Can anyone suggest a UK or US ticket broker who can reserve tickets for the Garnier in late May?

Have tried the Opera-de-Paris site about six times; each time I get to the "sign up" section, it defaults to a "must include valid address" message (which I have done, over and over). So I'm stuck there.

Sites listed on older threads (fnac.com, stargonaut, etc.) don't seem to be operating.

There should be a phone number to call, on the website. I'd try that before hunting a broker. Good luck!

Try these:
http:globalticket.com
http://ticketnet.fr
http://omniticket.fr
Whatever you do, I urge you to get them in advance. We waited until we got to Paris, and the ballet was all sold out!

I just bought tickets from that web site 30 min ago with no problems, as I have before.

I don't understand the message you stated. I guess I am a client of theirs and filled out the personal information, but didn't have any problem. They allow non-France addresses in there. So perhaps you just didn't follow the correct format or fill it in correctly. If you don't read French, I think it could be a little tricky as you'd have to make sure you checked to pick up tickets at the window correctly, rather than mail.

IN any case, Howard listed all the usual suspects I know, and ticketnet is usually the cheapest for a broker, I think. Also, the store FNAC has a ticket agency, www.fnac.fr

I do not believe they allow ticket sales by telephone, except for groups. I seem to recall reading that on their web site somewhere.

Thanks Howard, I'll try those.

And Christina - I am in the English site and never get as far as seat selection/pickup. Am hung on filling out the form to get a registration number. Glad you're not having any problem - assume you already have your number.

Howard: for future reference, the 1st site "domain name for sale".
The other two are "site unavailables".

Thanks anyhoo.

yes, I did get my client number several weeks ago and that is when I filled out the online forms. It seemed to work at that time.

I am a little confused, though, ddpcharlie, are you on the web site www.opera-de-paris.fr? I just wasn't aware they had an English site and have never seen it. When you go to that page, I click on "billetterie en ligne" at the top righthand to order tickets and don't see any flag for different languages, or anything like that. They also seem to have the URL www.opera-de-paris.com registered, but it is the exact same site, it appears to me -- no English language section or option.

Perhaps I am missing something obvious, but I know someone else on here in another thread just a day or so ago asked about using the web site and they made the same comment about how it was only in French.

I'm sorry, I just noticed you said Howard's URLs weren't any good. I didn't notice before, but those aren't the correct URLs, they are missing www or an s:
www.globaltickets.com
www.ticketnet.fr
www.omniticket.fr


I know ticketnet and globaltickets work, I just found them. Omniticket is hung up somehow....

Christina - The Paris Opera Billetterie en Ligne page does have an English option. It is toward the top left after the Billetterie page opens. It has no flag and is in quite small print. I did not notice it for the longest time. But it is there.
Mara

Oops, sorry for leaving out the "www" in my previous posting. I obviously wasn't thinkingf when I copied them in haste from my notes!

I just tried the opera-de-paris.fr website, and Mara is correct--if you click on billeterie on line, it will take you to a page that offers English. The customer number is assigned automatically, just click on the choice that indicates that you don't already have a customer number. I purchased my tix online last week, and they do not mail them, but hold them at the box office if you do not have an address in France.

Sorry to be tedious. I have no problem finding the english part of the site.
When I select "don't have a number" and get the mask to fill in my information, and fill it in, I get a message saying my address is invalid. Can't get past this so I guess I am going t have to make a phone call. Lord help us. I do not speak french.

Mille merci to everyone who tried to help me sort this out. In a "last ditch attempt" I tried plugging in a friend's address, and the site breezed along in record time.
The problem appears to be that we are in (relatively) new construction (July 2002) and whatever directory the Garnier program is using to validate addresses doesn't turn us up.

Thanks again.

Bravo Charlie! Actually, I'm surprised they use some directory to actually check if you have a valid address, especially if you are just picking up at the box office.

I learned something here as I never saw the section about English language, it must be really small print. I'll have to check that out. I just bought another ticket -- I am going to see L'Histoire de Manon (ballet by MacMillan) in June and then Giselle (one of my most favorite ballets) in July. Now Opera de Paris did not respond with a confirmation right away on this second ticket as they did the first time, so I'll have to email them to make sure it registered...

TY again Christina. It was a frustrating couple of days but I was determined and encouraged by all the suggestions from Fodorites.
Enjoy Giselle; one of my favorites as well but our Paris dates are somewhat "in between" so we will see "les jeunes".