31st Mar 2024: Opera Garnier in Paris, France
The Opera Garnier is a magnificent opera house located in the 9th arrondissement of Paris, France. It is a masterpiece of Neo-Baroque architecture, commissioned by Napoleon III in 1861 and completed in 1875. Designed by Charles Garnier, the building is renowned for its opulent decorations and grand design. The exterior features golden statues, including the famous Apollo statue, while the interior is adorned with luxurious details. The Grand Staircase, made of white, red, and green marble, creates a dazzling spectacle. The auditorium, shaped like a horseshoe, is richly decorated with gold leaf and houses a stunning ceiling painting by Marc Chagall, added in 1964, as well as an enormous chandelier weighing 8 tons. The Opera Library-Museum within the theater displays valuable historical documents, costumes, and stage models. The Opera Garnier is also famous as the setting of Gaston Leroux's novel The Phantom of the Opera. While the story describes an underground lake beneath t...