We were in a very special place that Monday evening, the hôtel Collot where Nicolas and Alexis Kugel sell the most beautiful furniture, objects and paintings of Paris. To please their friends and to help the Orchestre Idomeneo conducted by Debora Waldman, they decided to organise an intimate evening of baroque music with two stars, soprano Magali Léger and mezzo … Read More
Two new French actors enchant our evenings
A film and a play have revealed two newcomers on the French scene, Galatea Bellugi in “l’Apparition”, a film by Xavier Giannoli and Rod Paradot who plays an unhappy teenager with Yvan Attal in “Le Fils”, the new play by Florian Zeller. Both are fabulous actors with original looks, a genuine naiveté and singular beauty.
Tokyo-Paris a long lasting love and a year of celebrations!
When Richard Flahaut introduced pianist Gen Tomuro in the salons of France Amérique, he talked about the great understanding of music that the Japanese and the French share. And this young man who studied with Philippe Entremont and is finishing a masters in London, is proof of it. His program of Granados, Schumann, Poulenc and Stravinsky was absolutely delightful and his … Read More
Comte Ory sings at Opéra Comique and in Versailles
With this new production of “Comte Ory” by Gioachino Rossini, Théâtre National de l’Opéra comique proves that, after one year post-renovations, it has found its marks with its director Olivier Mantei. The work directed by a team from Comédie Française, Denis Podalydès, Eric Ruf and the magical Christian Lacroix for costumes, has been sold out for months. It will have … Read More
“Singing in the rain” on stage at Grand Palais
Two things led me to go and see Théâtre du Châtelet’s production of “Singing in the rain” even though it is sold out until January 11. Robert Carsen, the genius director who has never disappointed me, and the fact that it takes place at the Grand Palais, under its huge glass roof, an unbeatable decor. It was great fun!
Maria by Callas, a film true to her genius
Maria Callas has remained in our minds as the greatest « diva » of the second half of the 20 th century and her destiny is as tragic as the parts she loved to sing, Medea, Norma, Traviata. On December 13th, a documentary of her life, directed by Tom Volf, « Maria by Callas » will be aired in movie … Read More
Opera at the V & A, a powerful political tool
The Victoria and Albert Museum in London is accustomed to surprising us with very imaginative exhibitions and I was very excited by my visit of « Opera, Passion and Power » conceived with the Royal Opera house. This new show is visited with head phones and could seem very didactic if it was not so cleverly designed.
Grétry’s, “Zémire et Azor” at Salle Cortot
There is a definite charm to Salle Cortot, a little concert hall designed by Auguste Perret in 1928, which belongs to Ecole Normale de Musique de Paris, a private music school which trains 700 International musicians every year. At the gala for their benefactors, I had the chance to listen to a rarely performed opera by André Grétry, based on … Read More