I will be visiting Paris in April and would love to see a ballet and/or opera performance while there. Unfortunately, I am not familiar with the opera selections being performed at the Opera Garnier and the Bastille at that time. The operas I would have loved to see are being performed either before or after our stay in Paris.<BR><BR>Please tell me what you know about these performances:<BR><BR>Bastille Opera:<BR><BR>Eugene Oneguine: Lyrical pageant in three acts and seven scenes by Piotr Ilyitch Tchaikovsky, to libretto of the composer and Constantin Chilovsky, based on a poem by Alexandr Pushkin. Paris National Opera Orchestra conducted by Vladimir Jurovsky, <BR><BR>Parsifal: Sacred Drama in three acts by Richard Wagner (1882), to libretto of the composer. Paris National Opera Orchestra conducted by James Conlon, Paris National <BR><BR><BR><BR>Opera Garnier:<BR><BR>Ballet:<BR>Pageant of the 'Ecole de Danse':<BR>'Sins of Youth' on music by Gioacchino Rossini and choreography by Jean-Guillaume Bart (2000); <BR>'Game of Cards' on music by Igor Stravinsky, choreography by Janine Charrat (1945), costumes and sets by Pierre Roy; <BR>'Movements' on music by Serge Prokofiev and choreography by Claude Bessy (1980). Performed by the Paris Opera's School of Dance. Paris National Opera Orchestra conducted by David Coleman. Time: 19:30. Price: 6 E. to 40 E. <BR><BR>Opera:<BR>Les Bor&eacute;ades: Musical Tragedy (1763) in five acts by Jean-Philippe Rameau, on libretto attributed to Louis de Cahusac. 'Arts Florissants' Orchestra conducted by William Christie. Time: 19:30. Price: 7 E. to 109 E.<BR><BR>Thanks so much for your help! I would like to purchase tickets as soon as possible. Also, is there an internet site that shows seating charts for these 2 theaters? Thanks again!<BR><BR><BR><BR><BR>

I've seen both operas, and would go at the drop of a hat to either (I bought my tickets a year in advance for them). Parsifal is a very heavy Wagnerian opera, and quite long (the production in New York in April 2003 will be almost 5 1/2 hours). If you've never seen an opera, or aren't that obsessed with Wagner, I would recommend Eugene Onegin. <BR><BR>As for the ballets, I like the music for all but have not seen them staged.

Well...it depends upon what you like. Les Arts Florissants is a wonderful and very highly regarded ensemble, Rameau and Paris seem to go together well, and I personally would probably pick that, but if Baroque music drives you insane, that wouldn't be suitable! Again, this is entirely my opinion, but I would rather sit on hot coals than through a long (long, long) night of Wagner, though other people absolutely adore that sort of thing.

Definitely pick one playing at the Garnier.

I would probably pick one at the Garnier, most likely the ballet. That is not a &quot;big&quot; ballet, but small works with students, it appears. However, I find that kind often be interesting and refreshing compared to some old warhorses, and Stravinsky and Prokofiev are two of my favorite composers. I've never seen Game of Cards but have wanted to as it sounds interesting, and Claude Bessy was a good choreographer so I'd like to see her work. <BR><BR>Les Arts Florissants is an excellent ensemble and I love Christie, so that would be another choice. Onegin has some good music. Generally, I don't like opera performances that well, though. <BR><BR>I would never sit through Parsifal. I don't like Wagner that much (musically and personally), nor program music and that piece is religious sanctimony. There is supposedly an old Met Opera curse something like &quot;May you have to sit through Parisfal without a sandwich.&quot;