Hamlet

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Opéra Bastille

Show ended

French surtitled in English

Location

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

Duration

3 hours and 20 minutes

With intermission


Details

Opera 

Recommended for all ages

In French surtitled in French and English


Highlights: Hamlet

To be or not to be… The famous existential question posed by Hamlet and the Tragic Story of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark by William Skakespeare set to music by the French composer Ambroise Thomas (1811-1896)... Here are two good reasons to be tempted by this work at the Opéra Bastille. If we add the deep voice of the great French baritone Ludovic Tézier and the crystalline voice of Brenda Rae, the American soprano who is the talk of the town, and the staging of Krzysztof Warlikowski that digs into the depths of the human soul, you are fronted with many reasons to discover this opera for it's deeply romantic work.

 

 

See details for our premium option below!

Story: Hamlet

Everything takes place in the Palace of Elsinore where Claudius, with the complicity of Queen Gertrude, has just killed his brother, the King of Denmark, to ascend the throne. He can thus marry his mistress he has been loving for a long time. Hamlet, the son of the murdered king, loves Ophelia, the daughter of the chamberlain Polonius, but he must accomplish the revenge that the specter of his father demands of him. What other deep storylines does this piece have to offer ?

 

In this psychological intrigue, Ambroise Thomas weaves the fabric of a great French opera by slipping in pages of music of great beauty. To buy tickets or not to buy tickets… that is the question !

 

Add-On & Special Experience

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

This package is available even after standard sales for the opera are closed. It includes a glass of champagne, a show programme, and exclusive access to the Opéra Bastille's beautiful Salon Berlioz, reserved for primary ticket holders. As a result of our official partnership with the Friends of Paris Opera Association, the package can only be purchased via the Theatre in Paris box office.

 

 

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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)

FAQ

Where will I be seated and will I see the subtitles properly?

There are a maximum of four categories available, each of which provides a comfortable view of the subtitles. The subtitles are projected above and on the sides of the stage.

How do I get to the theatre?

The Opéra Bastille is accessible by:
Metro lines: You can take lines 1, 5, and 8 to Bastille.
RER: You can take the RER A to Gare de Lyon.
Bus lines: You can take the bus to the Bastille stop served by the lines 20, 29, 65, 69, 76, 86, 87, and 91.
Our customer service can be reached in case of difficulty from 10 am to 7 pm, Monday to Friday. For more information, please consult the map above.

What do I do when I get to the theatre?

We invite you to arrive 30 minutes before the beginning of the show, and present your voucher at the front desk. The theatre's English-speaking staff members will guide you to your seats. Please note that the performances at the Opéra Bastille begin precisely on time, and all late arrivals will not be permitted to enter the auditorium until intermission.

How long does the show last?

The show Hamlet lasts 3 hours and 20 minutes, including intermissions.

Is it a show for travellers or French people?

Both! The Opéra Bastille has been welcoming audiences from all over the world for 30 years. This legendary opera performance is sung in its original French, and subtitles in both French and English are provided for audiences to appreciate in one of France’s most iconic venues.

Subtitles or “surtitles”?

Surtitles (also called supertitles) are the theatre equivalent of subtitles. That’s because in French “sur” means “above”. At the Opéra Bastille, the text is projected both on the sides of the auditorium, and centrally directly above the stage. Read more about surtitles here.

Does the venue have a specific dress code?

For Parisian operas and ballets, the dress tends to be a bit fancier than in other venues, so feel free to have a little fun and dress to impress. Many Parisians will arrive directly from work, dressed in casual chic attire. Generally, elegant casual wear is required, jackets are recommended for men. Shorts, Bermuda shorts, flip-flops, sportswear and trainers are discouraged.

Is there a coat check available?

Free cloakrooms are available on various floors of the theatre. Travel bags and suitcase are not allowed.

Can I take photos of the performance?

In order not to disturb the artists on stage, and for the comfort of other guests, you are not permitted to photograph, film or record the performance for the duration of the show. As long as the performance is not currently in session, feel free to take a snapshot of the wonderful venue to remember your night out!

What is included with my Premium ticket?

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

Where can I collect my program and my glass of champagne?

At the Opéra Bastille, you may pick your program in the main shop as well as at the program stands located at the main entrance, on the 2nd and 4th floors. 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 first floor, at the right of the entrance to the Opera House. It is accessible by elevator or by stairs.

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

Yes, it’s completely normal! As the premium tickets 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 validated, you will receive your tickets by email. Given the large number of requests the Paris Opera has to manage, this process usually takes two days but can take up to six days maximum. After six days if your order has not been validated, it will be canceled, the pre-charge will disappear, and you will not be charged.

How do I know if my seats are next to each other?

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.

 

For shows at the Opera Bastille in Paris, 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.

 

If there are no available adjacent seating arrangements, our customer service team will contact you before the booking is confirmed.