Collaborating
AFPOB connects the Paris Opera & Ballet with American artists and with ballet & musical companies.
Promoting
AFPOB helps promote the Paris Opera & Ballet in the United States through media, events and fundraising campaigns.
Fostering
AFPOB fosters artistic cooperation through scholarship programs, artist exchanges, and US tours of the Paris Opera & Ballet.
Collaborating
AFPOB connects the Paris Opera & Ballet with American artists and with ballet & musical companies.
Promoting
AFPOB helps promote the Paris Opera & Ballet in the United States through media, events and fundraising campaigns.
Fostering
AFPOB fosters artistic cooperation through scholarship programs, artist exchanges, and US tours of the Paris Opera & Ballet.
The American Friends of the Paris Opera & Ballet was established in 1984 in New York. It was created to support the Paris Opera and Ballet in the United States, following a request from Rudolf Nureyev, the Director of the Paris Opera & Ballet at that time.
ABOUT US
The American Friends of the Paris Opera & Ballet was established in 1984 in New York. It was created to support the Paris Opera and Ballet in the United States, following a request from Rudolf Nureyev, the Director of the Paris Opera & Ballet at that time.
The American Friends of the Paris Opera & Ballet was established in 1984 in New York. It was created to support the Paris Opera and Ballet. From left to right: La Traviata, Giulio Cesare, Don Quichotte, Turandot.
Credits: @AROP / Opéra National de Paris – Vahid Amanpour, Vincent Pontet, Yonathan Kellerman, Agathe Poupeney.
ABOUT US – OUR HISTORY
Our History
Based in New York, the American Friends of the Paris Opera & Ballet was incorporated in 1984 in response to then the Director of the Paris Opera Ballet Rudolf Nureyev‘s request to tour the company in the United States.
The not-for-profit organization was created by Marina de Brantes with the help of Andre Larquié, President of the Opera National de Paris, and attorney Edward A. Reilly, under the guidance of David Rockefeller. Michel David-Weill, a banker and philanthropist raised between New York and Paris, was AFPOB’s first Chairman and Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Lee Radziwill, Estée Lauder, Ambassador Arthur Hartman, Mary Sharp Cronson, Anne H. Bass, Eugenia Doll, Alice Tully and Cecile Zilkha were among the first Trustees.
Recognized by the Internal Revenue Service as a 501(c)3 tax-exempt foundation in 1985, the group has helped underwrite numerous U.S. tours of the Paris Opera, Paris Opera Ballet and Paris Opera Ballet School, traveling exhibitions from the Paris Opera Museum and appearances of guest artists from the Paris Opera Ballet, as well as many productions at the Paris Opera that prominently feature the participation of American artists, such as Jerome Robbins, Trisha Brown, William Christie, Peter Sellars and Robert Wilson.
Grants are also made to talented young dancers and singers in order to help them develop their artistry by providing a scholarship or an exchange program experience with the Paris Opera & Ballet, the Paris Opera Ballet School and the Paris Opera Academy.
TIMELINE
Appointed Director of the Paris Opera Ballet by the French Minister of Culture in 1983, Rudolf Nureyev immediately started developing the international outreach of the Company: a year later the American Friends of the Paris Opera & Ballet was launched.
In 1986, the Company was touring at the Met Opera in New York City and the Kennedy Center in Washington DC, appearing in the United Stated for the first time in nearly 40 years with the new production of Swan Lake choreographed by Rudolf Nureyev.
Since then, the Paris Opera Ballet Company has had more US Tours including four on the East Coast (1987, 1993, 1996, 2012) and two on the West Coast (1988 and 2001).
In 1989, the exceptional and disruptive Paris Opera production of “Atys” by Lully at the Brooklyn Academy of Music truly helped launch the interest in Opera Baroque in the United States.
In 1994, the San Francisco Ballet was invited as Guest Company to perform at the Paris Opera-Palais Garnier.
The Paul Taylor Dance Company was invited in 1997 at the Paris Opera-Palais Garnier and the following year, the Merce Cunningham Dance Company was presented at the Paris Opera-Palais Garnier.
In 2001, Paris Opera Ballet US Tour in the West Coast, including San Francisco and Orange County.
In 2009, Olivia Tournay Flatto became the 3rd Chairman of the Organization.
