Opera thrives in Paris in the modern building known as the Opéra Bastille, as well as in the more beloved Opéra Garnier (or Palais Garnier). If you enjoy opera, Paris is an excellent place to enjoy it during the season (September through May).

We saw an interesting production at the Opéra Bastille of Le roi Arthus, by Ernest Chausson, a work that is not frequently performed. Done in modern dress, it was an ambitious and enjoyable performance.

Colorful costumes and set for Le roi Arthus at the Opéra Bastille.

It was also wonderful to be inside the Opéra Bastille, a somewhat controversial building that dominates the Place de la Bastille. Opened in 1989, it was built on the site of the former Bastille Train station. Fittingly, the opening was on July 13, 1989, 200 years after the storming of the Bastille. (Note that this construction also led to the creation of the nearby Promenade Plantée (now called the Coulée Verte René Dumont), a lovely elevated park built on the former rail line.)

Paris being Paris, it's shouldn't surprise come as a surprise that there are additional spectacular places to enjoy opera in this city of the arts.

We saw a fine Rigoletto in the open air of the Jardin du Luxembourg, with the Palais du Luxembourg as the backdrop. Other grand Parisian edifices are used as settings as well.

Palais du Luxembourg as the backdrop for Rigoletto,
on a lovely June evening.

The major venue for light opera and operetta— enjoyable whether you know French or not—is the Opéra Comique, 5 Rue Favart (Métro: Richelieu-Druout).

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