Tristan und Isolde
The Joys of Tragedy
Some might think that foregoing one of the final days of late-summer sunshine to spend over five hours cooped up in a theater watching Richard Wagner’s Tristan und Isolde demonstrates either an admirable sense of duty or complete madness. … Read More
Festival de la Chaise-Dieu
Musical Tourism in the Auvergne
Finding a place of space and solace in France in August is no mean feat, especially one with a world-class classical music festival, one of the finest abbeys in France, great countryside and good-value, available accommodation. Oh, and decent, well-priced … Read More
L’Heure Espagnole & Gianni Schicchi
Belly Laughs at the Opera
In the opera world, it has now become the rule rather than the exception to pair Maurice Ravel’s 1911 one-act opera L’Heure Espagnole with Giacomo Puccini’s 1918 single-act Gianni Schicchi. It is easy to see why: although each piece … Read More
Barbara, Voilà Combien de Jours…
Homage to a Grande Chanteuse
I am intrigued by the chanteuse Barbara because she is one of those musical icons adored by the French (and pretty much no one else), along with Johnny Hallyday, Serge Gainsbourg and Claude François. I find this idolatry far more understandable in … Read More
Les Vocations d’Euterpe
Giver of Musical Delight
Here’s a great tip for classical music lovers in Paris, especially impecunious ones: an association called Les Vocations d’Euterpe organizes regular concerts by musicians from France’s top music conservatories with no entrance fees (although donations are requested for the musicians). I … Read More
Un Ballo in Maschera
Grim Setting for High Drama
Giuseppe Verdi’s Un Ballo in Maschera (A Masked Ball), currently onstage at the Bastille Opera in Paris, has had a checkered history. The germ of the story is the assassination of King Gustav III of Sweden at a masked ball in … Read More
Au Feu Rouge
Another Side of Paris
A poet for our times, Fabien Marsaud, better known as Grand Corps Malade, is a cult figure on the French slam scene who grew up in the tough suburbs north of Paris. He took his pseudonym, which means “Big Sick … Read More
La Bohème
Tragic Love in a Frosty Setting
Imagine the scene. German director Claus Guth has been asked to create a new production of Giacomo Puccini’s La Bohème for the Bastille Opera House in Paris. “I need to shake up this old chestnut.” he says to himself. “Let … Read More
Anja Harteros
Soprano's Sterling Recital Sparks Extra Enthusiasm
Even though opera and ballet inevitably dominate the schedule at Paris Opera’s two locations, the occasional one-off event is worth signaling, especially when it is a recital at the Palais Garnier by the German soprano Anja Harteros, who will be … Read More
The Snow Maiden & Wozzeck
Exceptional Singing Distinguishes Two Operas
Two very different operas, written less than half a century apart, were staged on successive evenings at the Opéra Bastille last week. The operas of Russian composer Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov (1844-1908) are all too rarely performed outside of Eastern Europe, so … Read More