During Summer 2012, after two years of bilateral work, the Opera National de Paris and AFPOB brought 160 dancers and staff to Washington DC, Chicago and New York, including 16 of Paris Opera Ballet’s celebrated Etoiles.
In September 2015, AFPOB joined the first Opening Gala of the Paris Opera Ballet Season, initiated by Paris Opera Ballet Director Benjamin Millepied.
AFPOB supported the return of American Ballet Theatre to the Paris Opera with Alexei Ratmansky’s Sleeping Beauty in September 2016.
In July 2017, the 50th Anniversary of Jewels by Balanchine was celebrated at the Lincoln Center reuniting for the very first time the Bolshoi, New York City Ballet and Paris Opera Ballet.
In 2018, AFPOB in partnership with the French Institute: Alliance Francaise (FIAF), launched in New York the Paris Opera & Ballet HD Screening Series, allowing the American audience to discover some of the French cultural institution major broadcast productions. For its first edition, the program included the contemporary ballets Balanchine / Robbins/Millepied and the opera Samson and Dalila. Meanwhile in Paris, the Martha Graham Dance Company was invited to perform on the stage of the Palais Garnier.
2019 was a milestone year celebrating the 350th Anniversary of the Paris Opera, 30th Anniversary of the Bastille Opera house, and AFPOB 35th Anniversary Gala.
ABOUT US – OUR HISTORY
Our History
Based in New York, the American Friends of the Paris Opera & Ballet was incorporated in 1984 in response to then the Director of the Paris Opera Ballet Rudolf Nureyev‘s request to tour the company in the United States.
The not-for-profit organization was created by Marina de Brantes with the help of Andre Larquié, President of the Opera National de Paris, and attorney Edward A. Reilly, under the guidance of David Rockefeller. Michel David-Weill, a banker and philanthropist raised between New York and Paris, was AFPOB’s first Chairman and Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Lee Radziwill, Estée Lauder, Ambassador Arthur Hartman, Mary Sharp Cronson, Anne H. Bass, Eugenia Doll, Alice Tully and Cecile Zilkha were among the first Trustees.
Recognized by the Internal Revenue Service as a 501(c)3 tax-exempt foundation in 1985, the group has helped underwrite numerous U.S. tours of the Paris Opera, Paris Opera Ballet and Paris Opera Ballet School, traveling exhibitions from the Paris Opera Museum and appearances of guest artists from the Paris Opera Ballet, as well as many productions at the Paris Opera that prominently feature the participation of American artists, such as Jerome Robbins, Trisha Brown, William Christie, Peter Sellars and Robert Wilson.
Grants are also made to talented young dancers and singers in order to help them develop their artistry by providing a scholarship or an exchange program experience with the Paris Opera & Ballet, the Paris Opera Ballet School and the Paris Opera Academy.
The American Friends of the Paris Opera & Ballet was established in 1984 in New York. It was created to support the Paris Opera and Ballet. From left to right: Rudolf Noureev and Carolyn Carlson, the Palais Garnier, the Ateliers, the Palais Bastille.
Credits: @AROP / Opéra National de Paris – Roger-Viollet, Jean-Pierre Delagarde, Patrick Tourneboeuf, Lucie Simon.
ABOUT US – TIMELINE
Appointed Director of the Paris Opera Ballet by the French Minister of Culture in 1983, Rudolf Nureyev immediately started developing the international outreach of the Company: a year later the American Friends of the Paris Opera & Ballet was launched.
In 1986, the Company was touring at the Met Opera in New York City and the Kennedy Center in Washington DC, appearing in the United Stated for the first time in nearly 40 years with the new production of Swan Lake choreographed by Rudolf Nureyev.
Since then, the Paris Opera Ballet Company has had more US Tours including four on the East Coast (1987, 1993, 1996, 2012) and two on the West Coast (1988 and 2001).
In 1989, the exceptional and disruptive Paris Opera production of “Atys” by Lully at the Brooklyn Academy of Music truly helped launch the interest in Opera Baroque in the United States.
In 1994, the San Francisco Ballet was invited as Guest Company to perform at the Paris Opera-Palais Garnier.
