Perfect Little Dolls at the Musée de la Poupée - Paris Events

Paris' Musée de la Poupée's latest temporary exhibition, Les Poupée des Petites Filles Modèles (Perfect Little Dolls) looks at the changing role of dolls over the past decades in the intellectual and cultural development of the young girls who play with them.
The collection includes wax and papier mâché dolls dating from 1830, alongside Bluette, Bambino and Rosette - three dolls who featured in the popular French comic, La Semaine de Suzette (1905-1960). Models from more recent times are also well represented.

As part of the exhibition, the museum is also running a workshop where children can make their own dolls to take home. Please visit the website for more details.

Poets' Springtime - Paris Events

Paris goes poetry mad for a fortnight, with over 5000 events taking place in the streets, cafés, markets, stations, schools and museums of the French capital.
Lively debates and lectures, recitals, exhibitions and workshops, performances and competitions are all devoted to the art of poetry. For more details, please visit the festival website.

St Patrick's Night - Paris Events

Paris raises a glass of the Black Stuff for the St Patrick's Night celebration at Bercy - Le Fest Noz. Thousands of revellers dance among a sea of Irish flags and laser lights as they paint the town green!
In 2008, Les Danseurs Irlandais kick up their Celtic heels, while musical entertainment comes courtesy of harpists Alan Stivell and Robin Huw Bowen.

Padmâvatî - Paris Events

After the season opener - Albarn, Hewlett and Chen's Monkey: Journey to the West - the Châtelet turns the clocks back 85 years to another eastern influenced western work - Roussel's Padmâvatî, here revived by Indian film director Sanjay Leela Bhansali.
Inspired by an Indian tale he had heard in the ruins of Chitoor in Rajputan (on the same trip as future British Prime Minister Ramsay MacDonald), during on a long voyage in 1909 with his wife, which took in not only India and Sri Lanka (then Ceylon) but also Saigon and Angkor, Roussel completed Padmâvatî in 1918, but it didn't receive its first performance until 1923.

Using Théodore Pavie's La légende de Padmani, reine de Tchjitor, d'après les texts hinds et hindouis (Paris, 1856), Roussel and his librettist, the orientalist Louis Laloy, retold the story of the alliance between Alaouddin, Sultan of the Mogul and Ratan-Sen, Prince of Chitoor. Alaouddin demands the hand of Ratan-Sen's wife Padmâvatî.

Passions run high and when a Brahmin demands that she is handed over to Alauddin, he is stoned to death by the crowds. Padmâvatî stands firm but when Alaouddin attacks the city and wounds Ratan-Sen, she defends her husband's honour by stabbing him. In so doing she ensures her own death, as she has to die on his funeral pyre.

High drama in an exotic setting, Padmâvatî gets authentic Indian treatment by Sanjay Leela Bhansali, perhaps best known for his Bollywood musicals Devdas (2002) and, most recently, Saawariya (2007). Lawrence Foster conducts the Orchestre philharmonique de Radio France and the Ch?ur du Châtelet.

The cast includes Marie-Nicole Lemieux in the title role with Finnur Bjarnason as Ratan-Sen, Alain Fondary as Alaouddin and Yan Beruon as the Brahmin.

Benjamin Franklin: An American in Paris - Paris Events

Paris' Musée Carnavalet explores the life of Benjamin Franklin over the period of time he spent in the French capital (1776-1785).
The exhibition, which brings together some 340 paintings, sculptures and documents, concentrates on the American's political and scientific influences on the city, and seeks to define the process by which he came to stand as a symbol of republican values and defender of human rights.

Please visit the Musée Carnavalet website for further details.

Paris Manga - Paris Events

For all those manga heads out there, the Espace Champerret in Paris' 17th arrondissement hosts Paris Manga, a special fair dedicated to the immensely popular Japanese animation.
The fair includes games, toys and original merchandising along with special guests and exclusive screenings. Fans can expect to meet their favourite characters and discover the newest creations coming out of the top studios.

