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Grand Staircase/Palais Garnier
Photo appeared in Opera Today; photo credit: Minor Keys |
Today's Easter Sunday happens to be a quiet one for my wife and me, and something of a work day for me, as well. During a break from the deadline concerns, I thought about an Easter we spent in Paris some years ago. Good New York friends of ours were coincidentally visiting Paris at the same time, so we decided to enjoy Easter Sunday together. After careful planning, we decided to attend the ballet at the
Palais Garnier, the 19th Century opera house popularized in
Phantom of the Opera.
Our decision turned out to be inspired. We had the good fortune to know someone who purchased the tickets for us, as they were only available onsite and one month before Easter. (I picked them up at the opera house's version of will call about an hour prior to the performance.) The day itself unfolded as a crisp, sunny day, and we felt jazzed about attending a cultural event in Paris.
The ballet company was showcasing 20th Century dance created by American choreographers; that eliminated language barriers and added some cultural understandings. The experience, from the opera house's atmosphere, the hall's enchanting Chagall ceiling, and the excitement of a live dance performance, was an exhilarating one.
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Vacheron Constantin watch, with Chagall ceiling on face
Photo appered in The Robb Report; photo by Jean-Marc Breguet |
When the performance concluded, and we returned to the Parisian streets, we felt connected to the city, its people, and its purpose. My wife and I still feel chills about that day. Even the limited edition Vacheron Constantin timepiece featuring Chagall's ceiling mural gets me excited, even though I don't typically follow the world of "important watches," as auction houses characterize them. (
Michael Weare's clicktempus.com story about the watch is brief, informative, and fun to read.) Mostly, I'm grateful for experiencing a magical event, in a glorious setting, and shared in friendship and love. That's an Easter worth remembering and cherishing on this quiet, calm Sunday.
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