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The Grand Foyer of the Opera Garnier in all it
\n\nglory. Photo Deanne Scott
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ERIC SCOTT November 20, 2014
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LIKE so many other people in the world my
\n\nwife and I love Paris. Just to stroll up the
\n\nChamps Elysees is enough to satisfy the
\n\nsoul, but of course there are so many fabulous sights to see, that it needs a few visits to take them all in.
\n\nOn our last trip, (the third) we managed at las
\n\nt to take a tour around the amazing Opera
\n\nGarnier building – and to see Box Number 5,
\n\nwhere the Phantom of the Opera used to
\n\nsneak in to watch Christine at work.
\n\nI know he’s a fictional character, but somehow
\n\nin the fabulous and ornate depths of the opera
\n\nhouse he seemed real.
\n\nFrom the front it looks like another rambling historic stone building with lots of steps and huge doors. But once inside it sets the mind boggling with almost as much splendour and opulence as Versailles.
\n\nIt’s no wonder it took architect Charles Garnier 14 years to complete it. It was started in 1861 and competed in all its splendour in 1875
\n\nWe went on the 90 minute Viator tour and met our guide in the Members Rotunda, a huge circular room with ornate ceilings and marble statues set in intricately decorated alcoves that were beautifully lit. This was where the 19th century opera goers made their first entrance.
\n\nIt’s a good idea to hang onto your group number, for the place is very popular and many groups led by specialist language guides set off at varying intervals. Keep a check on your fellow travellers too just in case, as we did, you get lost by admiring some aspect of the interior for too long.
\n\nAnd there are so many of these stunning sights in the Neo-Baroque opera house which is one of Europe’s largest and is undoubtedly one of the most elegant, it isn’t difficult to get immersed in the extravagant beauty.
\n\nFrom the rotunda we walked to the main marble staircase, a work of art in itself with multicoloured marble pillars that soar to brilliant painted ceilings and the giant multi- coloured marble statues that flank the auditorium.
\n\nThere were rows of small balconies where once again patrons could sit and be seen
\n\nIt is all so overwhelming, but nothing compared to the theatre foyers and salons. There is the rotunda that is wall to wall mirrors that give an infinite depth – or in the days of the aristocracy – infinite views of everyone who is there.
\n\nThe Grand Foyer, where audiences ambled during theatrical intervals was inspired by Versailles and it looks like it, with the mirrors, the ceiling artwork and the masses of chandeliers and magically created mosaic tiles..
\n\nThere was so much space for the aristocrats to wander I was prompted to ask the guide if anyone actually watched the show. The answer was as expected: “yes, but the main point of being at the ‘Palais Garnier’ as it was known was to be seen”.
\n\nThe guide gave a fascinating insight into the personal hygiene of the times too! It seems a pity that the Roman sewage systems were left to rot. They might have come in very handy during those times.
\n\nI was eagerly looking forward to seeing more of the Phantom tale with a look at the 2000-seat auditorium, but as the theatre is still used for performance - mainly ballet these days - we weren’t allowed in because there was a rehearsal going on.
\n\nWe had to crowd into a small viewing room and take turns to peer into the space. We did see the huge chandelier that crashed to the floor in the movie and the guilt and red interior seating, as well as the dancers strutting their stuff on stage.
\n\nAt the end of the tour we were allowed to wander through the building to revisit the splendours and take even more photos. In an expensive place like Paris the $21 ticket was a bargain price for a tour that I would thoroughly recommend.
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