The Paris Opera and a Jazz Experience

Paris Opera

There are several beautiful and noteworthy buildings that have withstood the test of time and the transition of “once-trendy” to “stuffy and old”. The Paris Opera is one of the rare and stunning creations that stands in a class by itself, like the Taj Mahal. Without exaggeration I believe it is one of the most lovely and timeless works of art ever created. A masterpiece of functionality and inspired design, it fulfills its mission to house great performances while delighting all who are lucky enough to be there to witness them.

The grand staircase evokes the feel of a palace, and I could envision opening night of a grand opera with Parisians dressed in their finest sipping champagne. The marble carvings, the busts of composers, musicians and theatre artists that line the walls, and the velvet draperies evoke the glamour of a very special occasion. This is how to honor the artistry that happens within these walls.

Named for its designer, Charles Garnier, the Paris Opera is a thriving performing arts center and is a huge part of the cultural scene. We were a bit early in the season to see a performance, but Mr. Large and I hope to return one day and enjoy a great performance in a great performance hall. We could hardly drag ourselves away from this masterpiece of design, but they were closing the doors on us. To find out more about this national treasure visit their website at https://www.operadeparis.fr/. It’s worth a visit!

Sunside Though we did not see any performances at the Opera Garnier, we did manage to catch a live performance at a jazz club! Mr. Large is a jazz aficionado and he thought this would be a great breakaway from all the museum-going, and visits to so many memorials to long-dead famous personages. As usual, Mr. Large’s instincts were right on target, and we bought our tickets for the 9PM show at Sunside. Jeremy Pelt, an American trumpeter was playing. I contacted my friend in NJ – JGLee (who is a jazzer himself). He confirmed that he knew Jeremy Pelt, admired him and had booked him a few times at my former place of employment. We were in for a great night of jazz! Small world…

We had dinner beforehand at a nearby café and were at the club in plenty of time to get a first- row seat. The club was miniscule but Jeremy, and his performing partner trombonist Steve Davis were brilliant. Backed by a superb trio of local musicians, they filled the club with their virtuosity for two hours. We couldn’t believe this little club had these two amazing musicians on their stage. And we were only about 5 feet away. This live performance gave us joy and a great ZING! You just can’t beat the incomparable feeling of a live performance by world-class artists.