The Paul Taylor Dance Company was invited in 1997 at the Paris Opera-Palais Garnier and the following year, the Merce Cunningham Dance Company was presented at the Paris Opera-Palais Garnier.
In 2001, Paris Opera Ballet US Tour in the West Coast, including San Francisco and Orange County.
In 2009, Olivia Tournay Flatto became the 3rd Chairman of the Organization.
During Summer 2012, after two years of bilateral work, the Opera National de Paris and AFPOB brought 160 dancers and staff to Washington DC, Chicago and New York, including 16 of Paris Opera Ballet’s celebrated Etoiles.
In September 2015, AFPOB joined the first Opening Gala of the Paris Opera Ballet Season, initiated by Paris Opera Ballet Director Benjamin Millepied.
AFPOB supported the return of American Ballet Theatre to the Paris Opera with Alexei Ratmansky’s Sleeping Beauty in September 2016.
In July 2017, the 50th Anniversary of Jewels by Balanchine was celebrated at the Lincoln Center reuniting for the very first time the Bolshoi, New York City Ballet and Paris Opera Ballet.
In 2018, AFPOB in partnership with the French Institute: Alliance Francaise (FIAF), launched in New York the Paris Opera & Ballet HD Screening Series, allowing the American audience to discover some of the French cultural institution major broadcast productions. For its first edition, the program included the contemporary ballets Balanchine / Robbins/Millepied and the opera Samson and Dalila. Meanwhile in Paris, the Martha Graham Dance Company was invited to perform on the stage of the Palais Garnier.
2019 was a milestone year celebrating the 350th Anniversary of the Paris Opera, 30th Anniversary of the Bastille Opera house, and AFPOB 35th Anniversary Gala.
“The world of performing arts cannot exist without the artists, and the youngest of them are facing an exceptional ordeal to turn their demanding and life-long training into a livelihood.”
OLIVIA TOURNAY FLATTO – PRESIDENT
© OPERA NATIONAL DE PARIS – JULIEN BENHAMOU / VAHID AMANPOUR
“The world of performing arts cannot exist without the artists, and the youngest of them are facing an exceptional ordeal to turn their demanding and life-long training into a livelihood.”
OLIVIA TOURNAY FLATTO – PRESIDENT
© OPERA NATIONAL DE PARIS – VAHID AMANPOUR
SOME KEY NUMBERS
The Paris Opera and Ballet in numbers
Donations are critical to AFPOB’s success in achieving its ambitious goals on behalf of the Paris Opera & Ballet. From US Tours to exhibitions, students and artists exchanges, scholarships and restoration projects, our organization has been key to facilitate major programs over the past 35 years.
SOME KEY NUMBERS
The Paris Opera and Ballet in numbers
Donations are critical to AFPOB’s success in achieving its ambitious goals on behalf of the Paris Opera & Ballet. From US Tours to exhibitions, students and artists exchanges, scholarships and restoration projects, our organization has been key to facilitate major programs over the past 35 years.
0
STAGES
The Palais Garnier, the Bastille Opera, and the Digital 3e Scène
0
ARTISTS
Including the Paris Opera Orchestra, the Paris Opera Chorus, the Paris Opera Ballet School, and more.
0
OPERAS
Over 34 different productions of ballet and opera from the repertoire are produced.
0
PERFORMANCES
The season starts in September until July of the following year and offers more than 400 performances.
0
ANNUAL SPECTATORS
The Paris Opera & Ballet is trying to widen its audience to the youngsters through outreach programs, such as the “Avant-Premieres” or “Premiere fois a l’Opera”.
0
MILLION EUROS
18 Million Euros of Fundraising and Sponsorship in 2019, including X through your support of AFPOB
0
STAGES
The Palais Garnier, the Bastille Opera, and the Digital 3e Scène
0
ARTISTS
Including the Paris Opera Orchestra, the Paris Opera Chorus, the Paris Opera Ballet School, and more.
0
OPERAS
Over 34 different productions of ballet and opera from the repertoire are produced.
0
PERFORMANCES
The season starts in September until July of the following year and offers more than 400 performances.
0
ANNUAL SPECTATORS
The Paris Opera & Ballet is trying to widen its audience to the youngsters through outreach programs, such as the “Avant-Premieres” or “Premiere fois a l’Opera”.
