• 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!

ORIGIN OF THE OPERA HOUSEThe 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.

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

• 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

•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.

• 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 ate rats, cats and dogs.

Prince Friedrich Karl of Prussia Emperor Napoleon III

17 stories high118,404 square feet Staff of 15002500 doors80 dressing roomsChandelier weighs 7 tonsThe largest in the world.Seats 2,156 people.

•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.

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”

•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.