Page 49 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Paris

P ARIS A T A GLANCE  47

Musicians
Jean-Philippe Rameau (1683–
1764), organist and pioneer of
harmony, is associated with
St-Eustache (see p116). Hector
Berlioz (1803–69) had his Te
Deum first performed there
in 1855. A great dynasty of The Grand Trianon at Versailles, built by Jules Hardouin-Mansart in 1687
organists, the Couperins,
gave recitals in St-Gervais– Haussmann (1809–91) gave the Beach welcomed James Joyce
St-Protais (see p103). city its boulevards (see pp36–7). (1882–1941) to her bookshop
The stage of the Opéra (see Gustave Eiffel (1832–1923) built on Rue de l’Odéon. Ernest
p219) has seen many talents, his tower in 1889. A century Hemingway (1899–1961) and
but audiences have not always later, I M Pei added the Louvre’s F Scott Fitzgerald (1896–1940)
been appreciative. Carmen by glass pyramid (see p129); Jean wrote novels in Montparnasse.
George Bizet (1838–75) Nouvel created the Institut du Paris, especially at the time of
was booed, as was Pelléas Monde Arabe (see pp166–7), the Nazi occupation during
et Mélisande by Claude the Musée du quai Branly (see World War II, is the setting of a
Debussy (1862–1918). pp194–5) and the Philharmonie number of novels by Patrick
Olivier Messiaen (1908–91) de Paris (see p239); while Modiano, who was awarded the
was organist at the Eglise de Dominique Perrault was Nobel Prize for Literature in 2014.
la Sainte Trinité for 60 years. behind the Bibliothèque
The composer and conductor Nationale de France (see p244). Scientists
Pierre Boulez (1925–2016)
founded the experimental Antoine Lavoisier (1743–94),
music institute IRCAM (see p114). “the father of modern chemistry”,
The diminutive chanteuse first showed that water is a
Edith Piaf (1915–63) began combination of oxygen and
singing in the streets of Paris hydrogen; his instruments
and then went on to tour the can be seen at the Musée des
world. During the 1920s, jazz Arts et Metiers (see p105).
violinist Stéphane Grapelli and Paris has a Quartier Pasteur,
guitarist Django Reinhardt a Boulevard Pasteur, a Pasteur
pioneered gypsy jazz. Later, Metro and the world-famous
Serge Gainsbourg influenced Institut Pasteur (see pp180–81),
a generation of pop musicians, all in honour of Louis Pasteur
and rock singer Johnny Halliday (1822–95), the great French
made his mark as the “French chemist and biologist.
Elvis”. France’s strong Proust by J-E Blanche (about 1910) Discoverers of radium Pierre
connections with francophone (1859–1906) and Marie Curie
West Africa mean that many Writers (1867–1934) also worked in Paris.
internationally known West
African artists, such as Salif French has been dubbed
Keita, Baaba Maal, Rokia Traoré “the language of Molière”, Fashion Designers
and Angélique Kidjo, first made after playwright Jean-Baptiste The world capital of fashion
their name in Paris and still Poquelin, alias Molière (1622– boasts many famous designers.
attract a big following. 73), who helped create the The iconic Coco Chanel (1883–
Comédie-Française, now 1971) revolutionized women’s
situated near his home in Rue fashion in the 1920s, creating
Architects Richelieu. On the Left Bank, the more casual clothes for women.
Gothic, Classical, Baroque and Odéon Théâtre de l’Europe was Jeanne Lanvin (1867–1946),
Modernist – all styles co-exist home to playwright Jean Racine founder of Lanvin, the oldest
in Paris. The most brilliant (1639–99). It is near the statue haute couture house still in
medieval architect was Pierre of Denis Diderot (1713–84), who existence, created fabulous
de Montreuil, who built Notre- published his L’Encyclopédie designs and the legendary
Dame and Sainte-Chapelle. between 1751 and 1776. Marcel perfume Arpège. Christian
Louis Le Vau (1612–70) and Proust (1871–1922), author of Dior (1905–57) turned fashion
Jules Hardouin-Mansart (1646– the 13-volume Remembrance upside down with his postwar
1708) designed Versailles (see of Things Past, lived on the “New Look”, while Yves Saint-
pp250–55). Jacques-Ange Boulevard Haussmann. To the Laurent (1936–2008) was
Gabriel (1698–1782) built the existentialists, the district of equally influential and made
Petit Trianon (see p251) and St-Germain was the only place prêt-à-porter, or ready-to-wear,
Place de la Concorde (see p133). to be (see pp138–9). Here, Sylvia fashion popular.

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