© Julien Benhamou / Agathe Poupeney / Opéra national de Paris
Experiencing Paris also means treating yourself to an evening at the opera. However, it's not always easy to secure a seat—booking in advance is essential! Among the upcoming must-sees to reserve as soon as possible: a legendary ballet by Rudolf Nureyev, a Mozart opera with a contemporary dance twist, a reimagined classic by Corneille, an adaptation of Bluebeard, and a drama by Giuseppe Verdi.
Upcoming Dates to Remember
- Simon Boccanegra: Giuseppe Verdi didn't just compose La Traviata. Less known, Simon Boccanegra remains one of his favorite operas! Set in 14th-century Genoa, the protagonist is a former corsair elected as doge. Despite being consumed by the loss of his daughter, the humanist aims to restore peace between his Council and the Republic of Venice. A political and intimate drama not to be missed! Simon Boccanegra until April 3 at the Opéra Bastille, Place de la Bastille, Paris 12th. Starting from €117.
- Don Quixote: One of Rudolf Nureyev's most iconic ballets, blending Spanish dance, flamboyant costumes, and sets. Inspired by Cervantes' eponymous book, Don Quixote follows the adventures of a gentleman, the famous Don, an idealist who dreams of being a gallant knight protecting the weak, accompanied by the faithful Sancho Panza. The false knight and his squire help the young Basilio and Kitri to live their love despite her father's resistance. A classic! Don Quixote from March 21 to April 24 at the Opéra Bastille, Place de la Bastille, Paris 12th. Starting from €99.
- Medea: A terrifying character from mythology, Medea is a sorceress betrayed by her husband, Jason, and condemned to exile with her children. Mad with rage, she will seek revenge with unprecedented violence. Three centuries after Marc-Antoine Charpentier's creation of this opera based on Corneille's tragedy, Medea returns for the first time to the stage of the Opéra Garnier. Medea from April 10 to May 11 at the Palais Garnier, Place de l'Opéra, Paris 9th. Starting from €228.
- Così fan tutte: Opera is also a place for comedy! Mozart's Così fan tutte approaches vaudeville by mixing surprising situations and misunderstandings: two officers decide to test their fiancées' fidelity by seducing them under a different identity. And thanks to Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker's staging, contemporary dance and lyrical music go hand in hand. A delight! Così fan tutte from June 10 to July 9 at the Palais Garnier, Place de l'Opéra, Paris 9th. Starting from €206.
- Bluebeard: Charles Perrault's tale is surely the story that traumatized our childhood the most... In 1977, the German choreographer Pina Bausch reinterprets Béla Bartók's opera and the story of this terrifying man with a blue beard who kills all his wives. This results in a breathtaking dance-theater spectacle in which the protagonist is haunted by his victims. Unmissable! Bluebeard from June 22 to July 14 at the Palais Garnier, Place de l'Opéra, Paris 9th. Starting from €143.
Last Minute
Even though we try to plan ahead, tickets for these shows can slip through our fingers. Absolute sadness: the two ballets Giselle and Swan Lake are no longer available for sale. BUT!! Two solutions are available to you. You can simply activate the alert on the booking page for the performance of your choice to be notified by email if a seat becomes available. Another option for the more adventurous: queue up on the same evening of the show at the Palais Garnier or the Opéra Bastille. Thirty minutes before the start of the performance, discounted tickets are sold (between €25 and €40). Note: first come, first served!
And as always...
On January 6, 1993, Rudolf Nureyev took his final bow. To pay tribute to him 30 years after his passing, the exhibition "Rudolf Nureyev at the Opera" is dedicated to him in the library-museum of the Palais Garnier. From his first performance on the Parisian stage in 1961 with the ballet La Bayadère to his appointment as Director of Dance at the Paris Opera in 1982, the exhibition traces the journey of the classical dance icon in the capital's operas. Photographs and videos of rehearsals or ballets, costume sketches, resplendent tutus from Cinderella and Swan Lake, and even a pair of pointe shoes worn by Nureyev himself are revealed to the public. A marvel! Extend this enchanted interlude with a visit to the Palais Garnier, included in the exhibition ticket.
"Rudolf Nureyev at the Opera" until April 5, 2024, at the Library-Museum of the Opéra Palais Garnier, 8 rue Scribe, Paris 9th. Exhibition accessible with the visit to the Garnier Opera House. Starting from €10. If online sales are sold out, tickets are available on-site at the box office. Information and reservations online.
© Yonathan Kellerman / Francette Levieux / Opéra national de Paris
Also discover the ballet Romeo+Juliet shaking up the Théâtre du Châtelet and opera nights in a private mansion.
