The Paris spring theatre and dance festivals continue to produce the kind of programming that justifies a long weekend's careful attention. Notes from four days of attendance follow.
The opening evening
The opening evening at the Théâtre de la Ville offered a contemporary dance triple bill that demonstrated what the form's mid-career generation is producing in continental Europe right now. The work was uniformly strong; the choreographic language carried by each company is distinctive without being mannered.
The afternoon programme
The Saturday afternoon programme at a smaller venue in the 11th arrondissement paired a new chamber opera with a contemporary play; the pairing produced one of those evenings whose conversation between forms was the work itself.
The Sunday closer
The Sunday evening closer at the Opéra Garnier returned to the classical-ballet tradition with the kind of large-scale company work that the festival's broader programming had not emphasised. The contrast served both pieces well.
The verdict
The festival continues to support the kind of thoughtful programming that smaller-budget American festivals aspire to but cannot consistently produce. American visitors with even modest French and the willingness to navigate the venue logistics will find the festival rewarding; the trip is one to plan around rather than to fit into other travel.
