THE 5 BEST Paris Operas
Operas in Paris
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Operas • Theater & Performances
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- MuscoviteVTMoscow, Russia13,948 contributionsThree completely naked male bodies at the front of the stage – that’s really too much! And I don’t mean that one would be ok!
Don’t get me wrong, I don’t expect ‘Manon’ to be interpreted as ‘Suor Angelica’ or something. I just don’t get the big idea. Isn’t it possible these days to have any theatre production without hardcore scenes?
And it’s not the only episode, far from it! Act I opens with four topless ballerinas riding four hapless supernumenaries; then all men present on the stage attempt gang sex with Manon; another example of the same at the backstage with the tenor trying to concentrate and sing ‘Ah! Fuyez, douce image’. Indeed, ‘fuyez’, because these images are not ‘douce’ at all! And so on, and so forth… Anyone can tell me how it enhances the music, and the whole story?
It’s all the more depressing, as the voices were really good! – see the cast in the theatre bill, one of the photos.
True, Manon (Patricia Petibon) could have had a smoother and lighter soprano, especially at the beginning. I listened to Victoria de los Ángeles in order to make myself ready to this opera, sort of an unfair comparison, of course. But closer to the epilogue a bit of a drama in Patricia Petibon’s voice was quite appropriate.
I wasn’t awfully impressed with Jean-Sébastien Bou as Lescaut and his sort of country-style baritone; maybe it was meant that way, I’ve heard a much more persuasive ‘Ne bronchez pas, soyez gentille’, even at home.
Laurent Alvaro, the old Comte Des Grieux, on the contrary, looked and sounded as a proper ‘père noble’. The part is fairly short, but he had made a very significant impact to make the production – purely singing, not mise-en-scène – a serious achievement.
However, it was Des Grieux who had made my day - night, that is :). The young Canadian tenor Frédéric Antoun is very, very good! In French operas, anyway – somehow his Cassio in ‘Otello’ with Kaufmann in Salzburg did no appeal to my heart and soul. But here he was at home! Trust me, I know the most famous ‘Manon’ tenor arias nearly by heart as my favourite Swedish tenor Jussi Björling was very good at French répertoire.
Can’t say anything against the orchestra, conductor Marc Minkowski, he supervised the musical part of the production, too.
The stage director Olivier Py – all smiles, you can see him in white sneakers taking the centre at curtain calls – has indeed left a mark in history with this production! I was very much relieved to hear the audience boo and shoo, as I nearly started to think everyone was OK with this sort of nonsense! Checking the Internet afterwards I understand scandals are his way to make a living. Beware.
Hope this review won’t discourage you from visiting Opéra Comique, as the building is a real monument of art. The main hall is Salle Favart, called after the 18th century playwright Charles Simon Favart. It had survived several fires, the contemporary building comes from 1898. Can’t say if there was any renovation, it certainly looks old, but in a fairly good shape. An awful lot of gilded decorations, the same style as Opéra Garnier. Wooden floor adds to traditional air. Comfortable chairs, even in upper tiers – anyway, I had no problem with leg, elbows or any other space, definitely better than in Nice Opéra, for example. See my photos, I always try to explore various locations to show the stage view from the stalls, boxes, balcony etc.
There is a lift, but I didn’t use it. Ask personnel in advance if you need help with a wheel-chair.
The theatre café did not appeal to me either – see those plastic mugs? Very strange indeed, taking into account the posh surroundings…
Be careful when you book the tickets, otherwise you can find yourselves in a tip-up seat! That’s exactly what happened to me. Actually I knew what I was doing, that seat was sold at 50 euro, I really couldn’t afford more. (And for this kind of production the stage director should pay the audience, IMHO!) Luckily the neighbouring seat was vacant, and the box-keeper moved me there, so that I didn’t block the way:) It was 3rd tier, the view was excellent. The hall isn’t big, and for the opera I wouldn’t recommend the stalls – waste of money, IMHO, the sound goes up.
Practical note: the doors open 45 minutes in advance. The cloak-room – ‘Vestiare’ – is on the ground floor, to the right of the entrance. The cloak-rooms are free – from my experience it’s the rule for everywhere in France, but cannot be sure. No queue, although it was +10 C in the street, and there was no other cloak-rooms in sight. How they manage in winter, when any decent person changes shoes, I do not know.
By the way, there is one admission point for everyone – in older theatres in France cheaper tickets often go through cheaper side entrance :).Written June 7, 2019This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - ToujoursLaRouteParis, France1,248 contributionsI am very familiar with the concept, so just accepted an invitation from some friends, without big hopes. Well, I was so wrong. The food was quite fine, even if the menu is short (but I understand that it would be difficult to extend the menu), the list of wine and drinks was very decent. And the artistic level was just amazing, I am an Opera fan so I know what I am talking about. I am sure that some of the singers (which are students for the moment) will become great artists. Think to book, as the place was full!Written November 27, 2023This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- jeff85in6 contributionsexcellent art work to enjoy. Mind blowing stage arrangement. Should go with the tiur guide to get place to get into the seats of Opera. small seat i.e, french style.Written November 2, 2014This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- time traveller1 contributionThe enlightenment encourages travel, science research, and exploration. Art at the moment is all in the neoclassical style, influenced by Roman and Greek sources. If you have a chance, ‘The Oath of the Tennis Court’ by Jacques-Louis David, shows the chaos of revolution. He also painted ‘Death of Marat’ which shows the death of the revolutionary leader. Very topical paintings of this time, reflective of Parisian and french society.Written September 19, 2020This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
