Vacheron Constantin Celebrates With the Friends of the Paris Opera and Ballet

On Saturday, November 20, Paris’ Palais Garnier played host to Vacheron Constantin as well as hundreds of the Manufacture’s guests for the much-anticipated 30th anniversary celebration of the AROP (Friends of the Paris Opera and Ballet). Presiding over the occasion were Jean-Louis Beffa, President of the AROP, Nicolas Joel, Director of the National Opera of Paris, and Brigitte Lefèvre, Director of Dance. Vacheron Constantin was represented by CEO Juan-Carlos Torres, Marc Guten, the International Director, and Jean-Yves di Martino, the Director of France for the manufacture.

Guests had the opportunity to admire the Vacheron Constantin watch “Métiers d’Art – Chagall et l’Opéra Garnier” manufactured specifically for this event to celebrate the anniversary. The dial of this unique timepiece reproduces in remarkable detail and quality the famous ceiling of the Opera painted by Marc Chagall. This remarkable timepiece was realized using a traditional Genevan technique known as Grand Feu. Characterized by miniature painting on enamel, this meticulous process is specific to the Swiss city and passed down from generation to generation by masters of this art. After a global presentation of this unique watch, it will join the private collection of the Vacheron Constantin Maison.

The entrance to the Palais set the tone for the entire evening. Guests were greeted by a gauntlet of soldiers of the French garde républicaine clad in their magnificent uniforms. Inside, the more than 1600 guests enjoyed performances by stars of the Paris Opera and divas from around the world. Nicolas Le Riche performed Ravel’s Boléro after enchanting the audience with a perfectly choreographed performance of Maurice Béjart, and singer Nathalie Dessay chose Lammermoor’s Air de la folie de Lucia. Following the performances, some 1000 guests adjourned to the grand foyer where a majestic dinner awaited them.

These scenes from the evening may be enlarged with a click.

L to R Jean-Louis Beffa, Juan-Carlos Torres, Frédéric Mitterand and Bernard Stirn, President of the Opéra.