"Let your mind start a journey to a strange new world
Leave all thoughts of the life you knew before
Let your soul take you where you long to be
Only then can you belong to me"
The stirring lyrics of Andrew Lloyd Webber's "Music of the Night"
tip the scales in the dramatic telling of the Phantom of the Opera.
First launched as a book in 1910, the fantastical story of the masked phantom
hidden deep in the bowels of an iconic Parisian landmark,
has captured the imagination of drama lovers the world over.
It's no wonder.
The Palais Garnier casts a spell the minute you lay your eyes
on its lavish exterior -- and that's not even the best part.
Not just another pretty Paris address, this opera house drips with drama.
Dashingly distinct, the Palais Garnier doesn't appear old.
And it doesn't look new either.
It looks like nothing else in Paris.
The architectural style, a combination of Second Empire & Beaux-Arts,
is classical and majestic, destined to put the polish on Paris for all time.
You can almost see Degas' dancers queuing up, hoping to find their fifteen minutes of fame.
Visions of beautiful people ascending those magnificent stairs differentiate this
destination as more than just another monument in a city full of famous old stones.
Imagine the crème de la crème, the bluest of blue-bloods
strutting their stuff in the nation's capitol.
Courting culture and status simultaneously -- sort of the equivalent
of walking the red carpet at the Academy Awards just before your space launch.
Putting on the ritz didn't just happen at the Ritz.
Pretentious, posing red carpet glamor was born in the spotlight of Paris' boldest
edifice where, rain or shine, the "show" kicked off long before the curtain was raised.
Leave all thoughts of the life you knew before
Let your soul take you where you long to be
Only then can you belong to me"
The stirring lyrics of Andrew Lloyd Webber's "Music of the Night"
tip the scales in the dramatic telling of the Phantom of the Opera.
First launched as a book in 1910, the fantastical story of the masked phantom
hidden deep in the bowels of an iconic Parisian landmark,
has captured the imagination of drama lovers the world over.
It's no wonder.
The Palais Garnier casts a spell the minute you lay your eyes
on its lavish exterior -- and that's not even the best part.
Not just another pretty Paris address, this opera house drips with drama.
Dashingly distinct, the Palais Garnier doesn't appear old.
And it doesn't look new either.
It looks like nothing else in Paris.
The architectural style, a combination of Second Empire & Beaux-Arts,
is classical and majestic, destined to put the polish on Paris for all time.
You can almost see Degas' dancers queuing up, hoping to find their fifteen minutes of fame.
Visions of beautiful people ascending those magnificent stairs differentiate this
destination as more than just another monument in a city full of famous old stones.
Imagine the crème de la crème, the bluest of blue-bloods
strutting their stuff in the nation's capitol.
Courting culture and status simultaneously -- sort of the equivalent
of walking the red carpet at the Academy Awards just before your space launch.
Putting on the ritz didn't just happen at the Ritz.
Pretentious, posing red carpet glamor was born in the spotlight of Paris' boldest
edifice where, rain or shine, the "show" kicked off long before the curtain was raised.
Drama, on-stage and off, was the calling card of the Palais Garnier.
Opera had been introduced to France by the king of drama, Louis XIV, in 1669.
It was nearly two hundred years later when Napoleon III kicked off an architecture
design contest as part of Baron Haussmann's prolific revitalization campaign.
A young, relatively unknown architect, Charles Garnier,
nailed the dream challenge, besting 171 other hopefuls.
It was a long road to complete such a massive project.
The largest stage in Europe required meticulous planning, reams of artistic
collaboration and mountains of capital in order to move forward.
Building began in 1861, but was delayed several times due to unforeseen setbacks.
Work was halted due to the Siege of Paris in late 1870, during which the
partially constructed palace was used as a part-time hospital and food warehouse.
Then there was the water issue.
A subterranean stream was discovered underneath the pricey real estate,
mobilizing the engineering scholars of the day
to deal with water drainage and control.
They constructed an enormous underground cistern that solved the worst
of the problems and serves, even to this day, as a reservoir in case of fire.
