Palais Garnier
- Paris Opera House
July 2016
The Palais Garnier is a 1,979-seat opera house, which was built from 1861 to 1875 for the Paris Opera.
It was originally called the Salle des Capucines, but soon became known as the Palais Garnier,
in recognition of its opulence and its architect, Charles Garnier.
The theatre was formally inaugurated on 5 January 1875 with a lavish gala performance.
The program included the overtures to Auber's La muette de Portici and Rossini's William Tell,
the first two acts of Halévy's 1835 opera La Juive (with Gabrielle Krauss in the title role),
along with "The Consecration of the Swords" from Meyerbeer's 1836 opera Les Huguenots
and the 1866 ballet La source with music by Delibes and Minkus.
As a soprano had fallen ill one act from Charles Gounod's Faust and one from Ambroise Thomas's Hamlet had to be omitted.
During the intermission Garnier stepped out onto the landing of the grand staircase to receive the approving applause of the audience.
The building housed an extensive library
There were models of some of the opera stage settings in the library
Charles Garnier, the architect of the Opera House.
July 2016
The Palais Garnier is a 1,979-seat opera house, which was built from 1861 to 1875 for the Paris Opera.
It was originally called the Salle des Capucines, but soon became known as the Palais Garnier,
in recognition of its opulence and its architect, Charles Garnier.
The theatre was formally inaugurated on 5 January 1875 with a lavish gala performance.
The program included the overtures to Auber's La muette de Portici and Rossini's William Tell,
the first two acts of Halévy's 1835 opera La Juive (with Gabrielle Krauss in the title role),
along with "The Consecration of the Swords" from Meyerbeer's 1836 opera Les Huguenots
and the 1866 ballet La source with music by Delibes and Minkus.
As a soprano had fallen ill one act from Charles Gounod's Faust and one from Ambroise Thomas's Hamlet had to be omitted.
During the intermission Garnier stepped out onto the landing of the grand staircase to receive the approving applause of the audience.
The building housed an extensive library
There were models of some of the opera stage settings in the library
Charles Garnier, the architect of the Opera House.