Toy Comix aux Arts Décoratifs - Paris Events

Paris' Musée des Arts Décoratifs looks at cartoons and storytelling in a fresh light with its latest exhibition, Toy Comix. Thirty-two contemporary artists were invited to take part in the exhibition - each were given a toy and asked to create a series of cartoons using the toy as the story's protagonist.
Witness the misadventures of a jolly looking toy duck who runs into a spot of bother on being chased by a swarm of bees, or follow 'Qui Suis-je?', the story of a toy bear in the grip of an identity crisis.

With its wry and witty visual tales, this novel exhibition has plenty to keep the adults entertained, whilst children will appreciate the toy within the tale on a more basic visual level. Recommended.

Orchids from Madagascar - Paris Events

The Cité des Sciences pays homage to the exotic orchid and its home in the Indian Ocean. This fragrant exhibition displays about 60 different kinds of Madagascar's floral pride and joy, as well as taking a look at the biology of biodiversity and pollination, the uses for orchids in the cosmetics industry and the economic and agricultural legacy for their island homeland.
The island of Madagascar is larger than the whole of France put together and home to more than 1200 different typees of orchid, making it the most diverse orchid flower garden on earth.

Ice-Skating at Montparnasse - Paris Events

Get your skates on and get down to Paris' ice-rink at Montparnasse - one of several that spring up across the French capital over the winter months. You'll find a mix of tourists and locals cutting up the ice and, unlike in other cities, the best thing about Paris' patinoires is that they're free.

Ice-Skating at the Hôtel de Ville - Paris Events

Every winter, a large ice-rink is created outside the Hôtel de Ville to delight Parisians and tourists alike. Not only is skating the perfect way to spend a winter's afternoon, but the experience is also free.
The building itself is a notable landmark, acting as the seat for the Mayor of Paris. While in the area, enjoy a stroll round one of the city's most diverse districts: the beautiful Place des Vosges, the gay bars of the Marais and the Jewish quarter round the Rue des Rosiers are all within walking distance.

Six Nations Championship: France v Italy - Paris Events

France play Italy at the Stade de France in this Six Nations rugby union international.
The annual Six Nations championship is the oldest rugby tournament in the world, having existed in one form or another for 120 years. Initially the International Championship, featuring England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales, the competition has expanded twice, with France joining the fray in 1910 and Italy being the most recent addition, in 2000.

The Rake's Progress - Paris Events

Music director of English National Opera, Edward Gardner takes Eurostar across the channel to conduct this new production of Stravinsky's The Rake's Progress, directed at the Opéra national de Paris' Palais Garnier by Oliver Py.
First produced at Venice's La Fenice in 1951, The Rake's Progress was Stravinsky's only full-length opera. His neo-classical style adds 20th Century irony to the Haydn or Mozart-esque music, building on W H Auden and Chester Kallman's libretto which, in turn, was inspired by William Hogarth's early 18th century set of satirical engravings.

This new Paris production stars British tenor Toby Spence as Tom Rakewell, Laura Claycomb as his girlfriend Anne Trulove, René Schirrer as her father Trulove and Laurent Naouri as the devil's henchman Nick Shadow who takes young Tom under his wing. The action moves to London, where the cast includes Hilary Summers as Mother Goose, Jane Henschel as Baba The Turk, Ales Briscein as the auctioneer Sellem and Ugo Rabec as the Keeper of the Madhouse.

With one of the longest continuing operatic pedigrees in the world, the Opéra National de Paris - now housed in the modern Opéra Bastille as well as often returning to perform in the 1875 vintage Palais Garnier - can date its history back to 1669, when Robert Cambert and Abbé Pierre Perrin received Louis XIV's permission to stage opera. Subsequent important figures in Paris' operatic life include composers Lully, Rameau, Meyerbeer, Messiaen alongside lesser-known figures to modern audiences, such as Spontini, Hérold and Halévy.

