GREAT OPERA HOUSE.

Shannon News, 24 July 1925, Page 4

GREAT OPERA HOUSE.

PARIS KEEPS ITS JUBIIiEE WORLD'S FAMOUS THEATRE. ARCHITECT'S GREAT TASK. This is the jubilee year of the French Republic; it is also the jubilee year of tha famous Opera-house ot Paris, the finest pleasure-house in the world It is never by its size that one is struck at the sight of this great place for the most wonderful harmunv pervades the whole building. If the Opera does cover so great an area, it also rises up to a proportionate height, being in this way comparable to St. Peter's, whose immense expanse the eye does not realise owing to its perfect proportions. When the architect of the Opera, Chas Gamier, was entrusted with this great task he wished to create a stvl'e. It was in the time of Napoleon 111., and both Emperor and the Empress Eugenie joined in opposition, especiallv the Empress, who exclaimed at the sight of the plans: 'But what stvle is this? It is no style at all! It is neither Greek nor Roman, nor Louis XV., nor Louis XVI." Gamier was no courtier. "No he answered. "No; those styles have had their day." "Tlun do you mean, sir, >pera is to have no style at all?" -I mean to create a Napoleon ll.' stvle. that is all, and your Highness obVcts!" the architect said. lne gentlemen - in - waiting trembled. Evervone looked askance. -Don't worry," murmured a voice in the architect's ear; she knows nothing of what she is talking about. The strained situation did not last vorv long, for soon Gamier was inviu'd to the Court at Oompiegne, and the Empress said to him; "1 know vu 1 was unkind to you that day, .Monsieur Gamier. I regret it now." To which Gamier, trying to play the courtier, and to agree with Her ; ,j,..siv for once, answered: "On, yes; vour Highness was rude indeed!" The artist' plan for the Opera-house were two-fold —to incorporate into that immense mass of stone the spirit of the lime, and to make it a perfect place lor music. Napoleon's Court ~vod sumptuous galas, endless page- , ants, fabulous stage effects; they lov- j od imposing groups of choirs and or- , chestras, ns well as space and ease. Gamier gave them both comfort and and ornamentation, His building stands on a metallic base weighing 1.000 tons. It is a wonderful building, a richly-decorated palace, and in it '.here are no poor seats. Everybody can see and everybody can hear from any floor. ,