The Opera house is an old lady who is doing very well. Against wind and tide, he is always there. In spite of the revolutions, political and aesthetic, the rooms were burned and artists whistled, broncas, and the dictates, the phrygian caps and the «yellow vests», it has never ceased to climb the steps of its theaters, the beating heart. That even three centuries and a half that it lasts. In 2019, the Opera house blast, in fact, its 350 candles!

If you had told the founders of the royal Academy of music she would enter fully into the Twenty-first century, they would have just believed? On 28 June 1669, on the initiative of Jean-Baptiste Colbert, our dear Louis XIV, «by the grace of God, king of France & Navarre», somehow allows the poet Pierre Perrin to lead the new Academy. The man has then a mission to bring the good word of opera – genre, even recent, mainly the French opera – in Paris and in the provinces of the country. Three years later, under some shenanigans, Perrin is replaced by Lully and the history of this institution can really get started… It seemed necessary, therefore, to Stéphane Lissner to celebrate the beautiful anniversary of this house that he has directed for five years.

A unique evening

This celebration will be the occasion of numerous concerts and events, beginning with a new year’s eve in great luxury, in the soft cocoon of the Palais Garnier. Dance, music and great arias will be waiting for you, in a scenography signed by the talented Vincent Huguet. The evening is a surprise, we will know little more than that, but we can be trusted to a plateau voice as enticing as a new year’s party fly high.

Before being Tosca in June, one will find under the ceiling of Chagall’s magnificent soprano Sonia Yoncheva. At his side, the tenor Bryan Hymel will be here a few in-class essay at the dawn of interpret Aeneas, in the formidable Trojan horses Berlioz in February. Finally, just fell to its magnificent role in Simon Boccanegra of Verdi, the baritone Ludovic Tézier, found the parisian public, who loves her so much.

These evenings are, we are in doubt, as rare as the remaining places. But the spectators do not feel frustrated, because the tv channel Arte will broadcast (very light) postponed the show on 31 December at 22: 15. History to be at the Opera home, in his living room, away from the hustle and bustle and party favors, with champagne and foie gras, head-to-head with the music. Who says better?

And then the dates are taken for the next season, as another gala, held at the Palais Garnier on 8 may, bringing together the tenor Yusif Eyvazov and the soprano star Anna Netrebko.

The year 2019 will be lyrical or may not be!

the Gala of 350 years of Opera, Opera Garnier, Place de l’opera (Ninth). Tel.: 08 92 89 90 90. Dates: 30 and 31 dec.at 19: 30. Seats: from 40 to 280 €.