Paris Opera House help
 

I will be in Paris in mid September. I need help in making reservations to the opera house for the 18th.

Thank you

You can do it from their website, www.operadeparis.fr

Christina,

Thank you, I was there and was unable to figure it out. I am not fluent in french.

Beck, when you enter the site, at the bottom of the screen says "Les espectacles en vente"

Sorry, I press enter before finishing :) OK, you click on "les espectacles en vente" and it takes you to a page with an english flag on the right corner...there you are the info in english :)

kenderina,

Thank you, before you finished I checked it out. The site only lists shows through June and July for sale. The home page Calendrier lists a show, "cosi fann tutte" in palais garnier on 18 September. But the ticket page does not let you buy now?

Yes, the calendar shows it in September 2005 :) It's the calendar of the present season so it began in September last year and finish in july.

There should be a notice 'ouverture des reservations', or 'opening of reservations', which for the ballet I was interested in said the fifth of July for Internet reservations.

I don't think that any reservations are being taken now for the 2006-2007 season.

I'm planning on getting on the website right away on July 5!

Sandy

Thank you everyone. I guess I have to wait until 5 July.

Yes, beck :) but no representation on September the 18th !

Well, I was checking out September for Beck, and for the 18th, saw either the ballet 'La Dame Aux Camellias' at the Garnier, or the opera, 'Salome' at the Bastille.

I'd love either!

Sandy

Yes, I meant no "Cosi fan tutte " :)

Kenderina,

It looks like the "La Dame aux camélias" on 20 September? Ballet and not the opera. My wife will be happy.

Well, you have Lucia di Lamermoor the 17th , but it's a matinee. So not all hope is lost for you :)) Anyway, if you wife will be happier at the ballet..you also will , if she gets bored..maybe you will be not so happy :))

It does appear to me that I can not yet make the reservation, however I do not see where an indication of the date I can reserve is. What would one wear to the ballet and what time will the performance end?

You will have to wait till July for the reservations. I have no idea of the duration of the ballet..I don't know that ballet. But it will last no more than two hours , I think.
I went to a ballet performance in London dressed casual (not sports shoes or too casual outfits :) ) and everybody was dressed like that. Probably the Palace Garnier will be a bit more dressy , but if it is not a premiere I would not worry too much.

Ok, once you're on the main site, and you've clicked on 'calendrier', then you see that ballet for the 20th. Click on the name, 'La Dame Aux Camellias', and it will bring you direct to the site for that ballet.
At the bottom of the page, where it says 'ouverture des reservations', under the dates for performances, you see 'Internet 5 juillet 2006', i.e., July 5.

As far as what to wear, I've only been to one ballet in Paris so far, and it appeared to me that dress ranged from pretty casual to very dressed up. Somebody else might have more extensive ideas to give you.

As far as the time, since it starts at 7:30pm, I'd just guess maybe 10-10:30?
Again, my experience is limited.

Sandy

Thank you Christina, Kenderina, and Sandy. I will let you know if I am succesful in securing reservations on 5 July.

Hi beck01,
I've been to the Garnier for a ballet, and the dress has ranged from very casual to dressier, but not long evening gown/tuxedo type dressy, except perhaps at the New Year's Eve gala.
Our experience at the Garnier and the Bastille (for the past 5 seasons, usually btw. Xmas-NY Eve) is that nowadays, you'll find a very broad range of dress. We've seen very elegant French women in the priciest front tier seats dressed in those ultra expensive designer jeans. And gentlemen in jeans and black T shirts, designer of course :)

hi, Beck01 -- I will see that ballet myself this summer, I guess they are continuing it next year.

I've been to the Garnier quite a few times, and it's like most major cities' performing venues nowadays. You can literally wear anything and will see anything. So, whatever you feel comfortable wearing for a nice evening out. I just wear a skirt and some nice blouse or top, usually, with semi-dressy shoes. What that translates to men -- well, just something fairly decent, not too casual.

That's a fairly long ballet, I think the run time is around three hours. At least they start at 7:30 at Garnier, I like that, but I do like it when you can get out by 10. It has two intermissions, I believe, so don't count on it being early.

Great on the Ballet, as I said my wife will be very happy. I will have to surprize her. I hope they will mail the tickets to the US. I am looking forward to the trip (my first) and to the architechture of the building. I enjoy the historical part of the trip, and my wife will be quite pleased with the chance to see a great ballet. I was hoping to be able to grab a bite to eat afterwards, any suggestions? Last year we were in Sevillia and dinner was served well after 10. I am not sure about Paris. Thank you all for the help and advice.

Well, I haven't been there (yet), but I understand that Le Grand Cafe, which is just down the street at 4, Blvd. des Capucines, is a great place to grab a bite after the ballet. I'm planning to try it when I'm there this fall. Here's their website, if you'd like to check it out.
http://www.legrandcafe.com/

Sandy

(why did that url insist on coming up twice?)

Well, I guess it didn't; just looked like it did when I was writing.

Sandy

oh, they definitely mail tickets to the US, no problem, and no extra fee. I just bought some myself online a couple weeks ago, and didn't see any way to check that you just wanted to pick them up on-site. I do remember doing that before, so was confused -- but it's possible the last time I order them online very shortly before the performance, so they didn't mail -- I don't recall.

They came pretty quickly, actually, although they tell you that if by any chance they don't arrive, you can take your confirmation number or something. I know I got them in less than two weeks to the East Coast of US.

I also like the Grand Cafe very much, I think that's a good choice. They do stay open very late -- even all night, I think.