The move to the new Opéra Bastille took place (admittedly amidst controversy) in 1990, but the company's two principal venues have allowed operatic life to flourish again in the 21st century. Since 2004 Gérard Mortier (previously intendant at the Salzburg Festival) has been director. When he retires in 2009, he is replaced by Nicolas Joel, when Swiss conductor Philippe Jordan becomes music director.

Luisa Miller - Paris Events

Perhaps an odd work to première on St Valentine's Day, Verdi's Luisa Miller opens on that very day at the Opéra Bastille, in Belgian director Gilbert Deflo's new Opéra national de Paris production.
Luisa Miller was Verdi's second Schiller adaptations, based on the German dramatist's Kabale und Liebe (Intrigue and Love), where real people's lives are affected by the fickleness of the aristocracy. Set in the Tyrol in the early 1700s, Count Walter's son Rodolfo is expected to marry Federica, but he is really in love with Luisa.

The aristocrats demand that their will be obeyed, and, imprisoning Rodolfo for refusing to marry Federica, they also force Luisa to write a love letter to one of the Count's employees, Wurm (blackmailing her to save her father who has insulted the Count). When Rodolfo, freed, hears from Luisa that she did write the letter, he poisons her and then himself, but not before she is able to kill Wurm before dying.

Luisa is sung by Ana Maria Martinez, with Marina Domashenko as Federica, Ramon Vargas as Rodolfo, Andrzej Dobber as the Miller, Ildar Abdrazakov as Walter, Kwangchul Youn as Wurm and Maria Virginia Savastano as Laura. Massimo Zanetti conducts.

With one of the longest continuing operatic pedigrees in the world, the Opéra national de Paris - now housed in the modern Opéra Bastille as well as often returning to perform in the 1875 vintage Palais Garnier - can date its history back to 1669, when Robert Cambert and Abbé Pierre Perrin received Louis XIV's permission to stage opera. Subsequent important figures in Paris' operatic life include composers Lully, Rameau, Meyerbeer, Messiaen alongside lesser-known figures to modern audiences, such as Spontini, Hérold and Halévy.

The move to the new Opéra Bastille took place (admittedly amidst controversy) in 1990, but the company's two principal venues have allowed operatic life to flourish again in the 21st century. Since 2004 Gérard Mortier (previously intendant at the Salzburg Festival) has been director. When he retires in 2009, he is replaced by Nicolas Joel, when Swiss conductor Philippe Jordan becomes music director.

Parsifal - Paris Events

Its second new Wagner this season, the Opéra national de Paris premières Polish director Krzysztof Warlikowski's production of Parsifal at the Opéra Bastille, appropriately including a performance on Easter Sunday. Hartmut Haenchen conducts.
Parsifal was finished two years before Wagner's death and premièred at his specially-built theatre at Bayreuth, which to this day holds a summer festival in his honour. He termed it Bühnenweihfestpiel ("sacred festival drama") and once again dealt with the idea that only a "pure fool" can save the day.

That "pure fool" is Parsifal (Christopher Ventris), naive to the man-made complications - greed, pride, envy and stubbornness - which characterise even the sacred guardians of the Holy Grail, wounded Amfortas (Alexander Marco-Buhrmester) and his father Titruel (Victor von Halem). Only Parsifal can regain the Sacred Spear from evil Klingsor (Evgeny Nikitin). Only Parsifal is immune to the charms of Kundry (Waltraud Meier) and only Parsifal can do this because he doesn't realise the importance attached to it. Also starring is Franz Josef Selig as Parsifal's mentor Gurnemanz.

Perhaps Wagner's greatest operatic creation, a tradition has arisen that this piece should be performed on Good Friday (there is a famous orchestral passage called the Good Friday Music), but in fact it was originally premièred in July.

