It was not until 1856, that an architectural competition was organized for the new opera house. Of the 171 architects participating, Charles Garnier's design was selected. The building remained in construction for a period of 17 years--from 1857 to 1874. It is said that Garnier created an Opera House and stage in the traditional Italian style, but this is argued by contemporary architects. The inspiration for this grandiose setting, were both the Grand Theatre in Bordeaux and the Italian and French villas of the 17th and 18th centuries. The function of this building was intended for hosting the festivities of the Emperor's entourage and of elegant audiences from the social elite. During this time, elite societies, especially in France and Italy, a night a

The body of the facade is mostly classical but it is shaped by an abundant ornamentation as, in connection with repetition and balance, each of the seven arcades is separated by a sculpted monumental group: the drama, the dance, the music and the harmony (see left-hand picture on the fisrt page). And each capital is made of bronze.

The materials prevailing both in the exterior and interior of the Opera House building among others are cut stone and marble. But there are other materials used such as bronze, brass, onyx, iron, wood, etc. Thanks to the diversity of the materials used in the building of the house, it is immediately exposed with a full range of colours, right from the facade which opens into the fairy-tale world of the Opera House, to which the two side pavillions that are today occupied by the Library and the Opera Museum.

A great deal of sculptures and paintings are also crucial for the overall aspect of the interior decoration of the Opera House. The great staircase, the most famous feature, gives continuity to the space opened by the considerable length of each stair. The stairs are decorated in marble and onyx, while the lobby is decorated with Venetian mosaics. Two small rooms, one dedicated to the Moon, the other to the Sun, lead to the main foyer, a princely gallery of gilded luxury in which mythological characters and allegories stand out. The rotunda is adorned by eight tapestries made by the Gobelins, under a ceiling painted ceiling full of frescos. In the auditorium itself, the great chandelier illuminates the ceiling.

t the Opera was a pleasant excuse for meeting people and renewing acquaintance

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