| The Palais Garnier, also
known as the Opéra de Paris or Opéra Garnier, but more commonly
as the Paris Opéra, is a 2,200 seat opera house in Paris, France.
A grand landmark designed by Charles Garnier in the Neo-Baroque style,
it is regarded as one of the architectural masterpieces of its time. Upon
its inauguration in 1875, the opera house was officially named the Académie
Nationale de Musique - Théâtre de l'Opéra. It retained
this title until 1978 when it was re-named the Théâtre National
de l'Opéra de Paris. After the opera company chose the Opéra
Bastille as their principal theatre upon its completion in 1989, the theatre
was re-named as the Palais Garnier, though its more official name, the
Académie Nationale de Musique, is still sprawled above the columns
of its front façade. In spite of the change of names and the Opera
company's relocation to the Opéra Bastille, the Palais Garnier is
still known by many people as the Paris Opéra. |
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