Paris Opera House is one of the most celebrated performance centers in the world and hosts incredible performances including ballets, plays, and of course, operas. Over its centuries long existence, the Paris Opera House, in all its venues, has played host to some of the most talented performers and creative visionaries. The performances hosted at the Paris Opera House cover a variety of genres including, but not limited to, drama, comedy, tragedy, classic adaptations and many others.
The first opera to have been performed at the Paris Opera was La muette de Portici which premiered in 1828 and lasted till 1882 for a whopping 489 performances. Other highlights of the Paris Opera include Guillaume Tell which ran for 911 performances, Les Huguenots for 1120 performances, Le prophete, Robert le diable and countless others. Presently, performances at the Paris Opera are organized primary across two base opera houses, the Palais Garnier and Opera Bastille. Here's a handy list of opera performances running currently.
Paris Opera Shows: Currently Playing
Lear
About the Show
Lear follows the story of the old and almost senile King Lear who bequeaths his kingdom to two of his three daughters. Later, Lear realises that the two daughters who hold his power don't actually respect him and is driven insane by the thought. The third daughter who was left out of his will reconnects with Lear before tragedy befalls the duo. This opera adaptation of one of Shakespeare's greatest tragedies is directed by Calixto Bieto with music by Aribert Reimann. Lear will be performed at the Palais Garnier from 7th December 2019 and has a duration of two hours and fifty minutes including one interval.
Why It's Worth a Watch
The opera tackles the challenging task of adapting the complex tale of King Lear for opera and comes out with flying colors. Get ready for an emotional experience at the opera as human emotions are laid bare in all their glory. The composition of Shakespeare's King Lear for an opera was undertaken by the baritone Dietrich Ficher-Dieskau and features highly nuanced vocals and sombre orchestral timbers. The opera features a stunning cast including, Bo Skovhus as König Lear, Gidon Saks as König von Frankreich, Andreas Scheibner as Herzog von Albay and Michael Colvin as Herzog von Cornwell.
Don Giovanni
About the Show
Don Giovanni, created by the legendary Mozart, is a dark tale of a sinful and vile lecher nobleman. Don Giovanni travels across Europe, chasing after women and abusing and killing anyone who falls in his way. The story takes a dramatic turn when Giovanni comes across the statue of an old commander who he had killed. The statue comes to life and what follows forms the rest of the story.This gripping and dark tale of human psychosis is set to premiere at the Palais Garnier on the 16th of April 2020. The show is three hours and forty minutes long and includes an interval.
Why It's Worth a Watch
Prepare yourself for an opera experience unlike any other as one of the greatest minds working in Opera today, Ivo van Hove, puts together the classic tale of the seducer and adds a Shakespearean twist to the proceedings. Watch in delight as the myth of the womanizer is shredded to pieces, reworking your notions of what you have come to take for granted. Considered Mozart's greatest opera by modern critics, Don Giovanni will challenge your perception of the masterpiece with a spirited new production from Ivo van Hove. Don Giovanni is directed by the genius Ivo van Hove with music by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. The show features a stellar ensemble including Luca Pisaroni as Don Giovanni, Alexander Tsymbalyuk as Il Commendatore, Jacquelyn Wagner as Donna Anna and Stanislas de Barbeyrac as Don Ottavio.
La Boheme
About the Show
Puccini's La Boheme is one of the most celebrated operas in the world and also the most frequented for a variety of reasons. This inventive production of the classic opera is set in space and will transport you to a universe light years away.Set in a place which is devoid of love and hope, director Claus Guth's reimagining is special for it's not easy to adapt Puccini's original tale since there isn't much scope for abstraction. La Boheme is being produced at Opera Bastille and tickets are available from the 11th of July 2020. The opera is two hours and thirty minutes long and features one interval.
Why It's Worth a Watch
Apart from Claus Guth's innovative staging, this production of La Boheme benefits from choreography by Teresa Rotemberg and set design by Etienne Plus.Elevating the material to greater heights is the talented cast on stage, including Marina Costa-Jackson as Mimi, Elena Tsallagova as Musetta, Benjamin Bernheim às Rodolfo, and Gabriel Viviani as Marcello.
Il Barbiere Di Siviglia
About the Show
Il Barbiere Di Siviglia or The Barber of Seville is best described as a comic opera which transcends the spirit of Beaumarchais's comedy with a hint of satirical realism.The Barber of Seville is set in the 18th century and recounts the tale of Count Almaviva who has fallen deeply in love with the beautiful Rosina. That it will take him a whole lot of planning and plotting to finally win her over is the thorn on his side. The Count enlists the help of the street smart barber, Figaro to sweep Rosina off her feet.
Why It's Worth a Watch
Fans of Gioacchino Rossini will enjoy this opera directed by Damiano Michieletto with beautiful set design by Paolo Fantin.This extremely eccentric comedy also has a ring of truth and the comedy is rhythmic, matching the beats of the dramatic narration. Damiano Michieletto's gleeful production brings the spirited tale of a determined lover and his loyal companion, the barber, to stage in Paris.The Barber of Seville will play at Opera Bastille starting from the 7th of February 2020. The show has a duration of three hours and fifteen minutes with one interval.The show features a spectacular ensemble including Xabier Anduaga as Il Conte d'Almavia, Carlo Lepore as Bartolo, Lisettle Oropesa as Rosina, and Ilya Kutyukhin as Figaro.
All Shows at Paris Opera:
