Pegasus held by La Renommée de la guerre, a statue by Leopold Steiner inaugurated in 1900 on Pont Alexandre III in Paris
I don’t know what you did on New Year’s day but I watched and listened to the New Year Concert at the Musikverein in Vienna, because waltzes and polkas are the best antidote to nightclub terrorism. Venezuelan Gustavo Dudamel, 35, conductor of the Los Angeles orchestra, is the youngest chef to have ever conducted the famous Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra on New Year and watching the public in evening gowns at 11 am was great fun. The full orchestra in morning coat was so elegant and excellent that it gave us all hope for a better 2017 !
Gustavo Dudamel transferred his joie de vivre to the whole world on New Year’s day
The Wiener Philarmoniker at Musikverein in Vienna on New Year’s Day
But what bluffed me the most was the reply I received from my chic Austrian diplomat friends when I sent them my good wishes, while watching the concert : they said that the rehearsal they had attended the night before in evening gowns was lovely and Dudamel excellent ! How much chicker can you get ?
The new Russian orthodox cathedral, a mysterious new monument near the Eiffel Tower
Well, you can be awarded the Legion of honor on the list of the First of January like the genius historian of Middle Ages, Michel Zink, whom I love dearly for his modesty and sense of humour : he became Commandeur. Anne d’Ornano, former mayor of Deauville and one of the rare society ladies to have been elected as a deputy, is Grand Officier. Philippe Levillain, a historian of the Vatican, is Commandeur. Henri Loyrette, former President of the Louvre is Commandeur, Fabienne Servan Schreiber, the lovely film producer, is Officier.
Barbara Jatta, the new curator of the Vatican museum
The new curator of the Vatican museum is since the January 1st, a beautiful lady, Barbara Jatta, 54.
The French can rejoice over a year to come with the most « pont holidays » as we call them, 7 long week ends to look forward to. Easter, May 1, May 8, Ascension and Pentecost, July 14 and August 15 as reported on the 8 o’clock news.
There have never been so many movie goers (213 million) nor cars bought (2 million) in France as in 2016.
François Boucher, Young lady seated holding a fan, 1737-39 part of the Tessin exhibition at the Louvre
At the Louvre, the exceptional Swedish collection Tessin has brought back to France (until January 16), a number of 18 th century treasures. This lady by Boucher could pass for the ultimate Parisian…
A Christmas rose survived the frost
Paris has been sunny almost all week and the new bulbs of the Russian cathedral have been glittering in front of the Eiffel tower as well as the gilt statues of Pont Alexandre III. I still have not visited this mysterious Orthodox Church which is only open for services. But Jean Michel Wilmotte’s architecture with its pale pink cupolas is definitely a success.
So keep visiting us from all over the world, Paris loves you…
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6 Comments on “Happy New Year to all of you!”
What a gorgeous uplifting post … the Russian Orthodox Cathedral worth a visit for sure … merci laure … je te souhaite une très bonne année! xxG
Merci chère Laure pour tous ces “tuyaux” : je vais changer ma bicyclette et courir à Maison Rouge …
Heureusement on a pas loupé le concert à Vienne
Continue de nous enchanter sur ton blog en 2017 et belle nouvelle année !
Bravo
How I wish I had been present at that glorious New Year Concert in Vienna. Thank you for sharing the experience with all your readers.
Chère Laure,
Merci pour ces précieuses informations de début d’année. Tous mes voeux très chaleureux pour une très Heureuse Année 2017.
A bientôt à M !
Chère Laure,
Je te souhaite une très bonne année! Continue s’il te plaît de nous régaler de tes découvertes culturelles et gastronomiques! Ton petit mail du mardi est des plus précieux. Juste un mot pour te dire que nous serons bientôt voisins, puisque je regagne l’immeuble familial rue d’Anjou! Autre bonne nouvelle, je devrais rejoindre à la fin du mois le golf de Fontainebleau. Ils ont un accord d’échange en semaine avec Morfontaine, ce qui me réjouit d’avance. J’ai hâte de t’inviter avec papa et Daphné dans notre futur home sweet home une fois la rénovation terminée. Je t’embrasse. Alexandre