Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Beaux-Arts - Palais Garnier




This is one of my favorite buildings in Paris, the opulent home to Opéra national de Paris. A renovation started in 2000 is nearly complete on this exquisite building which was a part of the great Parisian reconstruction overseen by Baron Haussmann between 1862 and 1873. The difficulties during construction with underground springs and lakes became part of the lore and basis for Phantom of the Opera. Certainly the life taken when the great chandelier fell from the ceiling of the theatre was part of that story as well.

I have many photos to show you in future posts.

28 comments:

Pat said...

I used to work on Rue de la Paix and exited the metro at Opera. Never tire of seeing it.

Unknown said...

That's a stunning photo!

Miss Sadie said...

A truly artistic presentation of an artistic institution.

Très bien, encore!

Cezar and Léia said...

Girl, this picture is excellent, I love lamps and this one is fabulous!Congratulations for so wonderful shot!
Léia ;)

Genie -- Paris and Beyond said...

Bibi -- I cannot imagine how wonderful that was... le sigh

Alan -- Merci

Miss Sadie -- Merci, mon pet't chien...

Léia -- These are some of the more ornate lamps I have captured in Paris... I imagine that they were installed during the original construction but not sure... Merci, mon amie!

Alexa said...

And I worked in the nearby Passage Choiseul, and walked up Avenue de l'Opera—with this as the focal point— to get there. I think it's one of the most beautiful buildings in Paris, and oh those lamps! Looking forward to more, Genie!

o2 said...

Oh my God ! I've never notice the lamps of Place de l'Opera were lyras! Thank you !

EG CameraGirl said...

The lamp is a very elegant one!

M said...

Genie, this is a fantastic angle --I love the B&W treatment because it really emphasizes the lamp post detail. I have to admit I had not noticed the lyre design before. Oh, and the faces peeking down from the roof top just add to the drama! Now I'll be hearing the music of the night in my head the rest of the day!!

Randy said...

That is so detailed and so beautiful. Not something you see much of anymore.

Harriet said...

Thanks for calling our attention to the detail of the lamp with this super photo. I never tire of the architecture in Paris.

Halcyon said...

What fantastic detail. I'm sure I would have never noticed this. Thank you for taking the time to share!

Jack said...

Wow. Let me repeat. Wow. Terrific details, terrific photo. I am taking a series of four lectures on the creation of Paris, 1600- 1900. I imagine this will be featured. BTW, I believe I was called uptight yesterday? And I thought we were friends . . .

Danilo Sergio Pallar Lemos said...

J'ai trouvé ces jolies photos, très expressif? Art en Fran? Pour, dans leur architecture.
www.vivendoteologia.blogspot.com

Rob Siemann said...

Wonder if le fantome is still around, or if he moved to the 'new' opera house.

Loree said...

What a beautiful building and an interesting story behind it.

biebkriebels said...

It is a beautiful building also from the inside. I once saw an exhibition with couture dresses on the steps. Nice to see it again here.
Thank you for your nice comment on my blog.

Babzy.B said...

merci de ton passage sur mon blog :)

Tammy@Beatrice Banks said...

One gorgeous building! May I do the feature on your blog this week?

Birdman said...

Cool story.

Virginia said...

I never tire of this site. We were so close this last trip. What a delight. Very nice in BW Genie.
V

Louis la Vache said...

Indeed, such a splendid building. It was definitely designed to be a place to be seen as witnessed by the vast public spaces vs. the amazingly small theater.

What a contrast this elegant building is to the horrid Opéra Bastille!

Vær våken said...

So stunning and beautiful!

xo

weekend et coup de brosse said...

Vos photos sont très belles!
je suis une parisienne qui vit depuis peu de temps à la campagne!

Your shots are very beautiful!
I am a Parisian which lives recently in the campaign !

Genie -- Paris and Beyond said...

Alexa -- I know that passage is close but not sure that I have been there... hummm?

o2 -- They are exquisite in design and detail, n'est-ce pas?

Wow -- both elegant and ornate, merci!

Marie -- It was hard to put this one in b/w because the palais itself is so stunning. Merci!

Randy -- It is the elegance of a time now past

Harriet -- The architecture of Paris has something for everyone. Merci, mon amie.

Halcyon -- Paris is visual overload and it is difficult to notice all its wonderful details... and that is one of the reasons I keep going back

Jack -- The lectures sound wonderful. You will be a great resource with my postings and can set me straight if my facts are off. BTW, oh my, no.... not uptight, just a friend with a great sense of humor, mon ami.

Danilo -- Merci pour ton commentaire

Rob and Mandy -- Oh, I do not think that he would go there... no underground river for escape

Loree -- The renovations over the past decade have brought it back to its original beauty

biebkriebels -- I am glad that you remember it... I would have liked to see that exhibit!

Babzy -- Je t'en pris!

Genie -- Paris and Beyond said...

Tammy -- Merci, and that would be lovely...

Birdman -- Ah, le fantôme..

Virginia -- And on this trip there were no people with boomboxes on the front steps, but there was a steady rain that kept them away

Louis -- The elegance of the era is well-displayed here

Kristin -- Merci, mon amie

weekend -- Merci... Il y a de beaux paysages par Paris... près de Paris?

Unknown said...

Another great shot, fantastic indeed!

Genie -- Paris and Beyond said...

JM -- Merci, mon ami.