l'Opera!

So yesterday I went to see Giselle, the ballet, with everyone from Boston College. It was so incredible! I had been to the Opera Garnier once before on my last visit and fell in love with it. It really is the most beautiful building in all of Paris! It was built in 1875 and still shows ballets and operas today! We found out that on the last day of each season before they begin showing a new ballet, they have a grand rehearsal which is free for everyone who works at the show. The thing is that most people who work there have already seen these ballets and so if you show up and have a sign that says you are looking for tickets they will give them to you for free! I am definitely doing that since there are a bunch that I want to see.


The ballet was absolutely beautiful! It was written in 1841 and was performed in the same opera house 200 years ago! The story is about this peasant girl, Giselle, who lives in the Rhineland between France and Germany. She falls in love with this prince who is pretending to be a commoner because he is unhappily engaged to another princess. Another peasant boy is also in love with Giselle. When he finds out that the prince is lying to Giselle, he reveals the prince's true identity. Giselle dies from the shock ( or commits suicide depending on the version).

When she dies she joins these female ghosts who died the day before their wedding day and spend their time haunting cemetaries and killing men who disturb them by dancing them to death.

The prince walks into the forest, still mourning Giselle's death, the ghosts are ordered to kill him and attempt to dance him to death but Giselle steps in and saves his life.


Here is an excerpt from the ballet if you all are interested. I think you actually have to press play for it to work, it doesn't start on its own.

http://www.operadeparis.fr/cns11/live/onp/Saison_2009_2010/decouvrir/index.php?lang=en&CNSACTION=SELECT_CONTENT&content_id=giselle&content_type=video&event_id=424&selected_season=354663924

Anyway the whole thing was absolutely incredible. I felt like I was in a fairy tale! We had the best seats and it was so much fun! I can't wait to go again.
Click on the photos to make them bigger :)

The front of the Opera




The staircase! My favorite Part!



Inside the Theatre!




The Ceiling of the Opera