Goings-On Jan 24, Part II
Major events in Paris, London, Warsaw and Florence
This is Part Two of the January digest. If you missed Part One, no worries it didn’t fade away – all is here, including recommendations for Zurich, Berlin and Gothenburg. This email covers 8 events in Paris, London, Florence and Warsaw. Some of them I’ve already seen, others are selling out quickly, some shows would be a miracle to attend, some will be repeated later this year.
PARIS
Until Jan 7 / Exhibition / À toi de faire, ma mignonne, Sophie Calle / Musée National Picasso Paris
First of all, I’m a huge fan of Sophie Calle and there’s a newsletter I’m planning to dedicate to her work exclusively. When I met her for the first time, my excitement was through the roof. I’ve been repeatedly lucky to sit with her and talk, talk, talk. Now she has taken over the entire Picasso museum; almost moving her house there for the last 4 months she has been staying in the nearby hotel’s room.
Jan 21, 23, 27, 30 / Opera / Giuseppe Verdi’s La Traviata by Simon Stone/ Opera Bastille
In Italian with French and English subtitles, Duration 2 h 45 min
Simon Stone... He’s such a rare talent, who works in theater, opera and cinema. His opera staging of Innocence is one of the greatest experiences I’ve ever had. I'm planning to catch La Traviata in February.
Until Jan 28 / Exhibition / The Invention of Language, Gertrude Stein and Pablo Picasso/ Musee du Luxembourg
By examining their closeness and inventiveness, the exhibition at the Musée du Luxembourg will explore a century of art, poetry, music and theater through key figures such as Henri Matisse, Juan Gris, Marcel Duchamp, Ed Ruscha, Jasper Johns, Andy Warhol, Bruce Nauman, Carl Andre, Joseph Kosuth, Roni Horn, Hanne Darboven, Glenn Ligon, John Cage, Steve Reich, Bob Wilson, Gary Hill and Philip Glass.
It was one of the best shows in Paris this autumn. And it was a super hot season. Curatorially, it was an incredibly clear and sophisticated work. It is also a great occasion to visit the Jardin de Luxembourg.
Until March 3 / Exhibition / Critical Mass, Anthony Gormley / Musée Rodin
Until Apr 4/ Mark Rothko / Fondation Louis Vuitton
There was only one chance for me to see an explicit Rothko’s retrospective – at Tate Modern in 2009. And guess what, I missed it. So I had to wait for another 14 years for the once-in-a-lifetime show featuring 155 artworks. Well, the show is definitely no less important than Vermeer last year, when for me it means even more.
WARSAW
Jan 21, 24, 26, 28 / Luigi Cherubini’s Medee by Simon Stone / Opera Narodowa
January and February are the most fruitful months for Simon Stone's productions. After that there is nothing much to see (at least in Europe) until the next season. So, don't miss out, book a ticket now!
LONDON
JAN (daily) / Theater / Macbeth starring David Tennant and Cush Jumbo / Donmar Warehouse
It runs DAILY until mid-February and is 100% sold out. I highly recommend signing up for ticket alerts. I once caught a ticket for a Cate Blanchett performance just by responding to a notification.
FLORENCE
Until Feb 4 / Exhibition / Untrue Unreal, Anish Kapoor / Palazzo Strozzi
It begins impressively. In between the first and second rooms there is a gigantic block of dark red wax weighing 5 tonnes that moves imperceptibly on rails, like a train carriage. Kapoor explains: “The first piece is about Auschwitz and the train coming. I first made this piece at the Haus der Kunst in Munich (1). It went through 4 connected rooms, very much not forgetting that that museum was built by Hitler. So obviously the train is a carrier of emotional and physical presence. That waxy material is very much about body.” Judith Benhamou-Huet
and extra bonus:
Jan 15-16 & 29-31 / Ballet / Last Work by Ohad Naharin. Performed by The Batsheva Ensemble / Suzanne Dellal
Although the performance premiered in 2015, I’ve never seen it before, and I’m not going to miss the chance this time. Since moving to Tel Aviv, I have promised myself to see everything Naharin and Batsheva have to offer. Great news: the show is on stage until July.
So January is done. We’re moving towards spring right through a very busy and exciting February – you’ll see it soon. A little sneak peek: it will be full of fascinating ballet performances and exhibitions. For some book-now-events follow me on instagram, which I update at least once a week with everything that doesn't fit here.
If you visit at least one of the listed events, I would be the happiest.
Yours,
Miri