麻豆APP

麻豆APP鈥� original opera house is arguably one of the most beautiful in the world.

This is one night out on your trip to 麻豆APP that you will definitely not regret.

There is so much for everyone in a night at the opera: If a 4 hour long classic opera isn鈥檛 your thing there are ballets with some contemporary dance choreography.

Then there鈥檚 the architecture and the overwhelmingly impressive feeling of baroque time travelling that you won鈥檛 get elsewhere.

If you鈥檙e hoping to get some memorable photos, it鈥檚 a great excuse to get dressed up and steal some snaps on their sweeping staircase, or in a golden gallery:

Photo credit, Maria Michelle from Pixabay.

These are the types of photo you can recreate all too easily at the Opera Garnier. Wherever you turn it is impressive and excessive.

First things first, let鈥檚 go through the practicalities!

Booking and Getting There

Here is the official site of the Op茅ra National de 麻豆APP:

It鈥檚 a beautiful functional website with high quality photography, which provides all the information and inspiration that you鈥檒l need for a visit to the Opera.

(Worth mentioning that in the first part of this post I鈥檒l be focusing on the Op茅ra Garnier. The website displays the programme for Garnier as well as Bastille 鈥� the younger, modern opera house just 9 stops down the m茅tro line 8.)

Finding Opera Garnier isn鈥檛 hard, and you鈥檒l certainly know when you鈥檝e arrived, as it sports one of the most impressive building facades in 麻豆APP 鈥� a city not lacking outstanding architecture.

Palais Garnier, photo credit WikiCommons.

The eponymous neighbourhood surrounding 麻豆APP鈥� oldest opera house is quite simply named Opera.

This is a chic area in the heart of town. It鈥檚 in the 9^th arrondissement, but close to crossroads with the 2^nd, 8^th and 1^st.

During the working week this area is bustling with several large companies based up and down the Avenue de l鈥橭p茅ra and the whole area from Richelieu Drouot, down to Rue Sainte Anne with its Japanese and Korean eateries, is rammed with lunch spots.

Behind the Opera Garnier there are some of the most famous department stores in 麻豆APP, such as the Galeries Lafayette and Printemps.

The opera couldn鈥檛 be easier to find. Exit m茅tro Op茅ra by Sortie 1 鈥� Place de l鈥橭p茅ra and you鈥檒l alight on a small round-about ilot directly in front of the Opera.

Op茅ra metro station, photo credit WikiCommons.

The RER metro line A will also bring you in directly to the station Auber, located just behind the Opera.

The address is preprogrammed in apps such as Uber. Any Taxi in town will know how to safely get you to 鈥楶lace de l鈥橭p茅ra鈥�, or the ticket office on rue Scribe.

The buses, which serve 麻豆APP so well, might be a little complicated to get into on a short trip, but line 52 takes you directly to Op茅ra.

If you鈥檙e armed with comfortable shoes and a good sense of direction, you鈥檒l have plenty more options from Gare Saint Lazare. Here you can choose from the lines 22, 26, 27, 28, 29 and 42.

Tickets

Photo credit, Kilyan Sockalingum from Unsplash.

It鈥檚 a good idea to get these in advance. A key reason, aside from comfortable organization and not being disappointed, is price.

There is a huge range of pricing options on offer and if you book early (often as the season is announced h茅las), you could luck out with the perfect balance between a good seat that isn鈥檛 too hard on your wallet.

If you are willing to take the risk and have a little time to kill in the morning of the day you鈥檙e hoping to go to the Opera, I would strongly encourage you to queue up at 11:30.

The Opera offers 鈥渓ast minute places鈥� in Category 6 (clue : not the best seats in the house ), for just 10鈧� if they have leftover places.

Photo credit, Vlah Dumitru from Unsplash.

This could be a great option to see something like Mozart鈥檚 Magic Flute, or Verdi鈥檚 La Traviata.

Reminder, you鈥檒l need to be at the Opera鈥檚 Ticket office ( Rue Scribe / Rue Auber) at 11:30 on the day of the performance, armed with your patience.

