Opéra Comique, Paris

[trusty elf]

We just finished a production of Henry Purcell's gorgeous "Dido and Aeneas" at the Opéra Comique in Paris. I thought you might enjoy a look at this extravagantly opulent little theater, which dates from the end of the 19th century.

[mth44sc]

1. exactly what I love about the "internets"

I get to go places I would never ever have seen otherwise.

Thank you!

[trusty elf]

8. I'm glad you enjoyed them!

[Mira]

2. As a girl and teenager, having been born in Germany, I got to go to concerts etc.

in places like this.
Now I am living in a small Southern Town in the US, happily, and by choice.

People around me insist, in spite of the obvious contradiction if only they cared to know (health care, public transportation, free college, and glorious places like this) that we live in the most advanced and greatest nation on earth.

Sometimes all I can do is quizzically stare at them.

ANYWAY: these photos take my breath away, and make me a little "home"sick for the first third of my life.

[trusty elf]

9. It is a breathtaking place, isn't it!

Needless to say, in elegant surroundings like that, and with almost unbearably beautiful music to play, it's very inspiring!

I didn't mean to make you feel homesick! :hug:

I wish people weren't compelled to reassure themselves so often and so fervently of their superior status in the world. :eyes: Ironically, this is usually a sign of insecurity!


:hi:

[JeffR]

3. Magnifique!

You did a great job with these. I can only imagine the lighting in some of these grand spaces must have been very tough to shoot with. I love the last one in particular. It really gets my head "into" the building.

[trusty elf]

7. Merci Jeff!

I appreciate that. Given all of the wonderful photographers in this group, and thinking that these pics weren't that special technically, I was reluctant to post them at first.

Everyone here is so supportive, it's great!

[regnaD kciN]

4. FWIW, this is where "Carmen"...

...by now the most famous opera in the world, had its world premiere.

(It was a flop, and composer Bizet died before it was staged in Vienna and became an enormous success. :shrug: )

[trusty elf]

6. That's right, though the theater of Bizet's day burned down

and was completely rebuilt in the late 19th century.

[Callalily]

5. Opulence indeed!

How I'd love to hear an opera, any opera, in that hall!

Great pics! Thanks for sharing.

[trusty elf]

10. Thanks SF!

What isn't conveyed in these photos is that this is really quite a small intimate hall with superb acoustics. (I'm not sure how many people the theater seats, but I would say not more than 500.)
As a result, one can effortlessly hear even pianissimo passages.

Because of the limited seating capacity of the hall and the length of the piece (only just over an hour) we were doing two performances per evening.