Concert at Les Invalides

Jeanne alerted us to a Bach concert at Invalides, being given for the clients and caregivers of the charity that she and Anne volunteer for.  It nicely filled our Saturday afternoon.

Lots of security. 

 The skies were dark grey and threatening, while the temperatures were high and sticky. 

 As I took photos before the performance, I saw the statue brightly lit at the side of the performance space. I decided to wait until after the concert to go over and take a better photo.  

 I can't recall that we have ever been inside the cathedral.  Anne explained that it is not a real cathedral in the sense of a regularly attended church.  But since there is a high-ranking army minister, he must have a place which is the seat of his work.  This is it. 

The more I looked at it, the more I wondered if the glass above and behind the performance area (which was separated from the altar by a black screen) was Napoleon's tomb.  After the performance, we walked around the other side of the building to find that indeed, it was.  We pondered the 9 euros to enter for a half hour before closing, and decided we could return to see the whole museum another day. 

As the performance began, the statue I had noticed earlier began to move. 

During the performance, he slowly mimed various aspects of the life of a soldier.  The theme of the performance was from the darkness into the light.  I'm not sure how this relates to the life of a soldier, but it was interesting. 

Taking a bow....

 Below, the soprano soloist, the "comedian", and Michael Lonsdale, who provided a recitation throughout the performance. 

 The soldier's backpack that was featured in the performance. 

 Above, the soprano soloist, below the alto soloist. 

Then, of course, it was time for coffee and hot chocolate. 

 Then home.  During the performance we heard thunder and saw lightening all around.  We learned later that 10 children and 1 adult had been hit by lightening at the Parc Monceau at that very time.  It was lucky that the commandant of the sapier-pompiers was at the park enjoying some time off.  He was able to stabilize the most seriously injured child, as well as others, until the emergency crews arrived. 

By the time we emerged, the rain was over for a while, and we had no trouble getting home.  Just outside the door to our building we felt the first few drops of another wave of rain.