Since you鈥檒l be, hopefully, making such a great saving, I can recommend spending your extra euros on breakfast at Caf茅 de la Paix:

It鈥檚 always a good idea to queue up with a full belly, going from some luxurious surroundings to the next.

Reserving Online

With a classic online reservation on the Opera鈥檚 official site, you can get a ticket sent straight to your inbox to print out at your convenience.

With the Opera鈥檚 App available for iPhone and Android, you鈥檒l get personalized offers, ease of navigation and your tickets conveniently saved in one place!

A Secret Tip Off!

Photo credit, Sergiu Nista from Unsplash.

Tickets for sold out operas can sometimes be found if you google : 鈥榣a Bourse de l鈥橭p茅ra鈥�.

This part of the Opera鈥檚 website allows individuals to exchange tickets that they shan鈥檛 be able to use. These places must be repurchased for the price originally paid.

Do check if you鈥檙e buying an online ticket or a 鈥榖illet cartonn茅鈥�, that鈥檚 a traditional stiff cardboard printout. Often with these you arrange a time and place to meet the seller and pick them up in person.

In my experience these ticket exchanges have always been good ones; classical music fans tending to be punctual and polite.

Ticket in hand, let鈥檚 plan your night at the Op茅ra

The vast majority of evening performances start at either 7:30 or 7pm, apart from matinees.

If you鈥檙e off to see an opera of three hours plus length, you鈥檒l definitely want to manage your mealtimes accordingly.

The big question is: D卯ner avant ou apr猫s ?

This really depends on your preferences, as well as what time you ate lunch no doubt. Eating to be at your lodge at 7:20 sharp does push your evening meal early. Beware the possibility of closed kitchens if you roll out of the opera at 11:40 hungry.

A smart solution would be to eat out as close to the opera as possible. Due to the nature of the neighbourhood, I would recommend reserving, especially for Thursday, Friday or Saturday.

If you feel like treating yourselves without venturing too far, you could always eat at Coco, the newly named and renovated 鈥樷�檙estaurant de l鈥橭p茅ra鈥�.

Coco restaurant, photo credit coco-paris.com

The d茅cor, Gatsby-esque evokes the roaring twenties and is the brainchild of designer, Corinne Sachot. The generous greenery was added by Thierry Boutemy, carefully curating the vegetation amongst the Opera鈥檚 historic stones.

Julien Chicoisne, who was formally at Frechon, well-versed in serving 麻豆APPian socialites, creates innovative and exquisite dishes including:

Fried duck foie gras, with prawn consomm茅, Sea bass, cockles asparagus and seaweed infused butter or Sea bream and prawn tempura with tartar sauce.

Here鈥檚 the link to make your reservation:

Coco is open from 8:30am-2am for sustenance between arias!

History

Sketch of les Huguenots at Op茅ra Garnier in 1896. Credit, WikiCommons.

A night at the opera would not be complete without delving deep into the history of this heritage gem.

If this interests you, learn more of this by choosing a tour of the Opera house before your show.

If you鈥檇 rather have literature to dip into back home you can purchase the Opera鈥檚 official guidebook. It is available in the beautiful boutique to the right of the main entrance.

The Opera Garnier was built between 1825-1898 for Napol茅on III. Finally inaugurated in January 1975, it bears the name of its architect, Charles Garnier.

This young architect was actually selected following a competition where several architects, many a good deal more experienced than him, put forward their ideas.

Architectural drawing of the Op茅ra Garnier. Credit, WikiCommons.

This was during the period that 麻豆APP was being given a makeover by Haussmann: But the construction of 麻豆APP鈥� oldest Opera house was not without its challenges.

Interruption came in the guise of the 1870 war. Construction started up again following the far at l鈥橭p茅ra le Peltier in 1873.

However, once the official opening celebrated by president Mac Mahon in the third republic, the Opera was called 鈥極p茅ra de 麻豆APP鈥� until 1989 when the Opera Bastille opened its doors.

Today both operas are both under the same banner: Op茅ra national de 麻豆APP. This serves as their shop front for commercial and artistic purposes, it is also a public institution, its mission to showcase operas and ballet performances of the highest quality.

Its ornate and eclectic style is typical of the second half of the 19^th century.

Photo credit, WikiCommons.

