Inherently absinthe is an alcoholic drink on the basis of tincture of wormwood, balm, anise and sweet fennel. However its uniqueness is in the substance maintenance called thujone, characterized by the same influence on brain of a person as hashish which promotes occurrence of hallucinations. We won’t direct attention to “technical” features of this drink; we are excited with absolutely other things.

Absinthe originated in the canton of Neuchâtel in Switzerland was fated to become a legendary drink of creative bohemia, thanks to its original character. This wormwood tincture is so unpredictable that behavior of the person who has used it is simply impossible to guess. Without looking at lethal outcomes it attracted more and more poets, writers, musicians and artists – “decadence” representatives. Many products of these creative people have been created under influence of “green muse”.

In the beginning of the nineteenth century in Paris absinthe on the popularity was flush with a national French drink — wine. Besides, using it they added wine in it with a view of increasing the alcoholic effect. On quality the drink was so different, as vodka on open spaces of Russia. However, thanks to heralds of art absinthe has very quickly turned to France in really national drink which was drunk at home, on a visit, in bars and restaurants, even on secular receptions. There is an opinion that thanks to this green drink there appeared impressionism, representatives of which aspired to seeing the world in its most different displays, in an unbalance and mobility, in riches of paints and shades, specific foreshortenings.

The greatest people of the world of art among whom is legendary Édouard Manet, Salvador Dali, Vincent van Gogh, Pablo Picasso more than possibly created the best creations thanks to absinthe visions, opening new sides of consciousness.

It is necessary to recognize that in the art world there was an absinthe cult. Almost each painter in the nineteenth century devoted a picture to it. The most well-known is “A Glass of Absinthe” by Pablo Picasso who has shown on canvas a bottle of this drink by company “Pernod” (world leader of manufacture of absinthe of that time) and a glass.

Absinthe became an integral part of the Parisian life during Napoleon. At that time it was considered as almost obligatory aperitif before supper, even the ritual action meaning the beginning of the evening. Fans of green alcohol could visit tens of institutions for an evening in each they could have drank a glass of absinthe.

In the twentieth century among the Parisian art workers absinthe remained a life integral part. By the way, the well-known American writer Ernest Hemingway, who has lived some time in Paris, was its admirer.

However, absinthe   was not exclusively “the green fairy”, quite often it led to awful things so at a given time it has been simply forbidden across all Europe. Manufacturers to remain in the market have been compelled to exclude thujone from compounding, and without it absinthe was no longer absinthe. The modern drink is already another absinthe liqueur.

Dear readers, we weren’t engaged in absinthe liqueur advertising in this article, but have considered acquainting you with this important page in the history of our favorite Paris.

According to numerous researchers of art history opera as a musical genre, has appeared in 1600th when the composer from an Italian Florence Jacopo Peri showed to the world opera “Euridice”, dedicated to the wedding of the French monarch Louis XIV and the well-known Maria Medici. And during this king opera got the status of an independent art form.

As memoirs contemporaries of this king testify, he was the aficionado of everything that concerned music he himself being quite a good dancer, took active part in ballet performances. Music accompanied Louis practically everywhere during his reign. And in royal residence musical balls were organized almost each day.

Year of 1669 was marked by opera and ballet inclusion in the French musical academy, and such concepts as “power” and “opera” became henceforth and inseparable at all. Musicians not only participated in regular representations, but also (strangely enough it can sound) have been got quite often mixed up in various political intrigues which always took place in the royal environment. And the first-ever opera and ballet theatre has been created at the French court yard in Versailles in boxes of which serious people were engaged in the decision of the important state problems.

But the Parisian opera, despite of such an exclusive position, had one big problem. For more than two centuries of the existence in view of the different reasons it has changed some tens of concert halls. Thus all of them were far from conformity to the status of the most opera theatre.

And only with Napoleon’s III – who have solved radically to change appearance of all Paris – coming to power, the opera had a chance to receive a due theatre.

The responsible for city building has been appointed Baron Haussmann who is well-known nowadays; he did not recognize any rules and made everything he considered necessary in Paris. The city was transformed beyond recognition for some decades. For good or for bad – we are not to judge, we will notice only that fact that now the French capital is considered to be one of the most beautiful cities of the world.

However, we will return to the opera. Among hundreds applicants for the role of the architect of the Parisian opera the young man by the name of Charles Garnier on whom the choice of baron Haussmann has fallen has appeared the most successful. Many historians believe that the reason for this was the precise understanding of the architect of trends of that time when everyone dreamt of “glamour”, “luxury” and “shine”.

In theatre premises styles of various epochs were guessed; owing to that uniformity, cleanliness and unity of lines was not observed here absolutely, but it did not affect the general magnificence of the whole image. Later the art experts named the given mixture by big enough words – the style of the Second Empire.

The opening of “Grand Opéra Garnier” has taken place in 1875 when neither Napoleon nor baron Haussmann were in live however despite of everything their child could be born. In that significant day the Parisian Opera (here we speak about it as about an independent theatre) has received the first extremely magnificent house which remains it till today.

We are not going to describe the internal magnificence which homes “Grand Opéra Garnier”, we simply advise you to visit this place personally and to receive unique impressions.

The well-known theatre is to be found at the address: Place de l’Opera

8 rue Scribe Paris 75009.

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