Le Ballet

Le ballet de l'Opera national de Paris is held at the Palais Garnier, an absolutely gorgeous theater that underwent a huge restoration project of many years; a few years ago it was reopened and now concerts, operas and ballets are seen and heard there again.  Our Christmas gift this year from Matt and Jeanne was a night at the ballet, "La Source".  But for any night at the Palais Garnier, the main event is the theater itself; the opera, the ballet, the concert:  those are just the icing on the cake.

Our evening started before our arrival at the Palais Garnier.  Since Jeanne's parents were going too, we met them for hors d'oeuvres and drinks, then drove to the Palais.  Our seats were in the very first row of the mezzanine, directly in the center!  A terrific view of the stage.

I spent the few minutes before the beginning of the ballet staring like a little kid (eyes wide open, mouth wide open) at the domed ceiling painted by Chagall, at the red velvet chairs and the gorgeous gold carvings around the stage and the boxes on the sides of the theater.  It was surreal to be there.  The ballet was wonderful, the dancers leapt and twirled and the costumes were magnificent, but the theater itself was the star.

At the intermission we were able to see the lobby with its beautiful tall Christmas trees, and the grand staircase, which defies description.  Just imagine the grandest staircase you've ever seen, and you'll have it.

When we left the Palais that night, my head was filled with ballerinas, tutus, red velvet and chandeliers.  We didn't want to go back to the apartment right away so wandered the streets for awhile, but finally got onto the Metro like the ordinary folks we are, and headed for "home".  An amazing, amazing night.  We felt like royalty and I, at least, walked on air from the Metro to the apartment.  Thanks, Matt and Jeanne!