Fergus Johnston

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3rd April 2006: Opera Studies in Paris

Having headed off to Paris and the Opera Bastille to attend rehearsals of Kaija Saariaho's new Opera Adriana Mater at the end of March (in preparation for my own Opera in progress) I headed over again on the 30th for the premier. When we arrived at the Bofinger's restaurant at the Bastille to get a bite to eat before the performance, what does yer man the head waiter say to us in response to the question as to whether there was time to eat before the opera, but "Sorry lads, but there's no performance tonight because of the strikes" (but in French of course). Sure enough, not a thing happening over at the Bastille, notices up in the doorway that they're very sorry etc...So a wasted journey, but a nice evening in Paris, Dinner in Bofinger's, then a walk by the Seine. On the way back next day, I was able to buy a copy of the libretto of Adriana at the airport. Now THAT is civilization!