Paris Opera recuits talent in colonies
OperaThe Paris Opera has begun a three-year programme in French Guiana to attract young people in the so-called ‘overseas department’ to make careers in opera and ballet.
‘Geographic distance must not be an insurmountable obstacle to see performances, or to imagine embarking on a career as a dancer, opera signer or musician,’ said Paris boss Alexander Neef.
The distance is 7,000 kilometres between Paris and South America. ‘L’Opéra en Guyane’ seems more of a political gesture than a practical proposition. But it’s good to see France still acting like a 19th century imperialist power.
Even for an obsessive “French basher”, this is really too much. Guyana is not a colony, but a French region.
This operation is launched to enhance the chances of young artists from that region by trying to counteract the problem of the distance. It should be praised and not criticized.
If the French themselves are so uninterested in opera, then just take it down.
Definitely not a colony, this is offensive. Both for France and Guyanese people.
Even if the motivations are impure, I actully think this is an excellent development. Why not cultivate talent in the arts wherever one can? And as another commenter points out, some of these locales are claassified as Overseas Departments and thus part of France proper as much as Paris or Calais. These folks are French in the political and legal senses and vote in national parliamentary elections as well.
I agree with CJ. This is very commendable and should be encouraged in helping develop young professionals in the performing arts.
Right. If the worst thing colonialism did was to bring opera to other countries, we should re-write the history books again. Besides, if the people of Guayana really wanted independence, they could have it tomorrow. But perhaps you know better than they do.
“Overseas department” is simply a less imperialistic-sounding euphemism to describe a colony.
The French seem ill-disposed to dispose of their remaining overseas territories. I wonder why?
I understand that French Guiana citizens can vote in the French presidential elections, whereas Puerto Rico, Guam, and American Virgin Islands citizens cannot vote in the US presidential elections.
Colonies, euphemisms?
French Guiana is a departement (pardon the missing aigu) with precisely the same rights and parliamentary representation as, say, the Loire or Burgundy. Meanwhile, the US has several territories (including the District of Columbia) whose citizens lack rights equal to those of citizens of the states. (And even in these territories, the population is not of one mind concerning either full statehood or independence.)
La Guyane française est un département français, exactement comme tous les autres, Monsieur Lebrecht!
Mêmes droits, mêmes devoirs, même lois, même President de la République!
And when was the last time the UK did something – anything – for cultural life in Gibraltar, or in the islands you call Falkland? Come to think of it, when is it going to get out of there?
Why should it? The people have spoken, more than once, they want to be British. Of course, Argentina has rarely cared about what populations want, so business as usual.
Nonsense. Maybe for you Sutherland and Kanawa are also singers of colonies.