Would you suggest we see a ballet or opera in Paris. We'll be there in early January. and if so which one would you recommend? We're not big show people but would not mind seeing something to get the real "feel" of Paris.

I guess I'm not sure how to answer. If I asked someone whether I should see a football game or a baseball game, I'm not sure how they should answer that either.

The logical question is would you rather see dance or hear and see opera? But another factor is that mostly they do ballets in the wonderful old Garnier Opera House. Most operas are done at the much newer Bastille facility. So if it's the atmosphere of the old Paris Opera House you're looking for, you may want to consider ballet -- of course depending upon their schedule for when you're there.

You won't find the real "feel" of Paris at the Opera or the Ballet if you don't enjoy them. It's not like a tourist visit. Anyway, here you can see schedules :
http://www.operadeparis.fr

Does anyone know if there's a process for attempting to get a last minute ticket on the day of performance? The only ticket they have available to reserve while I'm there is 160 E.

I think ballet is going to be more accessible to someone who is not a "show person." For some, opera is an acquired taste. I agree that the old opera house is lovely. If you get bored, you can always stare at the Chagall ceiling. Also consider that tours are available if you just want a peek and don't want to see a show.

I remember there being same day tickets for sale at the box office. Don't know if they are less expensive then.

I notice that the Opera Bastille is presenting "Coppelia" in January. This is a lovely, "classic" ballet. I am not familiar with what the Stuttgart Ballet is presenting at the Garnier. And I can't imagine what Shakespeare has to do with it??? I once took a gamble on some modern ballet performed by the Garnier's own company and was very satisfied.

I was hoping that "La Boheme" or "Turandot" or "Madame Butterfly" were playing when you're there. Those are operas anyone would love. Alas, it's the "Tales of Hoffman" which I do not know.

Tales of Hoffman is a beautiful one, but it's very long !! More than 4 hours... But I suspect is going to be difficult to have tickets because Rolando Villazón is singing Hoffman. It's a very popular tenor right now I didn't say anything because it begins January 17 and the OP said "early January"

It's a matter of taste, i absolutely adore the tales of Hoffmann and hate Madame Butterfly ;-)

Idomeneo will be playing while I'm there in Dec. -- I really do like Mozart so I'm going to hope that a cheaper seat comes available closer to the date. 160 E is way out of my budget but the view from that seat is just incredible.

I would suggest the ballet if you don't usually go to either and don't really have a desire to see one or the other. First, ballet is a whole lot cheaper, and almost always shorter. I don't like opera very much myself, and I love classical music and know the composers' works and many of the stories -- I just don't like sitting through an opera.

However, neither is a real feel for Paris, as noted. First, none of those operas mentioned are even French. Second, those art forms are universal. Now I do recognize differences in ballet technique and companies, and the Paris Opera Ballet is one of my favorite companies, but all that would be meaningless to someone who didn't regularly go to ballet. Coppelia is a nice ballet, and it actually is French (the composer, and this cheographer). To be honest, most people who go for the experience and not because they really like the art form or want to see something in particular, want to go just for the building and wouldn't want to go to the Bastille (although I like the space for performances, and that is where Coppelia is). Of course, going to the ballet isn't necessarily Parisian, either, only a small segment of people go to it.

So, just go to whatever is at the Garnier, I'd say. Obviously, it's not French if it's the Stuttgart Ballet. I haven't ever seen that ballet they are doing, although it's a good company and he's an interesting choreographer, but it doesn't appeal to me that much (ballet of Taming of the Shrew, I read one review and the music and dancing is not lyrical, but more wild or frenetic, I guess). I did read a review of the Joffrey doing it in NY in 1982 (you can find with NYTimes search), and that one says the ballet isn't strongest on dance or music, the acting is very key to it.

That score is after Scarlatti. The Delibes Coppelia score is actually one of my favorite ballet scores, so it has lovely music even if you don't like the dance, and is much more a typical ballet in that regard.

I don't even see any opera playing until the end of January, though, so not sure what options you are considering. There may not be many choices after all.

If the price is right please go to something! When we went to the ballet in Florence it was the hit of our visit. The woman beside my wife had a long conversation with her until my wife indicated she spoke no Italian!!
We often talk of going to the ballet in Florence like it's an everyday event.

"I am not familiar with what the Stuttgart Ballet is presenting at the Garnier. And I can't imagine what Shakespeare has to do with it???"

Well, it could be several things. This reminds me of when we were in Hong Kong and wanted to see anything at the fabulous opera house. It ended up it was a ballet of Shakespeare's Taming of the Shrew by the Canadian Ballet Company. Not very indicative of Chinese art, I'd say. But it was very good, just the same.
There are a number of ballets of Shakespeare's Plays.

Hi. We have gone to two ballets at the Opera Garnier. The first was spectacular by the Neiderland (sp) group. It combined ballet with a video and was just wonderful. Very avant-garde.

We just went to another there that was less than wonderful, but for me anyway, just being in that opera house is great.

Neo,

According to Christina, that is the very ballet that the Stuttgart dancers are performing! My French isn't too terrific, and I didn't recognize the title. I assumed that I would recognize a word or two (Juliet? Dream?) "The Taming of the Shrew" would be just esoteric enough to elude me. And who knows how it would be translated in French anyway?!

The French title is "Ballet en Deux Parties" in case anyone's interested.

fishee-

Years ago, I got a same day discounted ticket to the Opera de Paris @ Bastille. It looks like the website is only in French, so I can't tell whether they still sell same-day tix or not.

(FYI, I got a really good seat for Carmen. The year was 1994 and I paid 100FF - which I'm not sure what the conversion was)

Actually, I guess the opera-de-paris website doesn't give the name on the clanedar but does just say ballet en deux parties (which doesn't mean much specifically, that isn't the name of the ballet). Maybe the name got dropped. I guess I was extrapolating as the calendar says it is "apres Shakespeare" and I know that company does Taming of the Shrew and that is the choreographer and music. The real name is "La mégère apprivoisée" which literally means the tamed shrew. Other ticket sites give the specific ballet title, such as www.fnac.com