roomOpéra De Tours
France is famous for its rich opera history that spans over 300 years, but how well do you know it ?
Façade van de Opéra Garnier, Parijs (1887 - 1900) by X phot.Rijksmuseum
1. There is a lake beneath the Palais Garnier
It's also known as "The Phantom of the Opera's Lake" due to its association with Gaston Leroux's novel. This body of water is thought to have inspired the French novelist. The presence of water definitely added a layer of mystery to the Palais Garnier's history.
Tap to explore
In reality this water tank was imagined by the Paris Opera's architect, Charles Garnier. It was built to prevent water infiltration and served firefighting purposes. It's not accessible to the public but you can view it below in 360.
Marc Chagall’s Ceiling for the Paris Opéra Marc Chagall’s Ceiling for the Paris Opéra (1963-01-01/1964-09-23) by Marc ChagallOpéra national de Paris
2. Chagall painted this for free
In 1964, the Palais Garnier's ceiling underwent a dramatic makeover. Replacing the 19th-century work, at the Minister of Culture, André Malraux's request, Marc Chagall, a renowned artist then in his late 70s, created a vibrant, 240-square-meter masterpiece.
This bold, modern ceiling, a tribute to 14 composers through fantastical imagery, sparked controversy. Remarkably, Chagall refused payment, requesting only to cover material costs. His selfless act adds another layer of intrigue to this unique addition to the Palais Garnier.
Anna Caterina Antonacci dans le rôle de Carmen (mise en scène : Adrian Noble) ©Pierre GrosboisOpéra-Comique
3. Carmen was premiered at the Opéra-Comique
The Opéra-Comique commissioned Georges Bizet to compose Carmen in 1873. Although it tells the story of a seductive woman from Sevilla, the story was imagined by the French writer Prosper Mérimée.
It premiered at the Opéra-Comique in Paris on March 3, 1875 and is now one of the most frequently performed operas in the world.
Full-length portrait of Louis XIV (Circa 1670) by After Claude LefebvrePalace of Versailles
4. The King was celebrated in "tragédie lyrique"
Born in Italy the art of Opera developed in France in the 17th century. Jean-Baptiste Lully established in France the form known as "tragédie lyrique," or "musical tragedy" blending music and drama.
Taking inspiration from the Greek tragedy this new genre mixed theatre, singing, music and dance. It was divided in 5 acts, included recitative parts, sumptuous sets, danced scenes and a French libretto and heroic characters.
To please Louis XIV, also known as the Sun King, the genre "tragédie lyrique" included a prolog to the king glory.
The royal Opera HousePalace of Versailles
5. There is an operating Opera House inside a palace
Château de Versailles Royal Opera house is remarkable for its splendid auditorium, built in the 18th century. Almost a century of studies and research went into it before it was finished.
The stagePalace of Versailles
It continues today to host opera productions in a majestic setting.
