Opéra Bastille
Place de la Bastille, 75012 Paris
Capacity 2700 seats
Nixon in China
Opéra Bastille
Show ended
In English surtitled in English & French
Location
Duration
3 hours
With intermission
Details
Opera
Recommanded for all ages
In English surtitled in English and French
Highlights: Nixon in China
The contemporary story unfolds before our eyes: the meeting of Nixon and the Grand Helmsman in 1972. Operatic magic is cultivated in this contemporary piece by the great American composer of the 'repetitive music' movement, John Adams. This opera, which revisits an important historical event, was performed for the first time in France in 1991. Now, it enters the repertoire of the Opéra National de Paris! The powerful voice of the American baritone Thomas Hampson will give flesh to Richard Nixon, whilst that of American soprano Renée Fleming will be the incarnation of Pat Nixon.
To make your experience an unforgettable one, you will be able to choose a unique offer which includes a glass of champagne, a programme and exclusive access to the Salon Berlioz. See below for more details.
Story: Nixon in China
The librettist and the composer wanted to stage a political event of their time, the first visit (from February 21 to 27, 1972) of a Western head of state to China after the Cultural Revolution. The three-act opera focuses on the personalities and personal stories of the six main characters: Richard Nixon, his wife Pat, Chiang Ch'ing, Mao, and their two personal advisers, Henry Kissinger and Zou Enlai. From Nixon's impatience on his arrival, to a return of the characters to their past, a whole series of events punctuate this fabled visit. A delight for all audiences, and not just those who were around for the real event!
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.
Reviews
Opéra Bastille
Place de la Bastille, 75012 Paris
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 neighborhood 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: 2745 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
FAQ
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.
If I purchased premium tickets, 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.
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 or 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 Nixon in China lasts 3 hours, including two 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!
I bought premium tickets for Nixon in China 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.