Falstaff at the Opéra Bastille

Directed by Dominique Pitoiset
Falstaff à l'Opéra Bastille Paris 2024, opéra Giuseppe Verdi
Opéra Bastille

Show ended

Other languages with surtitles
Falstaff à l'Opéra Bastille Paris 2024, opéra Giuseppe Verdi
Falstaff at the Opéra Bastille
Book now From 174€/person

Location

Opéra Bastille
Place de la Bastille, 75012 Paris
Capacity 2700 seats

Duration

2 h 40 min

With intermission


Details

Opera

For all audiences

Italian with French and English surtitles


HIGHLIGHTS: FALSTAFF

Mockery and comedy reign supreme in this operatic classic — Alice, Meg, Mrs. Quickly, and the pretty Nanetta poke fun at our titular protagonist throughout the opera. These cheerful gossips, straight out of Shakespeare's famous play The Merry Wives of Windsor, have a field day making the audience of Giuseppe Verdi's Falstaff laugh at the work’s great intelligence and subtlety. An opera in 3 acts, based on a libretto by Arrigo Boito, Falstaff constitutes the composer's only comic opera, apart from Un giorno du regno, which unfortunately proved a complete flop at its premiere at Milan’s La Scala in 1840.

 

As the last work of an 80-year-old composer, Falstaff offers a great burst of laughter accompanied by an excellent and scintillating score. Aside from its comic elements, this piece also offers a fine reflection on old age from the perspective of a composer who is, through his work, synthesising his operas whilst simultaneously making his music more modern.

 

The exceptionally talented baritone Ambrosio Maestri will delight and amuse audiences as he slips into Falstaff's shoes, suffers the annoyances of the Merry Wives, and brings a broad smile to the faces of his spectators. Behind the scenes, Dominique Pitoiset directs from the stage of the Opéra Bastille.

 

If you thought that opera stories were always sad, think again — Falstaff’s unique narrative will convince you otherwise!

 

 

See details for our premium option below!

PREMIUM OPTION AND EXPERIENCE at Opéra Bastille

Looking for more than a standard ticket to the show? To make your experience an unforgettable one, you will be able to choose this following upgraded offer at the time of booking:

 

Champagne + Programme + Exclusive Access to Salon Berlioz + Show
Indulge in the premium opera experience! Elevate your evening with our exclusive package, available even after standard ticket sales have closed. With this premium option, relish a glass of champagne, receive a show program, and enjoy privileged access to the Opéra Bastille's Salon Berlioz — an intimate space reserved for our premium guests.

 

Please note, this special package is exclusively offered through the Theatre in Paris box office, thanks to our official partnership with the Friends of Paris Opera Association. Don't miss the chance to make your opera night truly exceptional.

SYNOPSIS OF FALSTAFF

The art of gossip comes to light in this delightfully witty opera - picture a Dom Juan without its characteristic Commander. That, in a nutshell, is the premise of Verdi’s exceptional Falstaff, which opens the 2024 Paris Opera season at the Opéra Bastille!

 

The opera follows in the footsteps of Sir John Falstaff, an ageing and boastful knight who concocts schemes to seduce wealthy women. However, in true farce fashion, his schemes routinely backfire, and he is ultimately ridiculed for his inadequacy.
Verdi's music, punctuated with genial élan, airy lightness, and extraordinary fluidity, captures the comic twists and turns of Shakespeare's famous play, The Merry Wives of Windsor, with exceptional attention to detail. Its libretto, renowned for its subtle humour and light-heartedness, offers a brilliant satire of human vanity.

 

To this day, Falstaff remains a masterpiece of Italian comic opera — refined, subtle, and tender, as all good pieces should be.

 

You'll have to wait until the end of the opera to hear the famous line that also constitutes the moral of the story: "Tutto nel mundo è burla" ("Everything in the world is a farce"). A sumptuous operatic evening that promises to impart a new outlook upon its spectators — Verdi offers plenty to consider and reflect upon long after you leave the theatre…

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Opéra Bastille

Place de la Bastille, 75012 Paris

History and Fun Facts about the Opéra Bastille

 

Designed by Uruguayan architect Carlos Ott, the building was commissioned by French President François Mitterrand and inaugurated in 1989. For years, many had lamented the lack of a modern venue in Paris capable of welcoming modern concerts and performances with different acoustic approaches, and the flexibility that a modulable venue lends. A movement started in the 1960s called for a larger new venue in Paris that would appeal to the masses, a modern compliment to the elaborate Palais Garnier. Just over 100 years after the inauguration of the Palais Garnier, the demands finally won over the newly-elected President Mitterrand, who supported the project as the headliner among many modern works launched during his term. Selecting the popular Bastille neighbourhood for its ease of accessibility from Paris and the surrounding areas, the old Bastille Train Station was destroyed to make way for the construction of the new venue. The building was completed just in time for the bicentenary of the French Revolution.  

