The exhibition on view at Palais Garnier is dedicated to the 20th-century history of opera costumes; you would be hard-pressed to come up with a better stage than the magnificent legend-steeped original building of Opéra de Paris. The foundation-stone of the edifice was laid in 1861; the construction commenced in 1862. Legend has it that Empress Eugénie, the spouse of Emperor Napoleon III, asked the architect whether the new opera house would be inspired by the Greek or the Roman style, to which Charles Garnier allegedly answered: 'It will be designed in the Napoleon III style, Madame.' The extravagance of the building, as well as the aura of mystery surrounding it, was the inspiration behind The Phantom of the Opera, a Gothic novel by Gaston Leroux. The costume workshops of the opera house have always enjoyed almost as much fame as the company and its productions. As far as opulence and sheer scope of the productions were concerned, no other 19th-century opera could compete with Opéra de Paris. And what productions they were: new operas by Wagner, Verdi, Massenet... The 20th century also saw the Opéra de Paris costume workshops prove their ability to adapt to changing times and trends, technologies and fads. Read more...

Corner of Rue Scribe and Rue Auber
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