Music: Second Storming of the Bastille

A fight for control of Paris' new opera reaches fortissimo

For Israeli conductor-pianist Daniel Barenboim, 46, Paris has truly been the city of light. During his 14-year tenure leading the Orchestre de Paris, he built a major international reputation and branched out to top assignments in the opera world. A year and a half ago, he won the powerful job of artistic director at the still uncompleted Opera de la Bastille. In September the grateful government awarded him the Legion of Honor. But now Barenboim's luck has turned. While President Francois Mitterrand kept silent, he was summarily fired -- and just as summarily vowed to sue. He denounced the "lies, half-...

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