 

The venue has undergone many changes in direction resulting from varying political affiliations, and has undergone major renovations since its construction to repair and to soundproof the entire structure. Unlike other auditorium designs, each and every seat at the Opéra Bastille guarantees an unrestricted view of the stage. With its white glass ceiling, crisp gray compliments, and black seating adorned with rich oak, the venue is an ode to modernity and simplistic design. From the exterior, made of blue granite from Brittany and blocks of glass, light is reflected from every corner of this angular venue.

 

Fast facts
Capacity: 2,745
Handicap Accessible: Yes – in order to guarantee access to specific locations, we ask that you make your reservation at least 15 days before the performance.
Air conditioning: Yes
Heating: Yes
Coat Check: Yes (free service)

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FAQ

How do I get to Opéra Bastille in the 12th arrondissement of Paris ?

The Opéra Bastille is accessible by:
Metro: Line 1 (station Bastille), line 5 (station Bastille), line 8 (station Bastille)
RER: Line A (station Gare de Lyon)
Address: 120 rue de Lyon, 75012 Paris
In case of difficulty, our hotline can be reached during our business hours. Please see the footer of this page for our contact details.

What do I do when I get to Opéra Bastille?

We invite you to arrive 45 minutes before the beginning of Falstaff, and present your voucher at the front desk. Opéra Bastille’s English-speaking staff members will guide you to your seats.
The concert hall’s doors close 15 minutes after the start of the performance and reopen at intermission if the performance includes one.
If you arrive within 15 minutes after the start of the performance, you will not be allowed to enter the opera house and will be directed to an area with a television where you can watch the first part of the show. You will be able to return to your seats during the intermission if the performance includes one.

How long does the opera, Falstaff, last?

The opera Falstaff at Opéra Bastille lasts approximately 2 hours and 40 minutes, with intermission.

Is Falstaff for an international audience or French speakers?

Both! The Opéra Bastille has been welcoming audiences from all over the world for 30 years. The opera, Falstaff, is sung in its original Italian version. Surtitles are provided in both French and English so that international audiences can appreciate this opera in this incredible Parisian venue.

Where will I be seated, and will I see the surtitles* properly?

At Opéra Bastille, each category provides a comfortable view of the surtitles. The surtitles are projected above and on the sides of the stage. Our Premium tickets offer the best view of the stage and surtitles.
*Surtitles (also called supertitles) are the theatre equivalent of subtitles. That’s because in French “sur” means “above”.

Is there a dress code at Opéra Bastille?

There is no specific dress code at Opéra Bastille, but proper attire is appreciated. Feel free to dress to impress and reflect the fabulous contemporary architecture at Opéra Bastille!

Can I choose my seat when booking?

No, unfortunately it is not possible to choose your seat when booking for Falstaff. However, you can choose the category and we will allocate you the best seats in the chosen category!
Please note that tickets of the same category that are booked during the same purchase session, in the same booking order on our website are always assigned side by side. To be sure of this, make sure all of your tickets are in the same category and are included in your shopping cart at the time of purchase.
If there are no available adjacent seating arrangements, our customer service team will contact you before the booking is confirmed.

 

At the Paris Opera, the seats are assigned in odd numbers or even numbers. Therefore, if your tickets are consecutive odd numbers or even numbers (For example: 1, 3, 5,...), they will be adjacent.

 

You can find the seating plan in the theatre’s "photo" section on this page.

What is included with my premium ticket at Opéra Bastille?

The Premium tickets are our most exclusive package and include seating in category Optima, the best category in the house, a programme of the show, a glass of champagne, and exclusive access to the magnificent Salon Berlioz.

 

Your programme: At the Opéra Bastille, you may pick your programme in the main shop as well as at the programme stands located at the main entrance, on the 2nd and 4th floors.
Your glass of champagne: You can choose to enjoy your glass of champagne before the performance or during intermission. Champagne will be available at public bars or in the exclusive Salon Berlioz. The Salon is located on the 1st floor, at the right of the entrance to the Opéra Bastille. It is accessible by elevator or by stairs.

I bought premium tickets for Falstaff and I haven’t received them yet. Is this normal?

Yes, it’s completely normal! As the premium tickets for Falstaff include exclusive add-ons, your order will first be created as a pre-booking so the Paris Opera can assign your seats and prepare your exclusive package.
You may see a pre-charge on your card but you can rest assured that we will not charge your card until the booking is validated by the Paris Opera. After the tickets are confirmed, you will receive your tickets by email.
Given the large number of requests the Paris Opera has to manage, this process usually takes two business days but can take up to six days maximum. After six days if your order has not been validated, it will be cancelled, the pre-charge will disappear, and you will not be charged.