Many people believe the ballet and opera actually began in Paris. If you enjoy ballet and opera than a visit to Paris without attending the opera or ballet is regrettable.



Ballet is a formalized form of dance with its origins in the Italian Renaissance court of the 15th century. One can consider that the real beginning of the Paris Opera Ballet occured in 1661. Ballet developed further in the French court from the time of Louis XIV in the 17th century hence the term ballet which is from the French vocabulary.

Ballet de La Opera National de Paris is rated one of the best dance companies in the world; it outdoes itself in both the classics and avant-garde, staged in the same aspect of Opera.

It is universally agreed that the ballet in Paris is truly one of a kind. The performers are recognized worldwide.

The Opera is a spectacular theatrical concert featuring singers who spend several hours practicing and performing. Many in the audience leave in awe wondering how these opera singers can sing the way that they do. Their costumes and the way they perform almost take you into another place or time.

In 1989, the Bicentennial of the French Revolution was marked by the inauguration of the Opera Bastille, a 2700-seat auditorium acoustics and stage vision of its are unrivaled so to get a seat you need to reserve months in advance.

The productions are both popular and critically acclaimed. The site's multi-functional performance space also hosts various concert and dance programs. Place de la Bastille, 75012 Paris. The metro is Bastille.

The sumptuous and prestigious Paris Opera building, designed by Charles Garnier in 1861 and completed in 1875, is one of the largest theatre venues in the world The Opera Garnier stage is 118,404 square feet, accomodate 450 players.The tale for the classic horror movie, The Phantom of the Opera, was in the Opera Garnier.

For an entry fee, you can stroll around the interior at your leisure (except occasionally during rehearsals). Since the opening of the Opera Bastille, the Opera Garnier has devoted its repertoire exclusively to ballet.

Though its productions are internationally renowned for their quality, they tend to remain on the traditional side of contemporary dance. The Ballet de L'Opera de Paris and the Opera National de Paris schedule some performances here and some at the Opera de la Bastille.

In both venues, reduced ticket prices may be available at the box office 15 minutes before performance time for students and people under 25 or over 65. Place de l'Opera, 75009 Paris. The metro is Opera and Auber.

Theatre Musical de Paris (Theatre du Chatelet) lies between the Pont au Change (which crosses to the Ile de la Cite and the boulevard de Sebastapol. These theatres were built by Davioud in 1862, and each now leads a separate and even rival existence.

The Chatelet concentrates mainly on opera and classical music, with occasional ballet, and usually has a rich program of international performers. (It recently acquired an annex in Les Halles, the Auditorium, where more unusual or obscure music is performed.)

The other theatre, previously named the Sarah Bernhardt and now known as the Theatre de la Ville, offers top names in contemporary dance, innovative French theatre, and evening concerts of jazz or world music.

Before the Bastille Opera opened, and with the Garnier's transition to an all-dance programme, the TMP was the only Parisian venue offering a complete programme of high-quality opera. Despite the arrival of such a massive rival, the TMP has continued its ambitious schedule of progressive, well-made productions. Address: 1, place du Chatelet, 75001 Paris; phone: 01-40-28-28-98; fax: 01-42-36-89-75; The metro is Chatelet.

Some countries offer scholarships to Paris for those they feel are good enough in the art of ballet or opera, With every talented ballet student or opera singer that comes out of Paris, more of the world has the opportunity to enjoy a piece of Paris.

So, after seeing the sites during the day, and you like the ballet or the opera they usually perform at night and this would be a great thing to do to end a great day.