Very soon the famous Hermès Kelly bag, named after Grace Kelly, Princess of Monaco, will have competition: a new scarf designed by the Canadian artist Geoff McFetridge on featuring Gene Kelly, to celebrate the 70 th anniversary of “Singing in the rain“. The film was recently rejuvenated by Warner and is screened in all French cinemas this summer. Patricia Kelly, his … Read More
Carolyn Carlson enters the Académie des Beaux Arts and Michel David-Weill leaves us
Like Bianca Li and Thierry Malandain, Carolyn Carlson is one of the choreographers and dancers who were installed at the Académie des Beaux Arts, a new category created besides the traditional movie, printing, architecture, painting, divisions… The Oakland, CA, born and French naturalized (in 2019) Carlson, had Finnish origins. She was extremely entertaining during her acceptance speech and yet not as … Read More
A romantic concert, a book signing and Monet’s Japanese woodblock prints…What a week!
When you receive an invitation to a concert in a “Viennese salon 1820-1830”, you worry that it won’t be genuine. But when I arrived at Mairie du 9e arrondissement and sat facing a beautiful Rosenberger 1820 piano owned by the Roman pianist Luca Montebugnoli, I suddenly realized how romantic and charming the evening would be. What I could not guess beforehand … Read More
The news of Easter week
The first wonderful surprise of the week was to hear Marina Rebeka in Anna Bolena by Donizetti at Théâtre des Champs Elysées. She replaced at the last minute Sonya Yoncheva who was sick and will sing again next month at the Dutch National Opera in Amsterdam. If you are around, make sure to book your ticket. She is just amazing in … Read More
So many things to do in Paris and so little time…
Hofesh Shechter, OBE, the Israeli choreographer whose mother is Ukrainian, had a spectacular première at Opéra Garnier for “Uprising” and “In Your Rooms”, two vibrant ballets created at The Place and Sadler’s Wells in London more than fifteen years ago. They are now both part of the Repertoire of the Paris Opera. Sophie Calle attracted the contemporary art world at … Read More
In London, great excitement makes up for train disruptions
Spending the week end in London was utterly exciting after a three year gap and I was lucky to see both Beatrix Potter‘s show at the V&A and “The Collaboration“, a play featuring Andy Warhol and Jean Michel Basquiat at the Young Vic, the best of English acting! I also loved going to Dulwich to visit my goddaughter’s new house … Read More
Hamlet by Ambroise Thomas, a true discovery!
I usually dislike large videos taking over an opera stage but I have to admit that with “Hamlet” by Ambroise Thomas (1811-1896) at Opéra Comique, Cyril Teste has directed a masterpiece and with Louis Langrée‘s great conducting and Stéphane Degout as Hamlet, Sabine Devieilhe as a sexy Ophelia, the evening was overwhelmingly successful. It feels so good to be at … Read More