CHIROPTERA

On November 12th, 2023, the vast cavern covering the facade of the Palais Garnier came to life with CHIROPTERA, a project by JR, Damien Jalet, and Thomas Bangalter. Twenty-five thousand spectators filled the Place de l’Opéra to watch Amandine Albisson, a principal ballerina at the Paris Opera, open the entrance to the cave with her looming, anthropomorphous shadow. For one night only, JR’s Act II - Retour à la caverne installation became a stage curtain that opened to unveil 153 dancers covering scaffolding thirty meters in the air. A stunning performance choreographed by Damien Jalet with music by Thomas Bangalter, CHIROPTERA explored the allegories presented in Act I and II of Retour à la caverne.