The new building for the Paris Opera was constructed in the historical centre of Paris on the site of an old military fortress. Its fascinating auditorium is large both in terms of its width and depth. The first balcony extends above almost to half the space of the rising parterre. The second balcony is only slightly shorter than the first. All 2,700 seats have almost identical acoustic conditions. The effect of the breadth of this extensive auditorium is truly remarkable.