Marchand shines literally and figuratively in a sequinned tunic, dancing with aplomb and precision, with a fair deal of balon thrown in for good measure. There is a wonderful moment where Colasante pauses in épaulement as she is walking upstage to look coquettishly through her port de bras in 5th en haute, then executes a series of solid balances and neat pirouettes. Valentine Colasante and Hugo Marchand in Grand Pas classique by Victor Gsovsky Photo Julien Benhamou, Opéra national de Paris I confess that I welled up when the principals solemnly came to the apron and took their curtain, the sound of the crew chatting the background and the noise of the cloth coming in echoing round the empty auditorium.Ĭhoreographed by Victor Gsovsky, an émigré who was ballet master of post-war Opéra Ballet, and danced by étoiles Valentine Colasante and Hugo Marchand to music by Daniel-François-Esprit Auber with costumes by Chanel, the Grand Pas classique is a pas de deux in the grand tradition. Still, ballet has survived wars and revolutions and surely won’t let a global virus get in its way. The men in particular seem like anti-automata, relentlessly pacing on, sans audience but with half an orchestra. It is strangely moving and simultaneously defiant. Grand defilé, Paris Opera Ballet Gala 20-21 Photo Julien Benhamou, Opéra national de Paris The adults follow, acknowledging the unseen viewers with their reverences. On and on they come, the stately walk a prelude to learning the drill, placing and discipline of the corps. The evening, which marked the return of the dancers to the Garnier stage after months away, opened as always with the famous Paris défilé, even if the modern petits rats are all masked. Some things remain very familiar, though. This is late January not September and, being in the midst of the pandemic, there are no audience members shuffling to their seats, chatting or waving programmes, and the orchestra sit apart.

The opening credits run over a splendid view of the glorious Palais Garnier.

Paris opera garnier programme