The direct route would not have required us to enter the function room.simply to turn right in front of it. In addition, we paid in advance for interval drinks in one of the bars near the Grand Salle and were prevented from going the direct route at interval and instructed to go the long way round (very long, through crowds lining up at various bars) because of a closed-off private reception. They were also disturbed, and backed up my complaint to the attendant, who eventually came in to determine the location of the offender. The entire first act was spoiled for me and for the couple in the front row of the next box. This is a warning that paying a lot for your seats at the Palais Garnier does not guarantee a mobile/cellphone-free experience. Once the interval drinks function was over, this woman stopped texting. I have no doubt that the texting woman was either a sponsor's representative or VIP who was allowed to do what she wanted, because my complaint fell on deaf ears. All that the attendant could do was to tell me that if the woman kept texting during the second Act, I should tell her, which would have required disturbing others to exit the box, and finding her again, as attendants/ushers are quick to disappear. I couldn't leave my seat to find someone to help because I would have disturbed the people sitting behind me. It could have had something to do with the four empty seats near them during the first Act, which were later filled.
Her male companion used his phone to text for a while (it appeared to be a work crisis) but had the decency to leave temporarily to attend to his problem. A woman below in the main auditorium used her phone to text for the entire first Act.
With my husband, who bought the tickets, I was sitting in an expensive front row seat in a box for six persons (Door 20). This causes a terrible distraction for other patrons in direct line of sight. However, much can be improved by having the theatre attendants be able to warn and do something about patrons who spoil the experience of others by using their mobile/cellphones to text during the performance. This review should not deter you from seeing anything by this Opera Company or from visiting the magnificent Palais Garnier. I saw a performance of La Cenerentola (Cinderella) last night by the Opera de Paris.
0 kommentar(er)