0
MILLION EUROS
18 Million Euros of Fundraising and Sponsorship in 2019, including X through your support of AFPOB
“The world of performing arts cannot exist without the artists, and the youngest of them are facing an exceptional ordeal to turn their demanding and life-long training into a livelihood.”
OLIVIA TOURNAY FLATTO – PRESIDENT
© OPERA NATIONAL DE PARIS – BENOITE FANTON / EMILIE BROUCHON
“The world of performing arts cannot exist without the artists, and the youngest of them are facing an exceptional ordeal to turn their demanding and life-long training into a livelihood.”
OLIVIA TOURNAY FLATTO – PRESIDENT
© OPERA NATIONAL DE PARIS – EMILIE BROUCHON
ABOUT US – OUR PEOPLE
Our Board & Members
Donations are critical to AFPOB’s success in achieving its ambitious goals on behalf of the Paris Opera & Ballet. From US Tours to exhibitions, students and artists exchanges, scholarships and restoration projects, our organization has been key to facilitate major programs over the past 35 years.
ABOUT US – OUR PEOPLE
Our Board & Members
Donations are critical to AFPOB’s success in achieving its ambitious goals on behalf of the Paris Opera & Ballet. From US Tours to exhibitions, students and artists exchanges, scholarships and restoration projects, our organization has been key to facilitate major programs over the past 35 years.
JOIN TODAY
Board & Executive
FULL LIST
Olivia Tournay Flatto
Chairman of the Board
Marie-France Kern
Vice-Chairman
Serena Lese
Vice-Chairman
Hall J. Witt
Secretary & Treasurer
Jeanne Hoefliger
Executive Director
Jean-Christian Agid
Anthony P. Coles
Donna Corbat
Marina Couloucoundis
Joanna Fisher
Flavia Gale
James de Givenchy
Marie-France Kern
Almudena Legorreta
Andrew J. Martin-Weber
Helen Marx
Yurie Pascarella
Hugues de Pins
Sana H. Sabbagh
Gregory Annenberg Weingarten
Robert Wilson
Laura Zeckendorf
Marina de Brantes – Chairman Emerita
Mary Sharp Cronson – Trustee Emerita
Edward A. Reilly – President Emeritus.
In Memoriam:
Anne H. Bass † (Trustee from 1986- 2020)
Lee Radziwill † (Trustee from 1986- 2019)
Cecile Zilkha † (Trustee from 1986- 2018)
Members & Donors
MAJOR DONORS
Eloise Susanna Gale Foundation
GRoW @ Annenberg
Yleana Arce Foundation
Angel Shine Foundation/Allyson Tang & Thomas Widmann†
The Anne H. Bass Foundation
Harry & Misook Doolittle Foundation
The Jerome Robbins Foundation
Meridiam
Otis & Elizabeth Chandler Foundation
BNP Paribas
Vranken Pommery America
Donna & Michael Corbat
Elizabeth & Jean-Marie Eveillard
Flavia & Barden Gale
Denise Littlefield Sobel
Marie-France & René Kern
Andrew J. Martin-Weber
Jenny Paulson
Sana H. Sabbagh
Resa & Heiner Sussner
Laura Zeckendorf
Julie Albright
Willa & Taylor Bodman
Mary Bray
Elizabeth A.R. & Ralph S. Brown, Jr.
Stephen Brint & Mark Brown
Noreen & Kenneth Buckfire
Nabil Chartouni
Maureen Footer
Carol & John F. Kososki
Dominique Laffont
Ali Landegger
Beth Madison
Suzanne Mathews
Nina & Neal McElroy
Alice Mercado
Gail Messiqua
Eric Mourlot
Michele and Raffiq Nathoo
Heather Randall
Nicole Salmasi
Ariane & Lionel Sauvage
Olivia Tournay Flatto
CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD
Olivia Tournay Flatto, PhD is the President of The Pershing Square Foundation and has been a member of the Advisory Board since 2009. She leads the Foundation’s efforts to deliver social impact by promoting exceptional leaders and innovative ideas in the areas of health and medicine, economic development, social justice, education, and the arts.
