.vaille que vaille. : Opéra Garnier

As most of you may already know, I love any excuse to dress up. Tonight I got all dolled up to see a compilation of contemporary ballet by Benjamin Millepied, Nicolas Paul et Wayne McGregor at the Opéra Garnier. I've gazed upon this magnificent building with it's pillars of grandeur and golden angelic statues for far too long without ever stepping foot into the actual theatre. Tonight was the night. I'm about 99% certain that the "Masquerade" number (and maybe others) in Andrew Llyod Weber's Phantom of the Opera was filmed there and maybe even that part in the Titanic when Jack's waiting at the clock for Rose when she dies. . .But I've said too much. The lobby and the theatre struck a chord in my memory, but most of all, I just never wanted to leave. It was so beautiful. Now I know I describe a lot of things as "beautiful," but this really was breathtaking. I needed a ballgown to fit into that decor. As if my surroundings did not make me feel haughty enough, the "spectacle" was stimulating for the mind.

The first performance by Benjamin Millepied consisted of a simplistic palette -- likened to a 3D Mondrian piece perhaps, but colorful nonetheless. The movement was swift and reminded me of "action"/"reaction." Caitlin described it as a "juvenile American Apparel advertisement," but I quite enjoyed it. The music was by Philip Glass, and I love him, so no complaints here.

Following the light hearted first act was a darker, more eclectic work by Nicolas paul involving mute colors and light experimentation. At first I thought the dancing was not as clean as it should be, but he was very creative with the set design, utilizing the entire depth of the stage to create illusions of mirroring and it was above all a narrative piece. The music was haunting and jarring, but it fit the mood of the erratic dancing, in my opinion.

The finale was a masterpiece. 45 minutes in duration, my eyes did not once flutter shut as it is prone to do during classical pieces and flailing bodies. It was a piece that took part in 4 sets: homosexually erotic, interior set, film, and solos. The film was, for me, the highlight -- a melange of old photographs & disturbing images of objects or the decrepit.

I walked away artistically enlightened, we shall say.
Thank you, ISA, for treating me to a fantastic night.
Thank you, Paris, for existing.