yk

We only have a few days in Paris in October 2007. Looking at the Opera National de Paris' website, the only opera being performed during our stay is La Traviata - at Palais Garnier.

http://www.operadeparis.fr/Saison-20...le.asp?Id=1151

Looks like it's open for reservation on internet since July 4, but when I try to purchase, I get a pop-up window with the message, "There are no more seats available on Internet today for this production."

Does that mean the entire production is sold out already?!?! All 9 performances at all ticket prices???

What about telephone reservations? It starts on August 27. Will there be more tickets available then?

Any info or insight will be appreciated.

yk

Follow-up Q:

If it really is completely sold-out, does the Opera National sell last-minute tickets? I did that over a decade ago at Bastille and got a ticket for Carmen. If this opera is at Garnier, where would I go to try to buy tickets the day-of?

kerouac

There are always last minute tickets, but these are REALLY last minute -- just like standby plane tickets in the old days. In the last 15 minutes, they will sell tickets not picked up by other people. I'm not sure if you can get on a waiting list beforehand.

I checked fnac.com to see if they were selling tickets for that opera, but they only listed other productions in Vichy, Reims and Cannes. I used the search function to see if they sold tickets for the Palais Garnier at all, and they do (notably for Capriccio in September), so that would imply that La Traviata is indeed officially sold out.

kerouac

I meant to add "or not open to reservation at FNAC yet".

yk

kerouac- Thanks for your reply. It's just seem crazy that everything is sold out... I checked the other productions and plenty of tickets are still available.

So, if I want to try last-minute tickets, should I be lining up at Garnier for them instead of at Bastille?

WillTravel

If you are willing to pay the prices of a third-party agency, some have tickets available for a high price, like this one:
http://www.thecatseyes.com

kerouac

It might be crazy that it is sold out, but not unusual. For certain productions, the jet set (or TGV 1st class set) is willing to cross Europe just for one evening at the opera. I forget which production, but last year at the Opéra Bastille, there were entire chartered trains of opera lovers from Brussels and Cologne.

yk

WT- Well, the orchestra tickets they're selling for are like €200 each. I think I'll pass. Didn't think tickets in Paris are harder to come by then Staatsoper in Vienna!

WillTravel

yk, I seem to recall something similar with our trip to Paris earlier this year, so far as Opera Garnier opera tickets, although I started looking for tickets only two months in advance then.

I have no idea if this will work in your case, but for La Fenice in Venice, I also had a similar problem, but one day I checked at 3 AM (my time), and lo and behold, tickets were available.

scfphoto

We are also trying to get tickets for La traviata. It is my understanding that only internet tickets are not available. They do not sell all tickets online. Another Fodorite claimed that only a few tickets are available online. You can buy tickets by phone starting in August. If you look at the opera website there are several ways to buy tickets and they all have different starting dates.

yk

WT & scfphoto-

Thanks for the insight. I think btw now and August 27, I'll check the website periodically to see if any tickets show up. If none, then I'll plan on calling on Aug 27 and see if anything's available.