The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1886-01-07
A WHEELING BOY
Ia FaTiS-A Description Of the Interior Q
the Grand Opera House.
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Ia PRTiS-A Description Of the Intsrior Q
the Grand Opera House.
oOTIpOnItnes Of he LalsLllgHetr,
PARIS, Dec, 2O.-HRving secured m,
seat not long ago for a representation o
Faust, at the Grand Opera, decided
while on my way there to observe ever,
thing closely, write 1t all to the INTELLI
GEScER and let It's readers participate al
much as possible in my pleasure. Thu
uumptuous building, facing the Place de
p0pera bears the inscription Academic
National dc Atsiquc, Blu. it Is generally
known as the Grand Opera, Begun il
1861 under the second empire, it was I'm,
ished in 1874 under the Republic at coal
oil over Sll,VOOOOO. 1t receives, besidel
from the government, an annual subsidy
Of 100000, l can't help thinking what i
row there would be In America il such a
thing were attempted by the government,
aud what a lot Of so.callsd CFanks would
he howled and Missed at, However, the
French are well Satisfied with the outlay
Of money, for It has been the means Of
raising UNNECESSARILY the standard OF
music In their country, has brought count
less students and hGs placed the beat
music within the reach Of the poorest
citizen.
On ascending the flight OF steps stretch.
ing the whole breadth Of the building, you
enter by one Of several large doors INTO a
huge vestibule, at one end OF which 10 the
tiCEet-ottiCe. Over the window you see as
you will in every theatre, q large marble
tablet with list Of the prlceA varying
from thirty.seyen cents to five dollars, II
you have not already purchased your seat,
youlooE!at tho tablet and decide what you
prefer paying and get your ticket from the
lady you will find In the office. Women,
here, preside ct all cash desks and ticket
Offices
From the outer veslibule you pass by
another short flight oil equally broad steps
into what seems another vestibulC, but far
more beautiful and brilliant, being entire.
~ oi white polished marble. From the
opposite side, directly in front Of you,
leads the Grand Staircase, in my opinion
the most beautiful and striking feature oil
the building II lie constructed Of granite,
marble and Eorphyry. To obtain these
materials Scot land, Sweden, Finland, Italy
and Spain were drawn upon. The delicate
shades OF red, green, and other colors are
combined deliCiously. AS far Va the flint
landing the staircase Is single with q
breadth OF thirty,twu feet, the steps being
marble, the balustrade roaao antlCo and a
beautiful landrail Of Algerian onyx,
Here 1t divides and aRcends the height Of
the building on opposite sides. Each
story contains littlD iuttirg balconies OIL
bronze and marble from which one may
look down on the whole scene and passing
throng, q most beautiful sight
On the first floor extending the whole
width Of the facade Is the celebrated foyer,
l5O feet long and 90 feet high. I'll light:
ed by ten gilded ,ustrts, and Its five huge
windows look down tho whole length Of
the Avenue de Opera, which produces a
dazzling effect with It's myriSdS Of gas Jets,
The paintings on the ceilings and W lis Of
the foyer are the result Of ten years study
aud labor Of Frances glG1ttst modern
decorator, Paul Bandry. During the
entt'aCtes every one promengdes In this
beautiful place, and as evening dress ID
obligatory In many parts Of the audi
toriim many magnificent costumes are
exhibited, ahd the seepa 10 bright and
animated, one that will be remembered Q
long time.
You pass from any Oft floors into
the auditorium itself. The seating Capa-
city Of the opera Is not so extremely
large, being some 1000, but everyone has
lots and lots Of room, which Is seldom the
case in our theatres. The only fault
could find 10 the decoration OF the audi.
torium was that 1t ives perhaps little too
proiuse. Tho huge gilded hguTea, yreaths,
Tyres, ETC.. OF carved wood seemed about
to topple over and crunh you beneath
their weight. Gold, crimson and drab
are the coIors OF the decoration aud they
blend beautifully. The magniGCen and
Curiously shaped lnstre suspended from
the center Of the dome contains $50 jets oil
gas and electric lights and casts brllliancy
In all directions. Directly underneath
the chandelier, as will be found in all
our .hnstrsS here, are Leated another class
OF people unknown IN America. They
are called claqueurs or paid applaulerB.
The few weak attempts that have boon
made 10 do away With this nuisance have
been dire failures, and there are oven
merchants who furnish theatres with
Clsqueurs Of stated terms.
Inc stage Of the opers Is q most won
deriul piece Of mechanism. It occupies
the highest part Of the building, measur.
ins 100 feet 10 height, 17S in width and "A
In depth. OF course all this tremendous
height is not visible To the audience, as II
extends far above and below the audi.
torium, but this huge space Is necessary TO
contain the various contrivAnCes. In the
shipWreck scene In EAfritnine, q huge
natural-siSed ship 10 presented 10 Wow, on
board OF which are at least ope hundred
men. This immense thing 10 rocked In
all directions and finally wrecked with all
on board, most incomprehenbible bust.
ness 10 the pninitiated. OF course the
artists at this place represent the very
best talent and voices. France can pro.
duoe the men far In advance OF the
women. II has been remarked very gen.
orally that the French male voices are
very fine, while the female voice seldom
comes up 10 tho standard, and they are
often forced, very much against their will,
10 employ Italians, or women oil other
natlohalltles 10 I'LL the principal female
roles. The opera, on the representation
nights 10 guarded by the under officers Of
the city garrison, and they make q fine
appearance Ia their brilliant uniforms
Trimmed in gold laCe, aud at the same
time ere exceedingly polite and will give
most Willingly any iniormation..
I have said nothing about tho exterio'
Of the building beCause Uf my much
greater intefeAt Ii the interior, believe
The architecture 10 severely criticised. The
tnost apparent fault, however, 10 that the
beautiful facade 10 oyettopped by the great
dome rising back Of and this again lS
dWAried by the tremendous height oil tina.
part containing tho stage.