The Opéra Bastille (Bastille Opera House) is a modern opera house in the 12th arrondissement of Paris (France). Inaugurated in 1989 as part of President François Mitterrand’s Grands Travaux, it became the main facility of the Garnier Opera, France’s principal opera company, alongside the older Palais Garnier; most opera performances are shown at the Bastille along with some ballet performances and symphony concerts, while Palais Garnier presents a mix of opera and ballet performances.
Designed by Uruguayan architect Carlos Ott, it is situated facing Place de la Bastille. It may seat 2,723 people in total, with a main theatre, concert hall and studio theatre.
The backstage occupies an enormous area (5,000 m2), six times larger than the stage: the stage area is flanked left and right with areas of the same size, and these three areas are replicated towards the back of the theatre. A system of rails and a rotating dock make it possible to roll entire sets on and off on giant motorised platforms in a few minutes and to store these platforms on the available backstage spots; quick changes of set enable the artists to rehearse a work in the afternoon and to perform another one in the evening within the same space, something impossible at the Palais Garnier. The use of such platforms also makes it considerably easier to use three-dimensional sets rather than traditional flat images. Under the stage is a giant elevator, which is used to lower unused set platforms to an underground storehouse as large as the backstage itself.
The building also includes a rehearsal room that identical in size and shape to the theatre’s pit and stage areas.
Evening performances usually begin at 7.30 pm and matinees at 2.30 pm, with the exception of certain particularly long works. We recommend that you arrive at least 45 minutes before the performance begins.
The performance always starts at the time indicated on the ticket and the website. Latecomers will have to wait until the intermission to be admitted into the auditorium. The doors into the theatre building will be closed 15 minutes after the start of the performance.
Metro: Station Bastille (lines 1, 5 and 8), Gare de Lyon (RER)
Bus: Routes 29, 69, 76, 86, 87, 91, N01, N02, N11, N16
Car park : Q-Park Opéra Bastille – 34, rue de Lyon, 75012 Paris
Address: Pl. de la Bastille, 75012 Paris, France.
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