The Eiffel Tower is Paris’s most iconic monument. Designed by the engineer Gustave Eiffel, it was opened in 1889 to mark the World’s Fair.
Standing 330 metres tall including its antenna, it was for many years the tallest structure in the world. Today, it welcomes several million visitors every year and offers an exceptional panoramic view of the French capital. A symbol of France, it is recognised throughout the world.
Performing at the Eiffel Tower was one of the most significant moments of my career. That evening, I had the privilege of being given a private tour of the Tower after it had closed, once it had been cleared of its thousands of daily visitors.
It’s very strange to take the service lift – reserved for the Tower’s technicians – in astonishing silence, 300 metres above Paris.
Arrival at 8.00 pm. Rehearsals at 8.30 pm. Performance at 10.30 pm
In the Gustave Eiffel lounge, which serves as a reception hall, a stage is set up for me. The control room overlooks the hall. .
A red box is planned, accessible via a red spiral staircase… Everything is »Eiffel Tower red»… In reality, it’s the reddish-brown colour specific to the Tower. A coat of paint weighing 60 tonnes on the Iron Lady!
I was given a book about its history, and a few hours later I left THE quintessential French monument. .
