Garnier, Paris' Opera House of the Belle Epoque era.  Also known as the Palais Garnier, it was never a palace, but its style caused everyone to think of it that way. Here's a view of the building.

Designed largely by the architect Charles Garnier, it is about as over the top a building as you will find.  The entry halls are the most spectacular, and they were designed to let attendees to see and be seen while attending the Opera as well as to impress them with the building itself.

Grand Staircase

Ceiling of the Grand staircase

The auditorium is red velvet, and the domed ceiling now holds a painting by Chagall.  It's colorful and representational of the works of many composers including Berlioz, Tchaikovsky, Mozart and ..  Oddly, none of the great Italian composers such as Verdi or Donizetti are included.  While a wonderful work, it's a bit too modern for the setting of this building.

Chagall's Ceiling in the Auditorium

One of the side halls where attendees paused for intermission is this hall of mirrors, designed after the hall of Mirrors at the Palace of Versailles, but even more grandiose.

Here I am at the Grand Staircase.  Garnier designed it so that ladies in their evening gowns would decorate the stairs like jewels.  No evening gowns on view today! 

In one of the hallways there are showcases of costumes worn by various Opera stars in performances.  This one is the one I liked best.  If I ever have a reason to wear any evening gown, I plan to copy this one:

D. and I were fascinated by the mosaic floors and took photos of the elaborate designs in them.  A few of these are here:

Nowadays Opera Garnier is mostly used for ballet performances.  Occasionally there are operas here but most are at the new Opera Bastille.  I have tried to get a ticket but they must go very fast!