The town of Luxembourg houses 130 000 inhabitants and is mostly famous for its financial institutions (150 banks) and the seat of many European institutions located in the Kirchberg area. It is the capital a landlocked country, the Duchy of Luxembourg, close to the French town of Metz, and of Sarrebruck and Trier in Germany. On my recent trip there, … Read More
Another fabulous week in Paris!
Théâtre des Champs Elysées is the most cherished place by Parisians for concerts and operas at the moment. It is easily accessible, the theatre is a beauty opened in 1913, and the productions of extreme quality. This is where we can see Offenbach’s la Périchole at the moment and until November 28, in a production by Laurent Pelly with Marc Minkowski … Read More
Vincent Darré creates a stir with le Mobilier National at Les Gobelins
The only mistake with the new show at Mobilier National called “Le Chic, Decorative arts from 1930 to 1960” is its title which could deter anybody to go and visit. But so many friends told me it was a great exhibition that I went, after seeing the Art Deco show at Chaillot. And it was, in a way, a welcome … Read More
French American friendship is celebrated at Cité de l’Architecture
At Palais de Chaillot’s Cité de l’Architecture, a very specialized exhibition “Art Déco, France and Northern America” studies the architectural and artistic relationships between the 1890’s and 1930’s. It starts with Pierre Charles L’Enfant‘s plan for Washington D.C. commissioned by George Washington in 1891, and the tribute paid to “The adopted French architect” by an elegant table on baluster legs created … Read More
The Salon du Patrimoine Culturel is more ebullient than ever.
I am always full of expectations when I go to Carrousel du Louvre for the annual meeting of Salon du Patrimoine culturel, a fair devoted to the artisans who cater to castle owners and public monuments and mostly a mine of good addresses. And there are quite a few booths with pictures of Notre Dame, the Grand Palais and Versailles to … Read More
Théo Mercier’s dream sand sculptures at La Conciergerie
I had missed the opening of the exhibition and when I went to the Conciergerie on a Monday morning to visit “Outremonde, The Sleeping chapter“, I noticed two people who were obviously not tourists and stood still in a corner observing. So I went straight to them and started asking questions… The man answered very obligingly. “Yes the artist uses … Read More
At MAD, the 1980’s reign
Former minister of culture Jack Lang was visiting the exhibition with a following of admirers and I am glad I started the visit in reverse, escaping all the politics of the Mitterrand years which are the prologue to the show. Instead, I immediately ran into the heart of the subject, the craziness in design, fashion and advertising of the 1980’s … Read More
Bibliothèque Richelieu reopens with Palm trees
The main entrance of the Bibliothèque Nationale Richelieu (French public library) is now on rue Vivienne, facing Le Grand Colbert restaurant. And a large garden “Hortus Papyrifera” with palm trees and many “paper trees”, created by Gilles Clément, welcomes you instead of the more austere courtyard of rue de Richelieu. Once you walk inside, a modern staircase in aluminum and … Read More