Photo credit: Agathe Poupeney-OnP Thomas Adès’s “The Exterminating Angel” is one of the most successful contemporary operas of the century. Beyond its many productions—the Parisian one being the best of them all—, the opera quickly entered the symphonic repertoire with a very well-crafted symphonic suite. The opera, based on Luís Buñuel’s homonymous film, follows its source material: more than a {…}
(Credit: © Elena Bauer / OnP) Alexander Neef, General Director of the Paris Opera, has extended his contract until 2032. The decision was made by the President of the Republic and on the proposal of the Minister of Culture Rachida Dati. Neef took office in September 2020 for a term of 6 years. In a statement, the Elysée said, “Mr. {…}
(Photo: Franck Ferville) Unfortunately, I could not attend the opening night of Paris Opera’s premiere of “Beatrice di Tenda.” I even tried to emulate the experience of an opening night: I avoided, as much as I could, reading the reviews. But, before I could stop them, a few friends had stressed how negative most reviews were. After watching the opera, {…}
The Opéra National de Paris has announced the recipients of the 2023 Mortier Awards, named in honor of Gerard Mortier, the director of the company between 2004-09. Taking home the Mortier Award was Ariane Mnouchkine, celebrated for her life’s work. The French stage director was renowned for her avant-garde theater productions. She was also nominated for an Oscar for Best {…}
The Opéra National de Paris has announced the resignation of Gustavo Dudamel as Music Director at the end of the 2022-23 season for personal reasons. In a statement, Dudamel said, “It is with a heavy heart, and after long consideration, that I announce my resignation as Music Director of the Paris Opera, in order to spend more time with my {…}
The Opéra de Paris has launched POP, Paris Opera Play, a new streaming platform, play.operadeparis.fr. The new streaming platform will offer its audiences the opportunity to discover its shows online. The POP will also give its subscribers the opportunity to discover live performances and a catalog of 80 titles, regularly enriched, composed of recordings, documentaries, master classes, and other exclusive {…}
Photo: Bernd-Uhlig-OnP On Mar. 11, 2023, Paris Opera premiered a new production of Thomas’s “Hamlet” at the giant opera colosseum, La Bastille. “Hamlet” premiered at Paris Opera, then known as Académie Impériale de Musique, in 1868, with immense success. One year later, the opera was presented in London with an alternative ending where the hero, Hamlet, dies, changing Shakespeare’s original {…}
Stage director Thomas Jolly has been announced as the Artistic Director of the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic ceremonies. Jolly will lead a multidisciplinary artistic team charged with planning and running the upcoming ceremonies. Paris organizing committee head Tony Estanguet praises the appointee by saying,” With his impressive career, Thomas Jolly is at the forefront of the young, creative, and {…}
The Paris Opera has announced that it will delay the opening of its 2020-21 season. In a press release, the company noted that the Palais Garnier will not be available to open until the end of December 2020 with the Opéra Bastille set for its first performances on Nov. 24, 2020, with a production of “La Traviata” by Simon Stone. {…}
Argentine director Marcelo Lombardero has accused Polish auteur Krzysztof Warlikowski of plagiarism with regards to his new production of “Lady Macbeth of Mtsenk.” The story first broke in El País, where the Argentine director, who produced the opera nearly a decade ago in South America, noted that he was “honored” to see Warlikowski honor him with his take on the {…}
The French Institute / Alliance Française (FIAF) will present an HD screening of Robert Carson’s production of Offenbach’s “Les Contes d’Hoffman,” performed at the Paris Opera during the 2016/17 season. The screening, a co-presentation with American Friends of The Paris Opera & Ballet in celebration of the company’s 350th anniversary, will be introduced by conductor Joseph Colaneri. Starring Ramón Vargas, the {…}