With one of the longest continuing operatic pedigrees in the world, the Opéra national de Paris - now housed in the modern Opéra Bastille as well as often returning to perform in the 1875 vintage Palais Garnier - can date its history back to 1669, when Robert Cambert and Abbé Pierre Perrin received Louis XIV's permission to stage opera. Subsequent important figures in Paris' operatic life include composers Lully, Rameau, Meyerbeer, Messiaen alongside lesser-known figures to modern audiences, such as Spontini, Hérold and Halévy.

The move to the new Opéra Bastille took place (admittedly amidst controversy) in 1990, but the company's two principal venues have allowed operatic life to flourish again in the 21st century. Since 2004 Gérard Mortier (previously intendant at the Salzburg Festival) has been director. When he retires in 2009, he is replaced by Nicolas Joel, when Swiss conductor Philippe Jordan becomes music director.

Art Paris - Paris Events

Art Paris, held at the Grand Palais, has injected new life into the French art market. Established names as well as new talent from Europe and beyond offer paintings, sculptures, photographs and videos.
The fair was founded in 1999, its aim being to offer art lovers and professionals a "rebellious but constructive" selection of contemporary art. Quality not quantity is the key - via the relatively small size of the display, the organisers aim to create an atmosphere of conviviality.

Christian Lacroix, Histoires de Mode - Paris Events

Think French fashion and chances are, you think Christian Lacroix. After 20 years in the fashion industry, Paris' Musée de la Mode et du Textile welcomes the world-famous master couturier to preside over Histoires de Mode, a fashion retrospective that takes the visitor on a journey through la mode Française, exploring changing fashions through the ages.
Lacroix was given a year's free reign to delve into the museum's glorious collection of gowns and outfits dating from the 18th century to the present day. The result is a subjective display of some 400 pieces, meticulously catalogued according to the designer's own themes and flanked by 80 or so of his own creations.

For fashionistas this is a unique perspective on the inspirations behind Lacroix's own work and the design values he holds dear. Further details are available via the website.

Yves Saint Laurent - Paris Shopping

Long gone are the 1970s, when anything Yves St-Laurent did was touted by the international press as a sign of his genius and the fashionable French dressed up in his luxurious versions of Cossack costumes, replete with boleros, riding boots, and copies of antique jewelry from the Russian steppes. Hours of all branches are Monday 11am to 7pm; Tuesday to Saturday from 10:30am to 7pm. With the shutdown in 2003 of his couture department and the worldwide availability of off-the-rack Saint-Laurent franchises selling mass-market clothing around the world, there are now only four outlets in Paris that sell his clothing.

W. H. Smith France - Paris Shopping

This store provides books, magazines, and newspapers published in English (most titles are from Britain). You can get the Times of London, of course, and the Sunday New York Times is available every Monday. There's a fine selection of maps and travel guides, plus a special children's section that includes comics. Open Monday to Saturday 9am to 7:30pm; Sunday 1 to 7:30pm.

Virgin Megastore - Paris Shopping

Paris has three branches of Europe's biggest, most widely publicized CD and record store. The Champs-Elysées branch is the city's largest music store; a bookstore and cafe are downstairs. The store's opening in a landmark building helped to rejuvenate the avenue. You'll find a Virgin Megastore at each airport. Open Monday to Saturday 10am to midnight; Sunday noon to midnight (other locations: Carrousel du Louvre, Sunday to Tuesday 10am to 8pm, Wednesday to Saturday 10am to 10pm; Gare Montparnasse, Monday to Thursday 7am to 8pm, Friday 7am to 9pm, Saturday 7am to 8pm).

Village Voice Bookshop - Paris Shopping

This favorite of expatriate Yankees is on a side street in the heart of the best Left Bank shopping district, near some of the gathering places described in Gertrude Stein's The Autobiography of Alice B. Toklas. Opened in 1981, the shop is a hangout for literati. Its name has nothing to do with the New York weekly. Open Monday 2 to 8pm; Tuesday to Saturday 10am to 8pm; Sunday 2 to 7pm.