Issue No. 23

History of the Paris Opera
Palais Garnier, Opéra National de Paris or
Opéra Garnier, or more known commonly
as the Paris Opera, is generally considered
to be one of the most important buildings
in Paris.
It’s actually not as old as you might think.
In 1860, the city of Paris held a contest to
choose a design for the new opera house. It
was at a time when Paris was undergoing
huge change under the direction of
Georges-Eugène Haussmann, commonly
known as Baron Haussman. Napoleon III
appointed him to carry out a massive urban
renewal programme in Paris. More than 170
designs were submitted and Charles
Garnier, just 35 years old, was the winner.
Born in rue Mouffetard, Paris, in 1825 he
was formally educated but unknown. The
opera house opened in January 1875 and it
was to make him internationally famous.
In creating Palais Garnier, he crafted the
architectural style of the Second Empire.
When Empress Eugénie, perplexed by the
building's lack of unity, asked him: “What is
this style? This is no style, it is not Greek or
Louis XVI”, Garnier replied “No, those styles
are all outdated, this is Napoleon III”.
It wasn’t an easy project. During the course
of its construction delays were caused by
the discovery of an underground lake, a war
in 1870, the Siege of Paris and fall of the
Second Empire. Napoleon III died two years
before the work was finished.
The Paris Opera company founded by Louis
XIV in 1669 moved here, its 13th home, on 15
January 1875. It was an enormous success
and became the showpiece of Haussman’s
new Paris. To this day it is one of the largest
theatres of the world with 1,979 seats.