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The Opéra de Paris presents an extraordinary range of operas and ballets each season – casting, repertory and musical depth are of the highest international calibre. In the company of Parisian resident and opera expert Patrick Bade, we have selected two dates with typically contrasting programmes, including both the Second Empire extravagance of the Palais Garnier, and the contrasting modern architecture of the Opéra Bastille. Exploring the city on foot and by public transport, Patrick will also introduce some of his favourite Parisian restaurants and we will visit the best art galleries and museums, with one day devoted to the latest exhibition – to be announced in early 2024.
...when you travel with Kirker
Our prices are per person, based on the shared occupancy of a twin/double room. Supplement for single occupancy as shown.
This is the sister property of the Hotel Royal and has a great location – right on the fashionable Rue St. Honoré, one of the city’s most elegant streets and close to the Place Vendome, the Opera and the Louvre.
Patrick Bade taught for the University of Glasgow MA programme at Christie’s Education in London. He had worked at Christie’s since 1981, where he also gave courses on the history of opera.
During his career he has lectured at the Jewish Cultural Centre, the National Gallery, the British Museum, the Victoria and Albert Museum, the Royal Opera House and the University of Barcelona. Patrick has also participated in programmes on BBC Radio 3, Radio 4 and Classic FM. His first book Femme Fatale: Images of Evil and Fascinating Women came out in 1978. Since then he has written monographs and essays on numerous 19th and early 20th century artists and his latest publications include a book on the use of music in World War II, Music Wars, 1937-45 and the essay Neo-Neoclassicism: Classicism between the Wars.
7 February
Adriana Lecouvreur by Cilea, at the Opéra Bastille
Set in Paris, Cilea’s powerful verismo opera needs a very special soprano to take on the title role and here we have the leading Italian singer of the day, Anna Pirozzi fighting over her lover Maurizio, sung by Giorgio Berrugi with the deceitful and shameless Princess de Bouillon sung by French mezzo Clementine Margaine.
8 February
Giulio Cesare by Handel, at the Palais Garnier
Conducted by Harry Bicket, Cuban-American diva Lisette Oropesa sings the role of Cleopatra, Canadian mezzo Emily D’Angelo takes the title role and Iestyn Davies is Tolomeo.
9 February
Beatice di Tenda by Bellini, at the Opéra Bastille
Bellini’s rarely performed and fiendishly demanding opera, first performed at Teatro La Fenice, Venice in 1833. It stars American soprano Tamara Wilson in the title role and her compatriot Quinn Kelsey as Filippo Visconti. Mark Wigglesworth conducts.
7 May
Don Quichotte by Massenet, at the Opéra Bastille
First performed at the Opera de Monte Carlo in 1910, Massenet’s opera makes a rare appearance on the stage of an international opera house. Ildar Abdrazakov sings the title role, Don Quichotte, Marianne Crebassa is La belle Dulcinee and Etienne Dupuis is Sancho Pança.
8 May
Giselle, music by Adam, at the Palais Garnier
Patrice Bart and Eugene Polyakov’s choreography is true to the original by Jean Corelli and Jules Perrot. The ballet was first performed in Paris in June 1841.
9 May
Salome by Richard Strauss, at the Opéra Bastille
Mark Wigglesworth conducts a star-studded cast including Lise Davidsen in the title role, a role she was born to sing, Ekaterina Gubanova as Herodias and Johan Reuter as Johnaan.
Tour Leader
Patrick Bade taught for the University of Glasgow MA programme at Christie’s Education in London. He had worked at Christie’s since 1981, where he also gave courses on the history of opera.
During his career he has lectured at the Jewish Cultural Centre, the National Gallery, the British Museum, the Victoria and Albert Museum, the Royal Opera House and the University of Barcelona. Patrick has also participated in programmes on BBC Radio 3, Radio 4 and Classic FM. His first book Femme Fatale: Images of Evil and Fascinating Women came out in 1978. Since then he has written monographs and essays on numerous 19th and early 20th century artists and his latest publications include a book on the use of music in World War II, Music Wars, 1937-45 and the essay Neo-Neoclassicism: Classicism between the Wars.
Our expert reservations team regularly travel to a wide range of destinations to explore new cities, visit hotels and to research museums, galleries and restaurants so that we can offer the most up-to-date advice and recommendations.
