Orangeburg times. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1872-1875, 1875-02-11
An Architectural Fiasco.

An Architectural Fiasc0.
INTERIOR DEFEoTs OF THE PARIS GRAND
OPERA HOUSE.
Outside, the opera is not a failure !;
inside, it is a tsas6o. Some years ago,
when Baron Haussmann was remodel
ing Paris, the drawings OF M. Charles
Garnier, architect, were accepted for
the national opera, because it entered
admirably into the general plan. The
center of Paris, the junction of SO
many fine bonlevards, had to have q
grand monument, and the enormous
building planned by Gs.n:es wes &c.
copied by M. HauBsmann. But he him
self made many changes IN the plan, for
the benefit of his own plan, for the
streets to center at the Place de
ll0pera. Garnier changed his model
and sestimated the cost Of his building
lat some twenty million francs. But
forty three millions. of francs were swal-
lowed up before the house was near
completion. The outside, constructed
under Baron Haussman's eye, is as fine
as anything in the world, and no coun-
try can show grander or moro impos-
ing structure T; but when left to himself
Garnier proved unequal to his task.
Ilhe main sale is small, squatty, If I
may use the term, badly lighted, badly
constructed, and with boxes very badly
disposed /; everything has been sacri-
feed to two or three showy Joyers
which are marvellous, it is true, but net
as necessary as good central sale.
The entrance and the grand staircase
are also magnificent, and Paul Baudry
has decorated the .foyers with some very
fine work of art; bat, beyond This, I
can say very little good of the boasted
monument of high art in France. The
boxes are narrow and there there is O man
trap in the shape of break-neck step
at the entrance of each. must warn
all who hope to visit the opera during
the coming season to remember this
step, or they may get an ugly fall. The
gaignoires are simply detestable, and
one might as we'll be in cellar. The
grand chandeliers shed bnt a gloomy
light upon the lower part of the hall,
and even the boxes on the first tier are
not az rnoiny or, ns we'll ligh ma those;
of the old opera in the Rue Lepelletier.
And stranger still to say, in this thea
ter, built at the expense Of the entire
nation, there is absolutely no place for
the people. The ohicken.coop allowed
them in the loft is not even decent.
Everything has been sacrificed to the
Joyers, rs have before remarked, and
to the front tiers of boxes held by rich
subs cribers. It was for this reason that
the director was allowed to raise his
prices, for since English and American
visitors will occupy them on of nights,
it is necessary to make them pay as
much as possible. My first visit to the
building was disappointment, but I
was informed that everything would be
right when the house was lighted. ]
waited in patience to see the result.
My second visit WIS still greater dis
appointment, and I must soy that, in
my opinion, the sale of the imperial
opera of Vienna is infinitely superior
to this in every respect. But the grand
monde of Paris can meet in these splea-
did .toyers on the aristooratic nights,
and for this the foreigners in Paris are
expected to pay on the off nights, the
prices having been raised to this end,
and for % very long time to come very
few of them will have the pleasure Of
assisting on subscription nights. I
very much fear that this system will
prove costly one. English and Amer.
lean visitors may 60 once to see the
house, but they will probably keep their
money to spend elsewhere when they
find that they can only go off nights,
and see only the bo,rgcoisie.-Paris
Letter.