Hallelujah for the H2O issue.
The opera's underground "lake" fired up author Gaston Leroux's fertile imagination.
He wrote the novel that became the inspiration for a whole slew of
theatricals, movies, musicals, t-shirts and coffee cups.
"The Phantom of the Opera" didn't put the Palais Garnier on the map -- but you could say
it probably makes for an interesting destination even for those who aren't normally
interested in grand architecture, the arts or cultural activity in general.
The operatic palace -- originally named the Salles des Capucines -- and later
renamed after the architect, was completed in 1875.
Paris was never again the same.
Parisian peacocks came in droves to put on airs and strut their stuff.
They now had a grandstand as big as their egos.
Pre-Twitter, Pre-Facebook, the rite of social encounter -- a chance to see & be seen.
Opera had been introduced to France by the king of drama, Louis XIV, in 1669.
It was nearly two hundred years later when Napoleon III kicked off an architecture
design contest as part of Baron Haussmann's prolific revitalization campaign.
A young, relatively unknown architect, Charles Garnier,
nailed the dream challenge, besting 171 other hopefuls.
It was a long road to complete such a massive project.
The largest stage in Europe required meticulous planning, reams of artistic
collaboration and mountains of capital in order to move forward.
Building began in 1861, but was delayed several times due to unforeseen setbacks.
Work was halted due to the Siege of Paris in late 1870, during which the
partially constructed palace was used as a part-time hospital and food warehouse.
Then there was the water issue.
A subterranean stream was discovered underneath the pricey real estate,
mobilizing the engineering scholars of the day
to deal with water drainage and control.
They constructed an enormous underground cistern that solved the worst
of the problems and serves, even to this day, as a reservoir in case of fire.
Hallelujah for the H2O issue.
The opera's underground "lake" fired up author Gaston Leroux's fertile imagination.
He wrote the novel that became the inspiration for a whole slew of
theatricals, movies, musicals, t-shirts and coffee cups.
"The Phantom of the Opera" didn't put the Palais Garnier on the map -- but you could say
it probably makes for an interesting destination even for those who aren't normally
interested in grand architecture, the arts or cultural activity in general.
The operatic palace -- originally named the Salles des Capucines -- and later
renamed after the architect, was completed in 1875.
Paris was never again the same.
Parisian peacocks came in droves to put on airs and strut their stuff.
They now had a grandstand as big as their egos.
Pre-Twitter, Pre-Facebook, the rite of social encounter -- a chance to see & be seen.
Opulent gold-leaf, onyx and marble set the stage for a grand entrance.
Striking a pose in full dress was easy on The Grand Staircase or in the Grand Foyer.
Elaborate statuary, ornate columns and brilliant mosaics offered the type
of refinement usually reserved for royalty at Versailles.
The 1,979-seat opera house featured both opera and ballet.
Today's opera has moved on to a new home, the Opera Bastille, but lucky
for us, we can still capture the drama of the Paris ballet in its official showplace.
In 1964, a new ceiling was painted by expressive 20th century artist Marc Chagall.
It illustrates scenes from an assortment of famous operas and is a real highlight of any visit.
The 7-ton chandelier is still the original.
In 1896, one of the chandelier's counter-weights broke loose
and fell on the audience, killing one person.
This is one playhouse that gave a certain writer a lot to work with...echoes of
the Music of the Night can still be heard by those of us blessed with vivid imaginations.
Striking a pose in full dress was easy on The Grand Staircase or in the Grand Foyer.
Elaborate statuary, ornate columns and brilliant mosaics offered the type
of refinement usually reserved for royalty at Versailles.
The 1,979-seat opera house featured both opera and ballet.
Today's opera has moved on to a new home, the Opera Bastille, but lucky
for us, we can still capture the drama of the Paris ballet in its official showplace.
In 1964, a new ceiling was painted by expressive 20th century artist Marc Chagall.
It illustrates scenes from an assortment of famous operas and is a real highlight of any visit.
The 7-ton chandelier is still the original.