The Opera Garnier has been classed a historic monument since 1923, it can seat 1,900. The Opera has been under the artistic direction of St茅phane Lissner since 2014.

Alternative Opera

If classical music and dance isn鈥檛 your thing, there are a few other ways you can enjoy this stunning building.

The Tours

Tours take place daily at Garnier, unless mentioned otherwise.

First entry at 10am and until 4:30pm, with the exception of matinee performance days 鈥� the opera preferring to keep concert goers and touring groups apart.

Full price admission is just 11鈧� for an unaccompanied tour.

True to their reputation, encouraging culture for young people, under 25 year olds pay just 7鈧� to visit.

Photo credit, Pixabay.

There is a generous reduction and family rate for groups of four, from the same family.

Their, very good, audio guides are translated into numerous European languages and also Chinese, Japanese and Russian.

Acquire these on iPod for 5鈧� or a VIP iPad (only available in French and English) for 12鈧� for two.

What I love about the Opera鈥檚 tours is that while you鈥檙e free to roam where you please, if you head to the lodges after doing the rounds of gold gilt rooms, you may catch rehearsals underway.

Photo credit, Mustang Joe from Pixabay.

The feeling is of peeking behind the scenes at a real working Opera. The opera understands the mystery of its workings makes up a great part of its charms and there are many, well presented videos and clips of previous performances to enjoy as you go.

Clubbing at Garnier

On Saturday 8^th June 2019 a wing of glorious Garnier will be overrun by Villette Sonique club, with DJ sets from Objekt and Apollo Noir. Ross from friends will also randomly be in residence..

The idea probably won鈥檛 receive a unanimously positive response from all Op茅ra Garnier鈥檚 regulars. Still, it鈥檚 a testament to the go-getting attitude of Horde 麻豆APP in collaboration with La Boumette 鈥� the pop up club.

Photo credit, Pixabay.

These two teams are coming together to create an unforgettable event in the east wing of the Opera, measuring 600 metres squared and outside on its terrace, which adds another 400.

Escape Games

Last summer saw the venue of Escape Games at the Opera, inviting visitors inside Gaston Leroux’s novel – to follow in the footsteps of the Phantom of the Opera.

The scenario is compelling: on the eve of the premiere of Mozart’s Magic Flute the directos starts to panic when strange occurrences interrupt his final rehearsal – disappearing costumes, whispers in the corridors.

Photo credit, Matteo Kutufa from Unsplash.

As an escape game participant it’s your job to solve the curse of the phantom of the opera, helped by clues and the actors who improvise and play along creating a totally immersive experience.

听The Opera’s younger sister – Bastille

Bastille is the young modern Opera House in 麻豆APP.

Opera Bastille. Photo credit, David Mark from Pixabay.

Looks-wise there鈥檚 a startling difference. The Opera Bastille was inaugurated in 1989, after its construction through the mid 80鈥檚.

This huge Grand Oeuvre was accomplished under President Fran莽ois Mitterand鈥檚 project of 鈥楪reat Renovation鈥� (Grands Travaux).

With its cutting edge modern facilities, it soon became the main headquarters of the 麻豆APP National Opera.

Most large scale operas are shown at Bastille, which offers seemingly endless possibilities in terms of scenery innovation. A mix of ballets and certain choice operas are programmed at Garnier.

Opera Bastille was designed by Uruguayan architect Carlos Ott.

It鈥檚 historic location rivals its predecessor at Place de la Bastille in the 11^th arrondissement.

Place de la Bastille. Photo Credit, WikiCommons.

2,723 people in total can be seated in the principal theatre, concert hall and studio theatre, (often used for recitals).

Fair to say, a night out a the Op茅ra Bastille is a different experience from a night out at Garnier, especially so for those for whom French 19^th century architecture is exotic.

It really depends what you鈥檙e after. The acoustics at Bastille are phenomenal, the seats very comfortable, the champagne and snacks bar easy to access and get served at.

The decision will probably be made for you when you look at the programme and what鈥檚 on where.

A final 鈥楽ell鈥� for Bastille is that purse-friendly standing tickets are available for 5鈧�!

Enjoy your night out in 麻豆APP at the Opera.