Fall Cultural Events in Paris 2011

 

Painting by Cezanne// All photos courtesy of the author

 

Richard Nahem, an ex-New Yorker  living in Paris, leads private insider tours showing visitors the Paris most of them never see on their own (www.eyepreferparistours.com), and also writes a popular insider's blog www.eyepreferparis.com.

Autumn in Paris 2011 is rich with cultural events including new art exhibits at the major museums, theater, opera, and dance. From a show of sobering black and white photos to a modern tragic opera to rarely shown paintings of romantic Paris, the fall season promises worthwhile enough to take a special trip to Paris.

Here are some of our top picks for you to enjoy.

Cezanne et Paris
Cezanne is widely known for his paintings of the French countryside, Provence. However, Cezanne spent much of his formative years in Paris starting in 1861 and very few exhibitions have displayed his work of that period. Over eighty works are shown including his Paris landscapes, nudes, the banks of the River Marne, and paintings of the surrounding areas of Paris Auvers-sur-Oise and Fontainebleau.

Till February 26
Musée du Luxembourg
19 rue de Vaugirard,
75006 

http://www.museeduluxembourg.fr/en/

 

Young Man by Diane Arbus

Diane Arbus
Paris welcomes American iconic photographer Diane Arbus with her first major retrospective. Known for her gritty black and white photos in the 1950s and 60s, Arbus used New York City, her home, as the backdrop for her fascinating, sometimes harsh portraits.  She wasn’t afraid of controversial subjects and the over 200 photos on exhibit include couples, children, carnival performers, nudists, middle-class families, transvestites, zealots, eccentrics, and celebrities.

Till February 5
Jeu de Paume
1 Place de la Concorde, 75008
http://www.jeudepaume.org/index.php?page=article&idArt=1471&lieu=7

The Stein Family Collection – Matisse, Cezanne, Picasso
The Stein family, including Gertrude and her two elder brothers Leo and Michael were Jewish intellectuals from the United States who relocated to Paris in the early 1900s. They were known for their close ties to artists of the day and were some of the first collectors of paintings from then unknown artists Matisse, Picasso, Renoir, Cezanne, Gris and Bonnard. Over time they built one of the most important collections of early 20th century art and this new exhibit, divided into eight sections explores the Stein’s relationship with the artists.

Till January 16
Grand Palais
3 Avenue du Général Eisenhower, 75008
http://www.rmn.fr/english/les-musees-et-leurs-expositions-238/grand-palais-galeries-nationales-257/expositions-258/matisse-cezanne-picasso-the-stein

Merce Cunningham
The master and inventor of avant-garde dance in America, choreographer Merce Cunningham died in 2009 at the ripe old age of 90. With over fifty years of cutting edge dance, his legacy stated that his dance company to be dismantled two years after is death. This will be your last chance to see two programs of Cunningham’s most beloved pieces including Suite for Five, Quartet, Rainforest and Biped.

Program 1 – December 8 to 23
Program 2-December 15 to 18
Theatre de la Ville
Place du Chatelet, 75001
http://www.theatredelaville-paris.com/discipline-danse-1

 

Lulu

Lulu
Inspired by German author Frank Wedekind’s two tragedies about the plight of women in the turn of the century, Lulu is one of the most important operas 20th century. Composed by Alban Berg, the third act was uncompleted by his untimely death in 1937. It is led by the Danish conductor Michael Schonwandt and the cast includes Laura Aikin as Lulu, Kurt Streit as Alwa and Jennifer Larmore as Grafin Geschwitz.

October 28, November 2 and 5
Opera Bastille
Place de la Bastille, 75011
http://www.operadeparis.fr/cns11/live/onp/Saison_2011_2012/Operas/spectacle.php?lang=en&event_id=2110&CNSACTION=SELECT_EVENT