Summer coming in Paris : enjoy opera outdoor

June in Paris, season of outdoor opera in gorgeous settings.

This year, it’s Jacques Offenbach’s les contes d’Hoffmann (Hoffmann’s Tales)

This week it takes place in Paris Jardin du Luxembourg, and the scene is set in front the Senat Palace.

If the weather is fine (and it’s definitely better to go on a warm evening) you can take a walk in the garden and buy a ticket on the spot, close to the Senat and the rue de Vaugirard in front of Odeon theater entrance. It starts at 21.15 and runs on June 12,13 and 14. Price : 89 euros (”Carré d’or”), 67, 57 and 39 euros.

Then it will take place in Parc de Sceaux, in front of the castle on June 26, 27 and 28, and it’s a beautiful location too. I was there last year for die Zauberflöte and it was delightful. But this year, weather is a bit hectic theses days, so you’d better check weather forecast before booking in advance, calling 0892 707 920 (from France only).

From July 12 to September 14 takes place in Parc de Sceaux the Orangerie Festival, indoor classical music concerts, every Saturday and Sunday evenings, interesting to combine with a walk in this beautiful garden. Informations on : http://festival.orangerie.free.fr/

Reservation : FNAC and http://www.concertclassic.com/

After Sceaux, les contes d’Hoffmann will travel in other places in France, up to September

All information and reservation on : http://www.akouna.com/operaenpleinair/

Jardin du Luxembourg 75006 Paris, RER Luxembourg, main entrance Boulevard Saint-Michel, south entrance rue Auguste Comte, east entrance rue Guynemer, north entrances on rue de Vaugirard. Open everyday sunrise to sunset.

Parc de Sceaux RER B station Parc de Sceaux. Open everyday from sunrise to sunset. All information on http://www.pds92.net/parcdesceaux/accueil.htm

Spring event at Paris Bastille opera : A new production of “Wozzeck”

If you happen to be fond of Opera and in Paris this April, you don’t want to miss this new production of Wozzeck, in Paris Opera Bastille.

It is Alban Berg’s first opera, which he started composing in 1914, during a leave from the front, for he was a soldier in the Austrian army during World War One, and he finished it in 1922. He wrote the libretto after the unfinished play by Georg Büchner, who died of typhus at the age of 23 in 1837, before he could complete it. In both cases it the work of young artists, haunted by dramatic events. Büchner himself had been inspired by the actual fate of a man named Woyzeck, who had been beheaded after murdering his mistress.

For the first time on a lyric stage, the hero is a poor guy, doomed to hardship and exploitation, and the opera is as free and inventive as it is desperate.

Wozzeck was first staged in 1925, and ever since, each representation is an event. This one is staged by Christoph Marthaler and directed by Sylvain Crambelin, who worked in perfect unity, also with the lead singers, Simon Keenlyside as Wozzeck, Angela Denoke as Marie, the orchestra and the children choir, to give the audience a breathtaking show.

It just started last week-end, and next representations are on April 7, 10 (at 20 PM), 13 (at 14.30) and 16, 19 (at 20). Opera Bastille, place de la Bastille 75012 Paris, metro Bastille, tel 33(0)1 72 29 35 35. More information and reservation on : http://www.operadeparis.fr/Saison-2007-2008/Spectacle.asp?IdS=367

To know more about the play as well as the opera, go to : http://www.geocities.com/al6an6erg/wozzeck.html

Paris Bastille Opera : “la femme sans ombre” is perfect

My report about last night first performance of Richard Strauss opera “Die Frau ohne Schatten” : As the rest of the enthusiastic audience, I had a great time.

A view of the theater during intermission, before part two.

I must apologize for my mistake : Hugo von Hofmannsthal wrote this opera’s libretto before he made a novel out of it : very German romantic, ultra metaphorical, and quite complicated.

Conductor Gustav Kuhn, the orchestra and chorus gave a brilliant interpretation of the beautiful score, all the performers had really great voices and played their part as well as they sang.

Eva-Maria Westbroek, the Empress looking for a shadow, on stage during part two.

Bob Wilson’s production is very impressive. The setting was marvelous, made of stylized geometric forms, moving and changing lights and colors, with some Japanese influence.

But a dark shadow is hanging over Thursday 01/24 performance: public sector has made a one day strike announcement, and usually opera technicians always go on strike whenever they can.

So for more information about what will be going (or not) at the opera on that day, better call : 0 892 89 90 90 if you are in France, or 33(0)1 72 29 35 35 if you are abroad.

And for general information on programs, and reservation : http://www.operadeparis.fr/

Another great night at the opera : Pina Bausch at Paris Palais Garnier

If you go for ballet, here is a promising meeting between a 18eth century opera by Christoph Willibald Gluck and nowadays choreographer Pina Bausch on “Orpheus and Eurydice”.

“Palais Garnier”, named after Charles Garnier, the architect who designed it, is the utmost representation of French “second empire” style. Unfortunately, it’s been scaffolded for months for renovation, so I have to borrow an archive picture of it. When renovation will be over, you’ll get a beautiful view on it from the “guichets du Louvre”, at the end of avenue de l’Opéra, made on the authority of baron Haussmann, who fastened the “new Paris” in late 19th century.

But meanwhile, all shows go on, and the inside is worth visiting. Looking at the main staircase and the stage, you already feel in the mood for Italian 19th century’s operas.

In 1964, André Malraux asked Marc Chagall to paint the fresco on the main room’s ceiling, which gave the place a fresher and lighter touch.

You can plan to visit either Palais Garnier or Opéra Bastille, or start with a virtual tour on : http://visites.opera-de-paris.com/intro.asp

Palais Garnier, 8 rue Scribe 75009 Paris, metro Opéra, tel 33(0)8 92 90 90.

“Orphée et Eurydice”, February 4 to 8 :19.30, 10 (14.30), 11 to 16 : 19.30, 17(14.30) and 18, 19 : 19.30. Tickets from 7 up to 160 euros.

More information on programs and reservation on : http://www.operadeparis.fr/

“La femme sans ombre” at Paris Opera Bastille

Paris Bastille Opera was built in 1989, designed by architect Carlos Ott, and very few people think much of the building itself, but all agree that it’s great when you’re inside : beautiful view on place de la Bastille, great acoustic, comfort and visibility in the theater.

It’s huge and looks a bit like a swimming pool. I have tried to make it as attractive as possible. This is how it looks from rue de Charenton :

It first opened on July 13 1989 with a show staged by Bob Wilson called “Night before Day”.

And Bob Wilson is back for the coming production of Richard Strauss opera “La femme sans ombre” (the woman without a shadow), libretto by Hugo Von Hofmanstahl, inspired by his novel “die Frau ohne Schatten”.

Orchestra is conducted by Gustav Kuhn, and the leading part sung by Eva Maria Westbroak, who was a brilliant Elisabeth in Wagner “Tannhaüser”.

It starts on January 21, I’ll be there and will tell you next if it is as good as it sounds

To get a previous idea, watch videos of the opera, know all about programs and make reservation, go to : http://www.operadeparis.fr/

Opera Paris Bastille, 130 rue de Lyon, 75012 Paris, metro Bastille, tel 33(0)8 92 89 90 90. La femme sans ombre (Die Frau ohne Schatten) : January 21, 24, 28, 31 at 19, February 3 at 14.30, February 7 at 19 and February 10 at 14.30. Price from 5 to 130 euros.