Which Opera to attend in Paris?
May 7th, 2007, 10:22 AM
#22
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If your goal is to do something related to Paris/France in performing arts, I would definitely choose the NY Philharmonic performance at the Theatre des Champs Elysees. That is a wonderful program, it includes Ravel's Daphis et Chloe (beautiful music, but Ravel is one of my favorites), as well as a Brahms symphony (another one of my favorite composers), and Stravinsky's Chant du Rossignol symphonic poem. The Ravel is very French. Stravinsky worked in Paris quite a bit, and that work was premiered there (it is from an opera), so is historic and Parisian in that sense. The ballet from that also premiered in Paris a few years later. Maazel does those works well.
The Theatre des Champs Elysees is beautiful. It's one of the few good examples of Art Deco in Paris (this is not Art Nouveau).
The Orch Ensemble to Paris would be okay, but it's not French music at all (Schumann and Mahler vocal works -- I really do not like Mahler's songs, although I do like his symphonies). I do like Schumann, but given the alternative of the Maazel with Ravel and Stravinsky, I'd def. choose that.
The dances thing is by a Belgian choreographer at the Theatre de la Bastille in the 11th. It is contemporary, I gather, from some things I read. It would be enjoyable, probably, but couldn't beat the other choices for me. That is a smaller venue, does more avant garde things.
If I wanted vocal works, Barbara Hendrinks is singing at the Theatre des Champs Elysees on May 20th, and she is wonderful. She is doing some French vocal works by Faure and Bouplenc, in addition to some other composers. Art songs may not be for everyone, though, but I'd put that second to the NY Philharmonic Maazel program myself for the performer and the venue.
If you want something smaller, less traditional and cheaper, you might like the one at the Theatre de la Bastille, but if you want to go to something in a historic building and a French program, I'd choose the May 16th performance at the Theatre des Champs Elysees.
All of these would beat that German opera for me.
The Theatre des Champs Elysees is beautiful. It's one of the few good examples of Art Deco in Paris (this is not Art Nouveau).
The Orch Ensemble to Paris would be okay, but it's not French music at all (Schumann and Mahler vocal works -- I really do not like Mahler's songs, although I do like his symphonies). I do like Schumann, but given the alternative of the Maazel with Ravel and Stravinsky, I'd def. choose that.
The dances thing is by a Belgian choreographer at the Theatre de la Bastille in the 11th. It is contemporary, I gather, from some things I read. It would be enjoyable, probably, but couldn't beat the other choices for me. That is a smaller venue, does more avant garde things.
If I wanted vocal works, Barbara Hendrinks is singing at the Theatre des Champs Elysees on May 20th, and she is wonderful. She is doing some French vocal works by Faure and Bouplenc, in addition to some other composers. Art songs may not be for everyone, though, but I'd put that second to the NY Philharmonic Maazel program myself for the performer and the venue.
If you want something smaller, less traditional and cheaper, you might like the one at the Theatre de la Bastille, but if you want to go to something in a historic building and a French program, I'd choose the May 16th performance at the Theatre des Champs Elysees.
All of these would beat that German opera for me.
May 8th, 2007, 10:33 AM
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I think that I, too, would opt for the New York Philharmonic over Lohengrin.
But, if you really want an opera in a grand setting, Lohengrin at the Opera Bastille would fill the bill.
I think it boils down to what you want to experience: symphony by a 1st class orchestra or opera in a first class setting.
The NY Philharmonic is a top level, world class orchestra.
If I were in your shoes, I am not sure what I would do, but I am not.
Having done both opera and orchesstra performances in various places, I might well opt for a performance at Ste. Chapelle just to admire the stained glass!!
Or, I might just bust the piggy bank and try to do both.
But, if you really want an opera in a grand setting, Lohengrin at the Opera Bastille would fill the bill.
I think it boils down to what you want to experience: symphony by a 1st class orchestra or opera in a first class setting.
The NY Philharmonic is a top level, world class orchestra.
If I were in your shoes, I am not sure what I would do, but I am not.
Having done both opera and orchesstra performances in various places, I might well opt for a performance at Ste. Chapelle just to admire the stained glass!!
Or, I might just bust the piggy bank and try to do both.
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