In 1896, one of the chandelier's counter-weights broke loose
and fell on the audience, killing one person.
This is one playhouse that gave a certain writer a lot to work with...echoes of
the Music of the Night can still be heard by those of us blessed with vivid imaginations.
Vistors today can enjoy the Paris Opera Library & Museum (original to the design)
as well as a first-class dining experience.
L'Opera Restaurant opened on the premises in 2011.
The modern design is award-winning and the food well reviewed.
Besides, who could turn down the chance to possibly dine with the Phantom.
These days, you have no need of a top hat or long evening gloves.
For a performance, you are encouraged to wear business dress -- but like
so many things in this century, the code is pretty relaxed.
Whether you take a tour in the daytime or attend a performance at night,
your visit to the Palais Garnier is guaranteed to be time well spent.
Strike a pose.
"Close your eyes, let your spirit start to soar."
Put the swagger back in your step at the Palais Garnier.
as well as a first-class dining experience.
L'Opera Restaurant opened on the premises in 2011.
The modern design is award-winning and the food well reviewed.
Besides, who could turn down the chance to possibly dine with the Phantom.
These days, you have no need of a top hat or long evening gloves.
For a performance, you are encouraged to wear business dress -- but like
so many things in this century, the code is pretty relaxed.
Whether you take a tour in the daytime or attend a performance at night,
your visit to the Palais Garnier is guaranteed to be time well spent.
Strike a pose.
"Close your eyes, let your spirit start to soar."
Put the swagger back in your step at the Palais Garnier.
MUSIC OF THE NIGHT
Lyrics by Andrew Lloyd Webber, Richard Henry, Zachary Stilgoe, Charles Elliot Hart
Night time sharpens, heightens each sensation
Darkness stirs and wakes imagination
Silently the senses abandon their defenses
Slowly, gently night unfolds its splendor
Grasp it, sense it, tremulous and tender
Turn your face away from the garish light of day
Turn your thoughts away from cold unfeeling light
And listen to the music of the night
Close your eyes and surrender to your darkest dreams
Purge your thoughts of the life you knew before
Close your eyes, let your spirit start to soar
And you'll live as you've never lived before
Softly, deftly, music shall caress you
hear it, feel it, secretly possess you,
Open up your mind, let your fantasies unwind
In this darkness that you know you cannot fight
The darkness of the music of the night
Let your mind start a journey to a strange new world
Leave all thoughts of the life you knew before
Let your soul take you where you long to be
Only then can you belong to me
Floating, falling, sweet intoxication
Touch me, trust me, savor each sensation
Let the dream begin, let your darker side give in
To the power of the music that I write
The power of the music of the night
You alone can make my song take flight
Help me make the music of the night
Read more: Phantom Of The Opera - Music Of The Night Lyrics | MetroLyrics
Lyrics by Andrew Lloyd Webber, Richard Henry, Zachary Stilgoe, Charles Elliot Hart
Night time sharpens, heightens each sensation
Darkness stirs and wakes imagination
Silently the senses abandon their defenses
Slowly, gently night unfolds its splendor
Grasp it, sense it, tremulous and tender
Turn your face away from the garish light of day
Turn your thoughts away from cold unfeeling light
And listen to the music of the night
Close your eyes and surrender to your darkest dreams
Purge your thoughts of the life you knew before
Close your eyes, let your spirit start to soar
And you'll live as you've never lived before
Softly, deftly, music shall caress you
hear it, feel it, secretly possess you,
Open up your mind, let your fantasies unwind
In this darkness that you know you cannot fight
The darkness of the music of the night
Let your mind start a journey to a strange new world
Leave all thoughts of the life you knew before
Let your soul take you where you long to be
Only then can you belong to me
Floating, falling, sweet intoxication
Touch me, trust me, savor each sensation
Let the dream begin, let your darker side give in
To the power of the music that I write
The power of the music of the night
You alone can make my song take flight
Help me make the music of the night
Read more: Phantom Of The Opera - Music Of The Night Lyrics | MetroLyrics
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