Transcript The Paris Opera House

The Paris Opera House
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 Garnier’s 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 1500
• 2500 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 today’s 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!!