The Paris Opera House

2. The Paris Opera House • One of the most beautiful buildings in the world • History is dark and interesting, spanning from architecture to literature and music. • Contains numerous floors and • levels of cellars • fountains • a lake • chandeliers • Even a GHOST!

3. ORIGIN OF THE OPERA HOUSE The cause for this new opera house actually came from Napoleon III. Napoleon III went to the opening of an opera at a nearby opera house. On the way an explosion injured and killed 150 people. He attended the performance anyway. He decided a new more secure facility was needed. He picked out the perfect location in the center of Paris.

4. Architect • There was a contest for the best design. • 171 entries • 700 drawings • Charles Garnier was named as the architect.

5. Beginnings • Work began on the opera house in 1861. Finished in 1875. • Garnier won the contest because his drawings were very detailed. • Had samples of fabric, carpet, paint and wallpaper included in his entry. • Called the style Napoleon III

6. Problems • They discovered an underground stream • Napoleon would not change • the location. • It could not be drained. • Eight steam pumps worked • day and night for 8 months. • Finally built double layer concrete • foundation and built the building • over it. • The lake was used as a reservoir. • It was used for hydraulic stage • machinery.

7. WAR • The Franco/Prussian War broke out in 1870. • Uncompleted opera house used as a food warehouse, arsenal, military prison, communications center and observation post. • There was a blackout for 19 weeks in Paris. • Zoo animals eaten by the rich. Poor aterats, cats and dogs. Prince Friedrich Karl of Prussia Emperor Napoleon III

8. The Building • 17 stories high • 118,404 square feet • Staff of 1500 • 2500 doors • 80 dressing rooms • Chandelier weighs 7 tons • The largest in the world. • Seats 2,156 people.

9. The Novel • Born in Paris on May 6, 1868 - Died April 15, 1927 • Intelligent child-developed passion for literature. • Studied law in Paris-did not like the profession. • After law school - Father died,left him a million francs -Drank • and gambled all away in a few months • Began a career in journalism. • Became the journalist who could get exclusive interviews. • Gaston began writing novels because he was tired of the journalism career. • Leroux wrote Le Fantôme de l'Opéra when he heard of a legend of a ghost who haunted the lower regions of the huge theater and had allegedly had been responsible for several mysterious deaths.

10. The First Phantom • Born to deaf-mute parents on • April 1, 1883 and died in 1930. • Because his parents were deaf – • mutes, Lon learned to act and • perform with a lot of emotion • through facial expressions • He was known as “The Man of a • Thousand Faces” • Played “The Phantom” in the • silent movie filmed in 1925. • Lon applied his own makeup for • al1 of his many movies. • His son, Lon Chaney Jr., was • the “Wolfman” • Other silent films: “Hunchback of • Notre Dame”, “Dr.Jekel and Mr. • Hyde; “Oliver Twist”

11. The Musical • music composed by Andrew Lloyd Webber, • lyrics by Charles Hart and Richard Stilgoe. • opened at Her Majesty's Theatre in London on 9 October 1986, • opened on Broadway, at the Majestic Theatre, on 26 January 1988 • both productions starring Michael Crawford as the titular character, Sarah Brightman as Christine, and Steve Barton as Raoul.

12. LET THE MUSIC BEGIN