French opera constitutes an important branch of the operatic tradition. In the mid-17^th century, at the court of the ‘Sun King’ Louis XIV, Italian musician Giovanni Battista Lulli combined the court ballet (ballet de cour) with Italian opera, which spawned the ‘lyric opera’ genre and opened up a new, lustrous chapter for French opera. The French operatic arts are deeply influenced by French culture and suffused with a mighty historical spirit and an enchanting romantic temperament. At times, French opera can be impassioned and heroic, while at others it is humorous and ebullient, and sometimes even genial and touching. The opera Carmen saw the light of day during the final stage of the Golden Era of French opera. The middle of the 19th century was the most brilliant zenith of French opera: Hector Berlioz conceived of the "légende dramatique" (dramatic legend), composers Ambroise Thomas, Charles Gounod and Camille Saint-Saens wrote exquisite pieces of ‘opéra lyrique’, Jacques Offenbach left behind operettas in which laughter and profundity could co-exist, Georges Bizet gave the world his imperishable classics and, in a slightly later period, Jules Massenet continued on with the creation of lyric operas, whereas Gustave Charpentier, in turn, elevated the verismo (i.e. realist) opera genre to new heights. Today, our performers will use music to freeze time, and transport audiences back to the Paris of 100 years ago, allowing us to leaf through the memories of the city and to have a taste of its former zeitgeist. Under the baton of French conductor Patrick Fournier, soprano singers Norah Amsellem and Amira Selim, mezzo-soprano Annie Vavrille, baritone Alexander Duhamel, American tenor José Ortega, European trained mezzo-soprano Liang Ning, along with the talented performers of the China National Symphony Orchestra and its chorus, performed highlights from Hector Berlioz’ La damnation de Faust (The Damnation of Faust), Ambroise Thomas’ Mignon, Charles Gounod’s Faust and Romeo and Juliet, Jacques Offenbach’s La belle Hélène and Les contes d'Hoffmann (The Tales of Hoffmann), Camille Saint-Saens’ Samson et Dalila, Bizet’s Carmen and L'Arlesienne (The Girl from Arles), Jules Massenet’s Manon, Marc-Antoine Charpentier’s Louise, among other classic opera pieces. This served to demonstrate the inexhaustible, mesmerizing charm of French opera, as distinguished guests were able to bask in the operatic splendor of this ‘mecca of the arts’.