Dr. Tournay Flatto manages a staff of five professionals and an annual budget of $40 million, supporting over 160 projects and researchers in US and abroad. Since 2013, when Dr. Tournay Flatto co-founded The Pershing Square Sohn Cancer Research Alliance (PSSCRA), she has led the allocation of an additional $25 million in grants and prizes. The Alliance is dedicated to enabling the pursuit of innovative cancer research and accelerating cures for cancer by facilitating partnerships between the science and business communities.
Additionally, in 2023, Dr. Tournay Flatto co-founded and launched the Maximizing Innovation in Neuroscience Discovery (MIND) Prize. The Prize has funded cutting-edge research that revolutionizes our ability to predict, prevent and treat neurodegenerative diseases.
DOWNLOAD FULL BIO
Olivia Tournay Flatto
CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD
Olivia Tournay Flatto, PhD is the President of The Pershing Square Foundation and has been a member of the Advisory Board since 2009. She leads the Foundation’s efforts to deliver social impact by promoting exceptional leaders and innovative ideas in the areas of health and medicine, economic development, social justice, education, and the arts.
Dr. Tournay Flatto manages a staff of five professionals and an annual budget of $40 million, supporting over 160 projects and researchers in US and abroad. Since 2013, when Dr. Tournay Flatto co-founded The Pershing Square Sohn Cancer Research Alliance (PSSCRA), she has led the allocation of an additional $25 million in grants and prizes. The Alliance is dedicated to enabling the pursuit of innovative cancer research and accelerating cures for cancer by facilitating partnerships between the science and business communities.
Additionally, in 2023, Dr. Tournay Flatto co-founded and launched the Maximizing Innovation in Neuroscience Discovery (MIND) Prize. The Prize has funded cutting-edge research that revolutionizes our ability to predict, prevent and treat neurodegenerative diseases.
DOWNLOAD FULL BIO
Board & Executive
FULL LIST
Olivia Tournay Flatto
Chairman of the Board
Marie-France Kern
Vice-Chairman
Serena Lese
Vice-Chairman
Hall J. Witt
Secretary & Treasurer
Jeanne Hoefliger
Executive Director
Jean-Christian Agid
Anthony P. Coles
Donna Corbat
Marina Couloucoundis
Joanna Fisher
Flavia Gale
James de Givenchy
Marie-France Kern
Almudena Legorreta
Andrew J. Martin-Weber
Helen Marx
Yurie Pascarella
Hugues de Pins
Sana H. Sabbagh
Gregory Annenberg Weingarten
Robert Wilson
Laura Zeckendorf
Marina de Brantes – Chairman Emerita
Mary Sharp Cronson – Trustee Emerita
Edward A. Reilly – President Emeritus.
In Memoriam:
Anne H. Bass † (Trustee from 1986- 2020)
Lee Radziwill † (Trustee from 1986- 2019)
Cecile Zilkha † (Trustee from 1986- 2018)
Members & Donors
LARGE DONORS
Eloise Susanna Gale Foundation
GRoW @ Annenberg
Yleana Arce Foundation
Angel Shine Foundation/Allyson Tang & Thomas Widmann†
The Anne H. Bass Foundation
Harry & Misook Doolittle Foundation
The Jerome Robbins Foundation
Meridiam
Otis & Elizabeth Chandler Foundation
BNP Paribas
Vranken Pommery America
Donna & Michael Corbat
Elizabeth & Jean-Marie Eveillard
Flavia & Barden Gale
Denise Littlefield Sobel
Marie-France & René Kern
Andrew J. Martin-Weber
Jenny Paulson
Sana H. Sabbagh
Resa & Heiner Sussner
Laura Zeckendorf
Julie Albright
Willa & Taylor Bodman
Mary Bray
Elizabeth A.R. & Ralph S. Brown, Jr.
Stephen Brint & Mark Brown
Noreen & Kenneth Buckfire
Nabil Chartouni
Maureen Footer
Carol & John F. Kososki
Dominique Laffont
Ali Landegger
Beth Madison
Suzanne Mathews
Nina & Neal McElroy
Alice Mercado
Gail Messiqua
Eric Mourlot
Michele and Raffiq Nathoo
Heather Randall
Nicole Salmasi
Ariane & Lionel Sauvage
SUPPORT US TODAY!
Not sure which project or programme to support? Make a general donation today online, or by many other means, and qualify for AFPOB membership!
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