Although slightly smaller in scale that its predecessor, the Théâtre de l'Académie Royale de Musique, the Palais Garnier consists of 11,000 square metres (118,404 square feet), seats an audience of roughly 2,200 under a central chandelier which weighs over six tons, and has a huge stage with room to accommodate up to 450 artists. An ornate building, the style is monumental, opulently decorated with elaborate multicolored marble friezes, columns, and lavish statuary, many of which portray the deities from Greek mythology. Between the columns of the theatre's front façade, there are bronze busts of many of the great composers, such as Mozart and Beethoven. The interior consists of interweaving corridors, stairwells, alcoves and landings allowing the movement of large amounts of people and space for socializing during intermission. Rich with velvet, gold leaf, and cherubs and nymphs, the interior is characteristic of Baroque sumptuousness. The Palais Garnier's style is considered Beaux-Arts because it incorporates classical principles (symmetry in design) and exterior ornamentation.
Architecture and style
The Phantom Theater at The Venetian Resort in Las Vegas, NV was custom built to resemble the Palais Garnier.
Director Sofia Coppola's 2006 bio-pic Marie Antoinette used the Entrée Principale and the Grand Escalier of the Palais Garnier for the scene of a masked ball. Interestingly, this theatre did not exist during Queen Marie Antoinette's lifetime, as it was not completed until 1875.
The building was partially replicated in the city-building PC game Sim City 4 as the Opera House, where it can be located in the city as a reward.
The opera house is used in the animated film Anastasia, where the Variation of the Spring Fairy from Prokofiev's Cinderella is accompanying a ballet performance.
In the Dead or Alive video game series, the character Helena does her performance in the Palais Garnier at the time when the assassin Christie tries to kill Helena with her sniper rifle, but Helena's mother saw Christie and shielded her daughter. Christie assassinated Helena's mother instead as she was protecting Helena.
The Hanoi Opera House was built after the model of this opera. See also
Liberty roof sculpture by Charles Gumery
