Walking through the marble entrance of the Palais Garnier, the first sense that struck, for those fortunate to be somewhat accustomed to the grandeur of such a place, was the perfume. Not artificial perfume, however. Here, through the vast palace, wafted the scent of a delicious mélange of mimosa, tulips, and other various spring flowers enveloping guests in a larger-than-life bouquet as they walked up the staircase to their seats. Once inside, under the grand chandelier, and the whimsical ceiling fresco of Marc Chagall, the orchestra led by James Conlon (presently director of the Los Angeles opera house) played the first strains of Le Temple de la Gloire (Rameau), and the curtain rose. There, amidst a pointed scenography by Robert Carsen, soloist Renée Fleming dressed in a lavender haute couture gown with train signed the maison Chanel, began to sing “Calm though my soul—Convey me to some peaceful shore,” aria from Cleopatra (Haendel); her evening enchantment for the occasion of the annual Paris opera gala took flight.
Soprano Renée Fleming, winner of four Grammy Awards, the United States of America national medal of arts, who has performed for the Nobel Peace Prize, for the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth at Buckingham Palace, and for the commemoration of the 25th year anniversary of the fall of the Berlin wall, has performed with the likes of the late Luciano Pavarotti, Andrea Bocelli, but also Elton John, Paul Simon, Sting, and Josh Groban. Wednesday night, she commanded the Palais Garnier stage on the invitation of Paris Opera director Alexander Neef, for the evening christened Gala Lyrique Renée Fleming. Accompanying her as she performed arias were no less than two Paris Opera Ballet étoile dancers Hugo Marchand and Stéphane Bullion, choreography by Nicolas Paul, British mezzo-soprano Tara Erraught, French violinist Renaud Capuçon who delighted with a performance of Mediation for Thaïs (Massenet), and Polish baritone Andrzej Filończyk. Not forgetting, of course, the Cesar award winning actor Lambert Wilson who narrated the evening with poetic monologues and even performed a duo with the generous opera star.
In an era where the support of high art in the world is more necessary than ever, governments –the French included—continue to make annual budget cuts to art and culture. The international public’s passion for such cultural and intellectual nourishment, as shown through support of such an evening, is vital. As per the Paris Opera style, guests of the soirée were offered an evening noted as a highlight of the world’s cultural calendar. Following the final curtain call, the black-tie affair continued to dinner prepared by the Bristol Hotel chefs in the gilded palace halls. The dream of Paris lives.
Aurélie Dupont and Haider Ackermann. François Goizé & Dominique Maître for AROP
Paloma Picasso. François Goizé & Dominique Maître for AROP
Lambert Wilson and Renaud Capuçon. Photo François Goizé & Dominique Maître for AROP
Alexander Neef & Renée Fleming. Photo François Goizé & Dominique Maître for AROP
Hugo Marchard. Photo François Goizé & Dominique Maître for AROP
Pierre Hardy. Photo François Goizé & Dominique Maître for AROP
Nathalie Franson and Bruno Pavlovsky. Photo François Goizé & Dominique Maître for AROP
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