In the course of the 19th century, Shakespeare’s works were a constant source of inspiration for the Romantics. In particular, The Tragic History of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, one of the English playwright’s most famous plays, dominated by the existential questions of the title role – To be or not to be –, the ghost of his murdered father and his doomed love for Ophelia. Alexandre Dumas père was himself fascinated by this drama and in 1847 he produced a highly successful adaptation. It was on the basis of this version that Michel Carré and Jules Barbier gave Ambroise Thomas the libretto for Hamlet, the last opera to be performed in the Salle Le Peletier.Inspired by the musical and dramaturgical forms of French grand opera, the composer imbues the story with an intensity that contributes to the beauty of the score.A milestone of opera for which Krzysztof Warlikowski, ever fathoming the depths of the human psyche, redraws the Shakespearean contours. The Paris Opera Orchestra and Chorus A coproduction ARTE France, Opéra national de Paris and Telmondis, with the support of the Centre National du Cinéma et de l’Image Animée and the Fondation Orange, Sponsor of the Paris Opera's audiovisual broadcasts  © ARTE France – Opéra national de Paris - Telmondis – 2023

Hamlet: Prince of Denmark, son of Gertrude Ophelia: Daughter of Polonius engaged to Hamlet Gertrud: Queen of Denmark and wife of Claudius Claudius: King of Denmark and uncle of Hamlet Laërte: Ophelia’s brother The King’s Spectre: Ghost of Hamlet’s father Horatio and Marcellus: Friends of Hamlet Polonius: Lord Chamberlain

Hamlet 22-23 

Hamlet_trailer

fr / en

Hamlet

Bastille salle

Hamlet from 18 September to 09 October 2026at the Opéra Bastille

22-23

In the course of the 19th century, Shakespeare’s works were a constant source of inspiration for the Romantics. In particular, The Tragic History of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, one of the English playwright’s most famous plays, dominated by the existe

Ambroise Thomas 

Who has never dreamed of eternal youth? In The Makropulos Case, the celebrated singer Emilia Marty is 337 years old yet appears 30 thanks to a life-extending elixir.As the effects of the potion begin to wane, the diva is desperate to obtain the formula that will allow her to retain her dazzling youth.Thus begins a race against time, the fatal outcome of which is death. At the crossroads between science fiction and philosophical debate, Czech composer Leoš Janáček's penultimate opera is an incredibly modern work.Created in 1926, the score is astonishing for its mastery of the sung word, its harsh rhythms and intense expressivity. Conjuring up Hollywood mythology, be it Marilyn Monroe, King Kong or Gloria Swanson, director Krzysztof Warlikowski delivers a profound reflection on time and immortality. With the Paris Opera Orchestra and ChorusUne Production Opéra national de Paris avec le soutien de la Fondation Orange, Mécène des retransmissions audiovisuelles de l’Opéra national de Paris et Le Cercle audiovisuel et numériqueExtraits vidéo : Images Marylin Monroe © Film images King Kong réalisé par Merian C. Cooper et Ernest B. Schoedsack © Warner Bros Entertainment - Droits réservés Sunset Boulevard/Boulevard du crépuscule réalisé par Billy Wilder © Paramount - Droits réservésRéalisatrice : Mathilde Jobbé-Duval © Opéra national de Paris - 2023 Visuel : © Bernd Uhlig / OnP

Emilia Marty: Famous diva Albert Gregor: Grandson of Ferdinand Gregor, supposed heir to Baron Prus Dr Kolenaty: Gregor’s lawyer Vitek: Clerk to the lawyer Koletany Krista: Daughter of Vitek Jaroslav Prus: Descendant of Baron Prus Janek: Son of Jaroslav Prus Hauk-Šendorf: A senile count and former lover of Eugenia Montez

L'Affaire Makropoulos (saison 23/24) - 15

The Makropulos Case_trailer

The Makropulos Case

Who has never dreamed of eternal youth? In The Makropulos Case, the celebrated singer Emilia Marty is 337 years old yet appears 30 thanks to a life-extending elixir. As the effects of the potion begin to wane, the diva is desperate to obtain the form

