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SPECIAL PROMOTION10 London & Paris September 24- 25, 2011 smh.com.auThe Sydney Morning Herald September 24- 25, 2011 London & Paris 11SPECIAL PROMOTIONDESTINATIONPARISJoin the culture clubFrom music to arts, sport and distractions for the children, there’s something for everyone in the City of Light, writes Garry Maddox.is always a good idea,’’ AudreyHepburn once said in a movie.Visitors from all over the world‘Parisagree. Any time of the year, theFrench capital has an indelible romantic appealfor tourists discovering history and stunningsights every corner they turn.It’s also a city of culture, fashion, food,shopping, music, film and sport – especially atthe climax of the Tour de France or a big matchat the Stade de France. And postcard sellershave made a fortune from such famous touristattractions as the Eiffel Tower; the Louvre, withits impossible range of artistic riches that onlystart with the Mona Lisa and Venus de Milo;the Pompidou Centre, with its own collectionof masterpieces; the charming Left Bank;artistic Montmartre; Notre Dame; the Seine;and the famous Arc de Triomphe on theChamps-Elysees.But if that’s not enough, Paris also has a buzzingcalendar of cultural and entertainment events inthe first half of next year, including Les Maitres duDesordre at Musee du quai Branly, Robert Crumbat the Museum of Modern Art and Manuel AlvarezBravo at the Jeu de Paume. Many exhibitions offertwo-for-one entry if you buy a train ticket throughEurostar (see page 8).Art and cultureThe Musee d’Orsay, on the left bank of the Seine,is worth visiting any time for the stunning arrayof impressionist and post-impressionistmasterpieces in its permanent collection and thegrand atmosphere of the former railway station.Early next year, it will host the city’s first majormonographic exhibition in more than twodecades on one of the great masters of the19th century – Edgar Degas.1HERSA1 0010While the Paris-born artist was also famous forhis paintings of dancers and horses, Degas andthe Nude will show his fascination with thefemale form and the way his initially academicand historical approach evolved into ‘‘theinscription of the body in modernity’’.A partnership with the Boston Museum ofFine Arts, the exhibition will offer a rare chanceto see the museum’s remarkable but fragilecollection of graphic works, alongside loans fromthe New York Metropolitan Museum of Art andthe Art Institute of Chicago.The museum’s other treasures include worksby Van Gogh, Gauguin, Cezanne, Pissarro,Manet, Monet, Renoir, Toulouse-Lautrec,Bonnard and Rodin.Degas, March 13 to July 1 at the Musee d’Orsay.See musee-orsay.fr/en.Previously unseen work by another great Frenchartist, Henri Matisse, will be exhibited at thePompidou Centre next year. The exhibitionthrows light on the creative process and thedevelopment of series based on a single subject.He is known for his bold use of colour,draughtsmanship and striking compositions.Matisse, March 7 to June 18 at the PompidouCentre. See www.centrepompidou.fr.Each year in Paris, an internationallyrenowned contemporary artist is invited to createa unique artwork for the Nave of the GrandPalais, which sits beneath a stunning 45-metreglass vault. For Monumenta 2011, organised bythe French Ministry of Culture andCommunication, Bombay-born British sculptorAnish Kapoor devised a huge work calledLeviathan, which evoked the Biblical sea monsterof the same name and was accompanied byconcerts, performances and readings. Next year,French conceptual artist Daniel Buren will createa work for the nave.Conceived as the architectural centrepiece ofthe Paris Universal Exposition in 1900, the GrandPalais, on the Champs-Elysees, also hosts othersignificant cultural events, includingcontemporary art exhibitions and fairs.Monumenta, May and June, 2012, at the GrandPalais. See monumenta.com/en.CinemaFans of Hollywood director Tim Burton, whosemovies include Beetlejuice, Batman, EdwardScissorhands, Charlie and the Chocolate Factoryand Alice in Wonderland, will be interested in anexhibition at the Paris Cinematheque thatshowcases his inventiveness.Originally at the Museum of Modern Art inNew York then later in Melbourne, Tim Burton:The Exhibition includes a gallery devoted to hiswork as a director, producer, writer, conceptartist, photographer and illustrator.It features artworks he made as a student,letters, examples of his early films and excerptsfrom projects that are yet to be made. Definitelyworth seeing if you missed it in Melbourne.Tim Burton: The Exhibition, March 7 to August 5,2012, at Paris Cinematheque. See cinematheque.fr.Family funFrom Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck toCaptain Jack Sparrow and Buzz Lightyear, allof Disney’s famous characters will be partyingin April, when Disneyland Paris celebrates its20th anniversary. Located 32 kilometresfrom central Paris, the 19-square-kilometre siteincludes