Fancy opera houses like the Palais Garnier were designed for more than just watching a performance. The open balconies and winding staircases were meant to encourage people-watching, especially among the upper class. Commissioned by Napoleon III as part of his grand, transformative renovation of Paris, the Palais Garnier first opened on this day in 1875. Immediately upon opening its doors, it became the place to see and be seen—and to be surrounded by opulence. The domed ceiling shown here was painted by Marc Chagall in 1964, covering the original ceiling paintings by artist Jules Lenepveu. Chagall’s colorful, dreamlike work stretches nearly 2,600 square feet and depicts scenes from operas by 14 different composers, including Beethoven and Debussy.
Art abounds at the Palais Garnier
Today in History
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World Space Week begins
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Celebrating Madagascar on its Independence Day
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Twas a night just like tonight
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Everglades National Park turns 75
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The Wall for Peace
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Quebec City for Winter Carnival
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Harvest season begins
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Ready for takeoff
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Feature Attraction: 85 years at the drive-in
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Seventeen arches at sunset
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Whales in winter
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Ready, set, read
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Getting to the bottom of the underwater waterfall
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Poinsettia Day
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Reflecting on fall
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Arambol Beach, Goa, India
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The Tour de France begins
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Presidents Day
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The lights of Paris
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Crested caracaras
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A ‘circus of chaos’ for Stravinsky
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A state-of-the-art lookout on the Rock of Gibraltar
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Sweet! It’s maple syrup season
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It’s Weihnachtsmarkt time!
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Bridge of Sighs in Venice, Italy
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Too awesome to be a planet
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A yearly sign that spring has sprung
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Get amped for Glastonbury
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Folegandros Island, Cyclades, Greece
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A history of Vinland