Stravinsky, Then Cocteau and Now ... Sting Is Opera House Star

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Elvis Costello also makes debut in Paris

THE Thetre du Chtelet, a Palladian opera house on the banks of the River Seine, has witnessed its fair share of grand opening nights since Baron Haussmann ordered its construction nearly 150 years ago. It was here that Igor Stravinsky chose to premiere his groundbreaking ballet Petrushka with Nijinsky in the starring role. Six years later, the world first witnessed Jean Cocteau's Parade, produced by Diaghilev and designed by Pablo Picasso, at the Chtelet.

Last night, it fell to two veterans of British new wave music, Sting and Elvis Costello, to make their debuts as opera stars at the historic Paris theatre on the first …