two bustling theme parks, 13 hotels,a golf resort and an entertainment districtwith shops, restaurants, bars, cinemas andlive music.At Disneyland Park, the attractions includethe musical tour It’s a Small World atFantasyland; the thrill-ride Space Mountain:Mission 2 and the Buzz Lightyear LaserBlast, both at Discoveryland; the WildWest train ride Big Thunder Mountainat Frontierland; and Pirates of theCaribbean at Adventureland.To mark the 20th anniversary, the iconicSleeping Beauty castle will be lit up at duskas part of a colourful light show. At WaltDisney Studios Park, guests can investigatethe world of cinema and television withtours of four studio lots that all have theirown attractions.At Production Courtyard, riders can plunge13 floors in the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror. AtToon Studio, they can feel what it’s like to be thesize of a toy on the larger-than-life rides or jointhe Cars Race Rally.Disneyland Paris 20th Anniversary, April atDisneyland Paris. See disneylandparis.com.SportFor tennis fans around the world, the nameRoland Garros conjures images of dramaticclay-court battles at the French Open.This year, there were memorable wins inboth the men’s and women’s singles. RafaelNadal equalled Bjorn Borg’s record six men’stitles in the modern era when he wore downRoger Federer, who had seen off NovakDjokovic in the semi-finals. And Li Na wonChina’s first grand slam when she beat thedefending champion, Francesca Schiavone.Next year, the tournament will run fromMay 22 to June 10 and history suggests it will bejust as dramatic.French Open, May 22 to June 10 at Roland Garros.See rolandgarros.com.Paris on a platter ... (clockwise from main) the Musee d’Orsay showcases art history; the ParisCircuit Party (top) celebrates equality and freedom; the French Open at Roland Garros; the manmadePlage a Paris; Disneyland Paris icons; the Cite de la Musique.MusicA striking building in the east of Paris, the Cite dela Musique (City of Music) attracts music loversof all kinds. It hosts more than 400 concerts ayear and has a museum with a major collectionof classical instruments.Next year, it will feature an exhibition devotedto a formative time in the musical evolution ofBob Dylan. Between 1961 and 1966, the greatsinger-songwriter went through a radical changefrom little-known folk artist to one of hisgeneration’s most famous figures, embracingfirst protest songs then evolving his distinctivesongwriting style with numbers such as Blowin’in the Wind and A Hard Rain’s a-Gonna Fallbefore taking up the electric guitar.Created by the Grammy Museum of LosAngeles, the exhibition Bob Dylan, Rock Explosionfeatures objects, rare documents, an audiovisualarchive and previously unpublished photos.Bob Dylan, Rock Explosion, March 6 to July 1 atthe Cite de la Musique.See cite-musique.fr.If you’re more interested in the smooth sounds ofjazz, Paris is one of the world’s great centres.The Paris Jazz Club ‘‘promotes, celebrates anddemocratises all forms of jazz’’ at venues acrossthe city, including Autour de Midi ... et Minuit atthe foot of Montmartre, the adventurouslyprogrammed Le Baiser Sale near the ChateletMetro station and the elegant Le Boeuf Sur le Toitnear the Champs-Elysees.The Paris Jazz Club Festival will feature arange of local and international talentperforming in 16 jazz clubs in and around Paris.One ticket will gain entry to all concerts in theaffiliated clubs.Paris Jazz Club Festival, January 2 to 15 at variousvenues. See parisjazzclub.net.Gay and lesbianJust as Sydney has Mardi Gras, Paris has its ownvibrant celebration of gay pride. The Paris CircuitParty, held for the first time this year in June, wasa chance to socialise, dance, see shows, visitexhibitions and support gay-friendly policies.The program included six parties with 22 DJsand 40 go-go dancers. A highlight was the gaypride parade that ran for seven kilometres fromGare Montparnasse to the Bastille, culminating ina free concert.Next year’s program is expected to includeeven more events.Paris Circuit Party, June 21 to July 2 at variousvenues. See pariscircuitparty.com.Celebrating summerIf you’re missing the beach during winter inAustralia, fear not: Parisians build their ownduring their summer.Tonnes of sand and deckchairs are shipped infor La Plage (the Beach) at Glazart, a formerrailway station in the city’s north-east thatfeatures edgy concerts, exhibitions and culturalevents all year.For locals and tourists, it’s a popular spot forbuzzing nightlife, including open-air concertsfrom mid-June to September. On Sundays it ismore family-oriented, with picnics, games ofpetanque and water-pistol fights.The main Plage a Paris stands from mid-July tomid-August, along the right bank of the Seine.See paris.frFor more information on events in Paris, see new-parisidf.com.For details on discounts to museums,see eurostar.com/UK/x_euro/leisure/latest_deals/eurostarcc.jsp.1HERSA1 0011