The Production team for Pique Dame in 1999 at Opera Bastille, Paris, that will say: Regi: Lev Dodin, Decor and costumes David Borovsky, Light Jean Kalman, Choreographie Jouril Vassilkv, and Michael Stronine, dramaturgie, is back, and have maked a fabolous, beautiful, and well functioning, honest Salome at the Opera Bastille with a very good cast.
Headed by Karita Mattila wonderful singing, acting and dancing in the titelrole, Chris Merritt, excellent as Herodes, Anja Silja very good as Herodias, the wonderful baryton Falk Struckmann, that we just heard as an excellent Scarpia two weeks ago, as Jochanaan and a beautiful singing, - and looking William Borden as Narraboth, and many more in the 17 singers big cast. All leaded by the chef of the Orchestra at Opera National de Paris, James Conlon.
Henning Hoholt, hoeholthus@c2i.net
One of the most modern and controversial opera houses in Europe, the "peoples opera" was officially opened on 14th July 1989 to coincide with the bicentennial celebrations of the fall of the Bastille. The architect Carlos Ott's imposing building is a notable break with 19th century opera houses design, epitomized by Garnier's opulent Opera in the heart of the city.
Opera Bastille is a massive curved, glass building. The main auditorium seats an audience of 2700; all wth a good view of the stage, its design is functional and modern with black upholstered seats contrasting with the geryblue graite of the walls and the impressive glass ceiling. With its five moveable stages, this opera house is a masterpiece of technological wizardry.
Productions feature classic and modern operas and ballets, but interpretaions may be avantgarde. One production of Mozarts The Magic Flute, was done in the style of Japanese Noh, with some of the cast delivering their lines while balancing on one leg; Olivier Messian's St.Francis of Assissi had video screens and neon added to bring the story up to date. Tchaikovskijs The Pique Dama, premiered in 1999 was placed at a hospital for mad people, but it is interesting to se that the Richard Straus Salome, reviewed here to day is a rather classical performance, and I see it as not avantgarde in any way.
The house of Opera Bastille includes two smaller spaces, the Auditorium (500 seats) and the Studio (200) seats for smaller-scale events ranging from chamber music and recitals to operas and plays.
Credit: Dorling Kindersley: Travel Guides - Paris.
