A controversial video interview has sparked an international debate about how knowledgable the head of an opera company must be in order to run it as a business. "The director of Paris Opera performed poorly in a surprise opera test during a television interview in France. It was a little bit awkward. Stéphane Lissner, who has previously held posts at Italy's La Scala opera house, was asked to name particular opera arias on a French television show. Despite his history in the opera industry, a visibly uncomfortable Lissner floundered during the unexpected quiz. Although he did manage to correctly identify an aria from Bizet's Carmen, Lissner was unable to connect excerpts with operas like Catalani's La Wally and Puccini's Madame Butterfly." [Source] Watch the video, and read more about Mr. Lissner, after the jump.
"The Apple Opéra Store – facing the city’s famous Opera de Paris, is gorgeous and very Parisian. The location, which opened in 2010, features original décor from the bank that once occupied the space. Inside, carved wooden stairs with wrought-iron railings connect the floors, instead of Apple’s signature glass and chrome steps." [Source]