Leoš Janáček

Of Shostakovich’s initial undertaking – a trilogy on the tragic destinies of Russian women through the ages – only one opera was ever written: the hard-hitting Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk. Although one of the mainsprings of the work, the Shakespearean parallel is here bitterly ironic: unlike Lady Macbeth, Katerina Ismaïlova who, in the remote reaches of rural 19th century Russia, falls in love with one of her husband’s employees and is finally forced to commit suicide, is less a manipulator than a victim of a violent and patriarchal society.Krzysztof Warlikowski liberates all the subversive power of this scorching and scandalous work, which marked the early years of the Opéra Bastille. Orchestre et Chœurs de l’Opéra national de Paris.A co-production of the Opéra national de Paris, Telmondis and Mezzo With the support of the Orange Foundation, patron of the Paris Opera's audiovisual broadcasts, and the Centre national du Cinéma et de l'Image Animée.Director: Stéphane Metge © Opéra national de Paris – Telmondis – Mezzo - 2019Picture: © Bernd Uhlig / OnP

<ul><li>Boris Timofeyevich Izmailov: Owner of an industrial slaughterhouse</li><li>Zinoviy Borisovich Izmailov: Son of Boris and heir to the business</li><li>Katerina Lvovna Ismailova: Zinoviy’s wife</li><li>Sergei: An employee of the Izmailovs and Katerina’s lover</li><li>Aksinya: A young girl in the Izmailovs’ service</li><li>A shabby peasant: A worker in the Izmailovs’ service who is drunk most of the time</li><li>The orthodox priest</li><li>The police commissioner</li><li>Sonietka: A young prisoner</li></ul>

Lady Macbeth de Mzensk

Lady Macbeth de Mzensk_trailer

Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk from 13 to 28 March 2027 at the Opéra Bastille

18-19

Of Shostakovich’s initial undertaking – a trilogy on the tragic destinies of Russian women through the ages – only one opera was ever written: the hard-hitting Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk. Although one of the mainsprings of the work, the Shakespearean pa

Dmitri Chostakovitch

I like being afraid... with you - La Belle, La Belle et la Bête, Jean Cocteau, 1946Running through Bartók’s disenchanted tale, whose haunting music was initially condemned as unplayable, and the expression of despair in Poulenc’s monologue, the director Krzysztof Warlikowski perceives a shared dramatic thread, a shared feminine consciousness and a shared sense of imprisonment and suffocation. For the woman who penetrates the confines of Bluebeard’s castle and Elle, the woman who clings to a telephone conversation with a man as the only thing worth living for, are condemned to share the same fate. And this man she speaks to, does he really exist? Unless the director has interpreted Cocteau’s words to the letter and the telephone has become a “terrifying weapon that leaves no trace, makes no noise”… A coproduction Opéra national de Paris, Telmondis, Mezzo with the support of La Fondation Orange and the Centre national du cinéma et de l'image animée.© Opéra national de Paris - Telmondis - Mezzo - France 2015

Bluebeard’s Castle Bluebeard: A man with a mysterious past. There are disturbing rumors about him. He instructs his new wife not to ask questions. Judith: She broke off her engagement to marry Bluebeard despite her family's opposition. She wants to bring light and joy into the dark castle and into her husband's life. But she also wants to know everything about his past. The Human Voice Her: In her bedroom, a woman answers a phone call from her lover, who has just left her. During this final conversation, she recalls the happy days of their affair, vainly tries to win back her lover, goes from resignation to despair, from lies to the admission of a suicide attempt, from outburst to apparent calm.

2015-16-VOIX-043

Bluebeard’s castle / The human voice

I like being afraid... with you  - La Belle, La Belle et la Bête, Jean Cocteau, 1946 Running through Bartók’s disenchanted tale, whose haunting music was initially condemned as unplayable, and the expression of despair in Poulenc’s monologue, the dir