the history of the Paris Opera house

The beginning

Jan 1, 1860

The Phantom Opera house was built by Charles Gariner in 1860

Construction

Dec 12, 1861

Construction began in 1861 and was substantially completed by the end of 1874. Approximately two hundred photographs document the construction.

deciscions

Dec 29, 1861

Charles gariner entered in a competition in order to make the best design for the paris opera house and in the first round he placed fifth. There was then a 58 page description on what they wanted to be in the opera house. He then placed fifth with his unique design

Carpeaux's dance

Jan 1, 1865

The Carpeaux's dance was commissoned for the outside of the paris opera house by Gariner

Decorations

Oct 5, 1866

Eventhough the construction was still going on they couldnt wait to get some of the decorations into the Opera house. They painted the cieling art with all of the cartoons in 1866. The cieling required four large identical panes that were filled with The Triumph of Apollo, The Enchantment of Music Deploying its Charms, and many others

A hault in the project

Dec 12, 1870

Due to many unforseen problems with the Franco Prussian war the construction of the opera house stopped in 1870. After the war, the working class occupied the unfinished opera house and used it as a warehouse, observation post, communications center, military post and a powder store. It was then restarted and finished in 1875

The fire

Oct 23, 1873

There was a terrible fire that burned down the current theatre known as the Salle Le Peletier. This added extra pressure to complete the new theatre, and the massive workforce was able to finish building the Palais Garnier by late 1874.

The Mystery

Dec 12, 1896

As the home of the Phantom of the Opera, it is said that the opera is haunted as a person was killed in 1896 by a falling counterweight of the grand chandelier.

The Inspiration

Dec 12, 1896

Gaston Leroux was at the opera house when a counterweight fell from the chandilear killing one person; he then began to write the infamous book The Phantom of the Opera

Publishing

Dec 12, 1911

The book the Phantom of the Opera was published. It became most popular around 1913