Hello all. We are going back to Paris for the second time in May and I am trying to come up with a new way to suprise my wife this time.
We are not big Opera fans but love the Opera building. It is a bit pricey to get tickets, so I am wondering if it is the best option for a really spectacular evening out, plus there is the whole what to wear thing. But it would be very cool I am sure.
We don%26#39;t generally go big on meal expenses, and would like to find something very memorable that we can do.
Ok,. let me have it. Options, suggestions?
Rob
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If you are not %26#39;..big fans..%26#39; but still a choice between the opera or the ballet, you should probably check the schedule of performance for the period that you will be in Paris. There are two opera houses in Paris--Opéra Garnier and Opéra Bastille. As a broad general rule operas are performed at the newer Opéra Bastille. This is a large, modern auditorium with excellent accoustics and sight-lines...a first-rate, modern theater...but not an especially warm or inviting space. Ballets tend to be performed at the smaller, older Opéra Garnier. This is a magnificent Beaux Arts building with spectacular interiors...and even if you don%26#39;t attend a performance there, it%26#39;s well worth the time to take a tour of the building.
If you%26#39;re not a fan, it would be a good idea to find out what is being performed, where and make your choice based on this. You can search the operas and ballets and make your decision based on your own preferences. As an example, there are performances of Wagner%26#39;s %26#39;..Lohengrin..%26quot; at the Bastille and performances of %26#39;..Cendrillon..%26#39; with classic choreography by Noureev and music by Prokofiev. If your schedule permits, the ballet may be the better choice....and you couldn%26#39;t find a better venue than the Garnirer to introduce yourselves to it. There%26#39;s an Edwin Denby quote that I%26#39;ve always loveed %26quot;... ballet....is the one form of theater where nobody speaks a foolish word all evening...%26quot;.... music, performance and the venue will be wonderful.
Curtain times are usually 19:30 (7:30 PM) so a quick bite before and a late supper after the performance at a favorite café might serve best.
As for dressing for either, the days of top hats tails and capes have long since past and %26#39;..smart casual..%26#39; may be as much as may be expected...but if this is intended to be a special evening then dressing a a bit more than you might to attend a performance at your local performing arts center might be fun
OPÉRA NATIONAL de PARIS--
http://www.operadeparis.fr/
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Personally I am a very strong opera supporter, but I should not recommend it as a way to suprise someone who may not be.
Spending up to four hours in a magnificent building can be quite spectacular but also consider: you may have absolutely no idea what is transpiring on stage, the music (and style) may be completely unfamiliar, and the story line itself will probably be unknown. A four hour opera could seem to last 4 days.
Part of the opera enjoyment is connecting with the characters, the drama, the execution, and often beautiful melodies. If one has absolutly no preparation or understanding of the process, the experience could be very underwhelming.
I recommend either purchasing an audio copy of the opera to become basically familiar with it in advance (which would definately spoil the suprise) or plan a perhaps more appropiate suprise.
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We would probably be more interested in the ballet. I took a look at the schedule for the 2007 and there are no shows listed at the right times. Do you think more shows will be added or is the 2007 season set in stone allready?
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Usually the 2006-2007 season is scheduled early on and shows are not added during the year. Last ballet for this year is May 11.
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If you cannot find a performance at Opera Garnier, try a classical music performance...http://www.classictic.com/en/cities/Paris/7/Concerts/page_1.html/
St. Chapelle would be quite nice.
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For others who might be contemplating an evening of ballet or opera... a friend and I went to a performance of three ballet pieces at the Opera Garnier about two years ago, and it was one of the highlights of our trip. The building is gorgeous and to watch dance in such a venue was wonderful.
When we were leaving the Garnier, there were several young opera singers performing in the plaza, and listening to their gorgeous voices in such a setting with hundreds of others was stupendous.
We %26quot;dressed up%26quot; for the ballet and loved doing so, but it wasn%26#39;t necessary. %26quot;Business casual%26quot; would be just fine.
I%26#39;ve also attended music recitals at St. Chapelle and Eglise de St. Julian de Pauvre (really terrible spelling), and both were wonderful.
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We attended %26quot;Platee%26quot; (Jean-Phillipe Rameau) at the Opera Garnier and it was a wonderful experience! (V. unusual opera! V. visual and fun to watch and listen to!) During break, we got to stroll about more of the beautiful premises! We did buy the little book about the Opera they sold there just prior to the performance and read up on the story. OH, well, it did help that I was with my daughter who can read French quite well (as it was written in French). They did have words discreetly lit up above the stage of what was being sung (and I could understand that a bit..but of course, I am not as fluent as my daughter). But many a opera, even in the States , are sung in other languages. One just needs to learn the story line and then it is such a delight! (even if not catching all the words!).
We also went to a play at Comedie Francais and read the play before attendance (read it long the Seine/quick read). That was a GREAT play and very humorous! It was a Moliere/Lully collaberation. Before I even went to Paris , I read up about those two and it was fascinating bit of art history/culture! (read up on comedie-ballet also). As I read some critic say, actually seeing a Moliere play is entirely different than just reading it! So true! (much is lost without the visuals/ unique enactment thereof!).
HOwever, it all depends on your interests . That is just our experience~!
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Well, if you usually go to the opera or ballet, it would be an easy decision. But for the first time, its usu best to attend a more popular event; Carmen, Madame Butterfly, La Boehm, etc or Swan lake, etc. Lighter and easier to follow, and thats what we have done with family.
Nothing can be worst than spending big bucks, and then having to sit through the last act when bored out of your mind!
T
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