Best Things to Do:
Opéra Bastille in Paris
Paris has two opera houses: the Opéra Garnier and the Opéra Bastille. The latter is not loved by Parisians despite its excellent acoustic quality.
The Opéra Bastille, located at Place de la Bastille in Paris, was inaugurated in 1989. Until then, Paris had only one opera house - the Opéra Garnier - which was insufficient to meet the cultural demand of the French capital. It was President Mitterrand who decided to construct a second opera house.
The winning design was by architect Carlos Ott. The Opéra Bastille has excellent acoustics and features a simultaneous translation device projected onto a screen next to the stage. This device is essential for understanding the performances.
Just like the Opéra Garnier, you can also visit the Opéra Bastille (click here for more information).
Parisians appreciate the acoustic quality but do not like the design or the interior decoration of the Opéra Bastille. They consider it cold, with an unpleasant asymmetry in the façade. Over the years of interacting with the French, I have often heard the following comment: in this hall, I feel like I'm listening to music in my bathroom.
The opera was built on the site of an old train station, and the viaduct that led the trains to the former station still exists. It has been restored, and today the ground-level shops feature all the great names of French craftsmanship. The upper part, where the tracks once were, has been transformed into a suspended garden, the famous Promenade Plantée of Paris.
The historic Place de la Bastille was the stage for important moments in French history. However, it is very unattractive, and the construction of the new opera has not improved the situation at all. According to a very critical friend, this square deserves a Baron Haussmann. The latter, in the second half of the 19th century, destroyed a part of medieval Paris to construct the city we know today.
Now, in 2019, the Place de la Bastille is undergoing a major renovation that promises to make it more beautiful and pedestrian-friendly. We are eagerly awaiting this.
Opéra Bastille: Place de la Bastille, 75012. Metro Bastille, lines 1, 5, and 8.