Opéra National de Paris, Bastille

Opéra National de Paris, Bastille review

The modern building everyone loves to hate: even the exterior of the house is decaying, with netting protecting passers-by from fascia tiles since one fell in 1990. Restoration work is finally under way, and should take two years. If you want to make the administration squirm, just mention the unfinished salle modulable or the unflattering acoustics of the theatre. Director Gerard Mortier has introduced cutting-edge dramatic values, but disappointed those who enjoy spectacular singing and lavish period costumes. A rarity this season is a new staging of Polish composer Szymanowski's King Roger, produced by his compatriot Krzysztof Warlikowski, in June 2009.