Nightlife

Le Lido

116 bis, ave des Champs Elysées, 8th arrondissement.
Tel: 40 76 56 10 / Fax 45 61 19 41
Métro : George V
Show times:
22h and Midnight daily.
The Lido is one of Paris' most famous cabarets.

12, ave. George V, 8th arrondissement
Tel: 47 23 32 32 ; Fax: 47 23 48 26
Métro stop: Alma Marceau
Show times: 21h30 - 23h30 daily; 20h , 22h30 and 00h30 Friday, Saturday, Sunday.

Place Blanche, 18th arrondissement
Tel: 46 06 00 19 / Fax: 42 23 02 00
Métro stop: Blanche
Show times:
Dinner dance at 20h, shows at 22h and Midnight daily.
Immortalized by Toulouse-Lautrec, and the birthplace of the can-can , the Moulin Rouge (The Red Windmill) takes its name from one of the windmills of Montmartre present in another era.

32, rue Richter, 9th arrondissement
Tel: 44 79 98 98, Fax: 47 70 98 28
Métro stop: Cadet, rue Montmartre
Show times: dinner at 19h, show at 21h15. Closed Mondays.

32, rue Richter, 9th arrondissement
Tel: 44 79 98 98, Fax: 47 70 98 28
Métro stop: Cadet, rue Montmartre
Show times: dinner at 19h, show at 21h15. Closed Mondays.

Théâtre du Chatelet

1, Place du Châtelet, 1st arrondissement
Tel: 40 28 28 98; Fax: 42 36 89 75
Métro/RER stop: Châtelet

Comédie Française

2. rue Richelieu, 1st arrondissement
Tel: 40 15 00 15; Fax: 44 58 14 50
Métro stop: Palais-Royal

Odéon - Théâtre de l'Europe

1. place de l'Odéon, 6th arrondissement
Tel: 44 41 36 36; Fax: 44 41 36 01
Métro/RER stop: Odéon, Luxembourg

Théâtre de la Ville - Théâtre Sarah Bernarht

2, place du Châtelet, 75004 Paris
TEL  42 74 22 77

Originally named Théatre des Nations from 1862 to 1949, then Théatre Sarah Bernhardt from 1949 to 1967, the Théatre de la Ville is located on the Place du Châtelet in the fourth district. In 1968, the theatre took its current name and became a municipal popular theatre under the direction of comedian and director Jean Mercure. The theatre has considerably developed its programs.

In 1968, it only produced one dance show, while there were 25 dance programs out of 110 shows in 1994. That year ninety permanent workers work at the theatre under a budget of 66 million francs, 40% of which goes towards artistic creation and about 12 million goes towards dance.

Sarah Bernhardt, who gave her name to the theatre, was born in Paris in 1844 as an illegitimate child to a Dutch courtisane, Judith van Hard. She entered the Comédie Française at 18 but did not stay long for having slapped a permanent member of the troup. She only returned in 1872 following her remarkable role as the Queen Marie in Victor Hugo's play Ruy Blas at the Théatre de l'Odéon. She became a member of the Comédie Française in 1875.

She is well known for the classical roles she interpreted (Racine's Phedre, Voltaire's Zaïre) for which she would become famous, as well as melodramatic roles in the plays Victorien Sardou created for her (Fedora, Theodora, La Tosca). Oscar Wilde said about her that he understood the gentleness of Racine's music upon hearing her Phedre. She left the Comédie Française in 1880 and started a series of long international tours (nine in America where she discovered that the most popular roles in Europe were not necessarily so popular in the US). As Director of the Renaissance Theatre she played in Lorenzaccio and La Ville Morte. She rented the Théatre des Nations in 1898 which would later take her name in 1949.

She wrote an autobiography in 1907, My Double Life, and a study on acting, The Art of Theatre in 1923. She played the role of the Pucelle until she was 65 without being ridiculed by the public. She continued to act in spite of having her right leg amputated when she was 71 years old. She died in Paris on March 26, 1943. In spite of changing its name many times, the Théatre de la Ville will always be the Theatre of Sarah Bernhardt.

J. Breutzmann, J. Hansen, P. Horvath, J. Landerman, reviewed by L. Déchery - Gustavus Adophus College, USA

Opéra Garnier

Palais Garnier - Place de l'Opéra , 75009 Paris
METRO   Opéra
RER  Auber
BUS   20, 21, 22, 27, 29, 31, 39, 42, 52, 53, 66, 68, 81, 95

Built between 1862-1875, its architect was Charles Garnier. He had been picked from among 171 contestants, and was relatively unknown although he had won the Rome prize in 1848. He was only 35 when awarded with the design of the new opera house. The origins of the idea for a new opera house can be traced back as far as forty years previous to 1820. When construction was finally started, it was just as quickly suspended after the discovery of an underground lake and spring. Although this problem was overcome, the lake persists and lies beneath the cellars of the building.

A large building, it has a total area of 11,000 square metres (118,404 square feet) and a vast stage with room for up to 450 artists. The auditorium itself comprises roughly half of the total space, most of the rest being used to house necessary logistical support so that the stage demands of any opera can be met and even surpassed. This can include live horses running on a rotating stage. The opera seats only 2,200.

Legend has it that the Empress Eugénie asked Garnier whether the building was to be in Greek or Roman style to which he replied ``It is in the Napoléon III style Madame !'' It remains an ornate building richly decorated with friezes, columns, and winged figures among other statues and embellishments.

This richness continues inside with velvet, gold leaf, and nymphs and cherubs. The auditorium's central chandelier weighs over six tons, and its ceiling was painted in 1964 by Chagall.

Opéra de la Bastille

Place de la Bastille, 12th Arrondissement.
Tel. (1) 44 73 13 99 (Information) / (1) 44 73 13 00 (Reservations)
Métro : Bastille.