Opera National de Paris

A mixed bag from Opera National de Paris this year. Deborah Warner's Jaywick style production of Peter Grimes was at odds with the grandeur of the Palais Garnier, but received justified ovations, particularly for Allan Clayton in the title role. Traviata was well-performed, but the production was dark and lacked intensity, even in the final act. Tristan und Isolde was a triumph - Bill Viola's videos and Peter Sellars' direction were engrossing and immersive and Mary Elizabeth Williams was magnificent as Isolde. Hamlet by Ambroise Thomas was confusing (and cliched) but performed with such brio as to make it entertaining and utterly enjoyable evening. Nixon in China was an awful production (too much table tennis and a 10 minute video about the cultural revolution that sucked any remaining impetus from the drama), but Kathleen Kim, Xiaomeng Zhang and the chorus were wonderful.