The primary opera and ballet company of France, the Paris Opera is one of the most revered performance venues in the world. Established as the Academie d'Opera in 1669 by Louis XIV, the company's ownership was transferred to Jean-Baptiste Lully and it was renamed the Royal Academy of Music. The company originated classic opera as it's known today and it remains an integral part of the company's productions. Presently, the company is called Paris National Opera (Opera national de Paris) and operates out of two primary theatres.
The first is Palais Garnier which produces classic operas and ballets at its 1979-seat venue. Opera Bastille is the other primary performance venue of Paris Opera and mainly hosts operas at its 2,723-seat theatre. One of the most renowned opera companies in the world, the Paris Opera organises around 380+ performances of ballet, opera and other concerts annually to a massive audience of approximately 800,000 people! The company works off of an annual budget of 200 million euros which are used to run the two opera houses plus staff salaries.
Over its decades long existence, the Paris Opera has had many managing directors with Stephane Lisser, a renowned French theatre director, presently serving his term. If you're interested in watching an opera in Paris, our Paris Opera House seating chart guide has all the answers you need.
History Of The Paris Opera House
French Opera was first dreamt up by poet Pierre Perrin in 1655, almost a decade before the Paris Opera was officially established. On June 1669, Louis XIV signed a decree granting Pierre the privilege to establish an Academy of Opera in music and French Verse. Perrin converted the Bouteille tennis court into a facility with a capacity of 1,200 guests and provision for stage machinery and scenery changes. He launched his first opera, Pomone in March 1671 and later in 1672, was forced to concede his privilege to the surintendant of the king's music, Jean-Baptiste Lully. During Lully's tenure, the facility was renamed the Academie Royale de Musique and only hosted works created by Lully himself. After Lully's death in 1687, the facility underwent a lot of changes but continued presenting operas and ballets. After the French Revolution, in 1794, the company moved to the Theatre National de la rue de la Loi and adopted the name, Theatre des Arts.
Later in 1875, the company had a new home, the Palais Garnier and in 1939, the company merged with the Opera-Comique. The opera moved to its primary venue, the new Opera-Bastille in 1990, officially adopting the name, Opera de Paris. In 1994, the name was changed to Opera National de Paris.
Paris Opera House Venues
Palais Garnier
Opera Bastille
Palais Garnier
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The Palais Garnier is an opera house located in the 9th arrondissement of Paris. The venue serves as one of the two homes of the Paris National Opera. Built between 1861 and 1875, the Palais Garnier was commissioned by Emperor Napoleon III and has gone on to become as important a symbol to Paris as the Eiffel Tower. One of the most popular opera houses in the world, Palais Garnier is famed for its use as the setting of Gaston Leroux's iconic Phantom of the Opera and also the blockbuster 1986 musical of the same name. Apart from the glorious performances it hosts, the Palais Garnier is significant for the sheer beauty it displays. Every inch of the facade and the interiors feature unique decorations created with a variety of materials including marble, porphyry, marble, and gilded bronze.
Total Capacity: The Palais Garnier houses 1,979 seats in total.
Best Seats in the Theatre: Opt for the middle seats in rows D to H of the stalls section if you're looking for a great view of the stage. The middle seats of the first two rows of the circle section are also considered premium since they are not obstructed and offer a clean view of the stage.
Best Value for Money Seats: If you don't wish to overspend on tickets, opt for the value-for-money seats located in the corner of the middle rows in the stalls. The middle row seats of the circle are also great since the view offered is pretty decent for the price that is charged for them.
SEATING CHARTOpera Bastille
The second resident opera house of the Paris National Opera, Opera Bastille is a relatively recent addition to the French opera scene. The opera house was established in 1989 and presently hosts opera performances, along with some symphony concerts and ballets. Located on the place de la Bastille, this modern opera house features a white glass ceiling which is complimented by crisp grey walls and soothing black seating. The opera house is starkly different from the Palais Garnier which is very old-school and features an intricate facade. The Opera Bastille has a modernistic design with blue granite exterior and blocks of glass which reflect light from every angle. The great thing about this performance venue, something which is difficult to achieve, is that every seat here offers a great view of the stage. The venue is home to a primary auditorium with 2,745 seats, a 230 seat studio theatre, a 500 seat amphitheatre, costumes workshop and other offices.
Total Capacity: The Opera Bastille has 2,745 seats in total.
Best Seats in the Theatre: While Opera Bastille is designed in a way which allows every seat to offer decent views of the stage, there are certain seats that classify as being premium. In the parterre section, the center section houses the best seats in the house, offering clear views of the stage. You can also find premium seats in the first couple of rows of the first balcony section. Any seat in the sections mentioned above offers the best view of the stage and most clear sound.
Best Value for Money Seats: There are seats across different price points available for you to choose from at Opera Bastille. If you're looking for value for money seats which don't cost a bomb but offer decent views of the stage, we have just the thing for you! In the parterre section, the rear seats in the centre section and the middle seats in the side subsections are value for money. In first balcony, the middle rows and in the second balcony the front row are easy on your pocket and offer decent views.
All Shows at Paris Opera
How to buy tickets for Paris Opera House Shows?
You can buy Paris Opera tickets through multiple channels, including both offline and online. While you can go to either the Palais Garnier or Opera Bastille box office and buy your tickets offline, it's honestly not the best way to go about it. For one, if you wait till the last minute to book your Paris Opera tickets, chances are you'll face a ‘sold out’ sign or get the least desirable seats in the house. Also, on an average, buying tickets offline ends up costing you more than buying them online would. If you buy Paris Opera tickets online, you can not only plan your day in advance and ensure that you get tickets for a show you want to watch but also save money with discounts and cashback offers available online. Another reason why buying Paris Opera tickets online is the way to go is that you get to pick the seats you'll watch the show from, which isn't a possibility when booking tickets at the venue box office.
How Far in Advance Should You Book Paris Opera House Show Tickets?
Paris is a popular place for tourists and there's a lot to do and see in the city. Paris Opera is one of the most popular tourist attractions and witnesses a lot of footfalls throughout the year. Even locals attend the Paris Opera regularly and keep up with the latest shows. If you're planning on attending a Paris Opera show, we would recommend booking your tickets at least a month in advance. This is especially imperative for shows that are popular and a quick search on the internet should provide you with a list of such shows. Given the popularity of opera in Paris, it would be in your best interests to book your tickets as early as possible.
How to buy Discounted tickets to Paris Opera House Shows
There are a lot of avenues to book Paris Opera tickets online. Headout, an online concierge for activities and experiences across the globe, offers great deals on Paris Opera tickets. The booking interface is easy and the process quick. There are multiple shows available for you to choose from for both Opera Bastille and the Palais Garnier. With their lowest price guarantee, you'll be assured that you aren't paying too much for your Paris Opera experience when you book your tickets at Headout. The 24/7 customer support ensures you're in good hands no matter what issue you're facing and at what time.
