Classical opera and dance concert halls Paris

Conceived in the 1990s, it took more than twenty years for the Philharmonie de Paris (concert hall and music city) to be built. Its architecture, designed by Jean Nouvel, is worth a visit, with a hull-shaped building topped by a large ridge whose gentle slope has created a promenade on the roof that offers a superb view of the capital and the suburbs. Inside: a 2,400-seat auditorium with undulating curves, an educational center, an exhibition hall, studios... Superb!

Inaugurated in 1989, during the Bicentenary of the Revolution, the Opéra Bastille was built on the site of a former restaurant and train station that operated from 1859 to 1969, responding to the desire to create a modern and popular opera house. The 160,000 square meter building is 80 meters high, 50 meters above ground and 30 meters underground, and does not go unnoticed. It houses a 2,700-seat auditorium, a 450-seat amphitheater and a 250-seat studio. All with exceptional acoustics.

The Opéra-Comique, founded under Louis XIV, is one of the oldest institutions of its kind. In 2005, it became one of 6 national theaters, and in 2015, it celebrates its 300th anniversary! In 1783, the first Opéra-Comique was born, mixing opera, ritornello and farce. Ruined twice, it was the third venue, opened in 1898, that contributed to the fame of works such as Bizet's Carmen . Since the end of 2021, conductor Louis Langrée has been at the helm, with a program in keeping with the "Favart spirit", combining classical and new works.

The Palais Garnier was commissioned by Napoleon III and was one of the key pieces of the major renovation work carried out in the capital by Baron Haussmann. Charles Garnier was the architect. This sumptuous temple of lyrical art and classical dance was inaugurated in 1875 after fifteen years of work. It is admired as much for its architecture as for its programs. There is the famous double revolution staircase that soars under a marble nave of various shades - as soon as it opened, it was adopted by "good society" who liked to show off. The foyers are filled with sculptures and paintings. As for the hall, dominated by red and gold colours, it has a huge and legendary crystal chandelier - 8 tons! - and a ceiling painted by Marc Chagall in 1964. It can accommodate nineteen hundred people. A museum tells, through its collections and temporary exhibitions, three centuries of opera history. The institution is equipped with an orchestra that performs most of the works on the program. The Palais Garnier shares with the Opéra Bastille its productions of lyrical shows, but has remained a Mecca for dance. Some recitals and symphonic concerts are also on the programme.

After an extensive renovation, the Salle Pleyel has been restored to its former glory. Its unique Art Deco style alone is worth the detour. A benchmark for classical music until the 2010s, the Salle Pleyel no longer programs classical music, as the Philharmonie de Paris has taken over. This may come as a surprise at first, but a quick look at the program should whet your appetite: Pleyel hosts other musical concerts, plays and numerous other creations.

Barely 100 years old and already this theatre has a rich and abundant history! From 1913, it was a real little bomb. First of all, its appearance: nothing traditional, Art Nouveau inside, outside, everywhere. Concrete structure and Art Nouveau architecture are the result of a meeting between Auguste Perret, architect, magnate and concrete theorist, and Henry Van de Velde, innovative architect. Antoine Bourdelle is the author of the travertine facade. Then, the Nabis are exhibited inside: Maurice Denis, Ker-Xavier Roussel, Jacqueline Marval and Edouard Vuillard made interior design an avant-garde piece of early 20th century art. It was inaugurated in April 1913 with Claude Debussy, Paul Dukas and Vincent d'Indy. But it was in May that he caused a scandal by presenting Igor Stravinsky's Le Sacre du Printemps. Since then, the theatre has remained faithful to its avant-garde personality in the creative field of dance. Since then, the theatre has offered a wide programme of events throughout the year in its three rooms, where the decoration, which has remained intact, is in itself a show.

Radio France, which brings together all public radio stations, plays an important role in the world of music. Four groups depend on it: the Orchestre national de France conducted by Daniele Gatti, the Orchestre philharmonique de Radio France conducted by the Finnish Mikko Franck, and the Maîtrise de Radio France, conducted by Sofi Jeannin. The Radio France choir is the partner of the other three groups. The latter perform in several halls in the capital and elsewhere, but also in the walls of the "round house". This amazing building has just been completely renovated. The new auditorium is a concert hall with 1,461 seats, installed in balconies and distributed around the stage and musicians. The spectator is never more than 17 m from the stage. The acoustics are fabulous. Another room: Studio 104, with its 856 seats, welcomes all musical genres and major programmes from Radio France channels. Finally, studios 105 (237 seats) and 106 (137 seats) are dedicated to public broadcasts and more intimate concerts. Every Saturday, guided tours allow you to discover the history of the round house.

The Church of Saint-Ephrem-le-Syriaque, located in the 5ᵉ arrondissement of Paris, is a must-see venue for classical music lovers. Its remarkable acoustics make it a privileged venue for concerts. Recitals are given by talented young artists, all graduates of the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique de Paris. Concerts take place regularly, offering a unique experience for the audience. Located in the Sorbonne district, between Boulevard Saint-Germain and the Panthéon, the Saint-Ephrem-le-Syriaque church is easily accessible by metro, at the Maubert-Mutualité station. Enjoy the unique atmosphere of this historic church and let yourself be carried away by the beauty of its music.

The acoustics of this Art Deco room are very well-known. With four hundred places, it was built in 1930 on the plans of Auguste Perret, the architect who designed the theatre of the Champs-Elysées. It is used in the activities of the Ecole normale de Musique de Paris, but is also rented for the concert organisation. This is a plateau where many pianists take place. There are also the famous 12-hour concerts every Tuesday, Thursday and some Wednesday from October to May (off school holidays). These concerts are free to discover tomorrow's talents.

Opened in 1907, the Salle Gaveau takes its name from the pianos of the same name. A host of artists soon made the venue a must-see. Bought by Chantal and Jean-Marie Fournier in 1976. The Salle Gaveau was listed as a historic monument in 1992 and subsequently renovated. After renovation, it reopened its doors in 2001. The interior has been restored to its former glory, and the warm golden hue of the decor is very similar to that of its origins. As for the program, it has been restored to its former glory, with a strong emphasis on classical music.

Le Petit Palais offers over 22 000 square metres a rich collection of works of great diversity: antique bronzes, icons, Flemish and Dutch paintings, tapestries, furniture, porcelain… You will also find a charming small garden surrounded by colonnades, with mosaic basins, and a café where you can spend a relaxing moment. The concerts given here at midday connect classic musicians with other artists from jazz or song. The concept proposed by Arièle Butaux, in perfect conformity with the project, could not stop so much as it met with the visitors. The dialogue between artists from different musical backgrounds and the strong emotion that emerges from each of these meetings on the stage of the auditorium is the living response to the principle of confrontation in the galleries of the museum. Paintings, sculptures and objects of art are highlighted in permanent collections and, in the auditorium, the other arts are at the honour of revealing in a lively and dynamic manner the multiple influences of artistic currents.

Four universities are present in Sorbonne - Paris I, Paris III, Paris IV, Paris V -, as well as the rector of the Paris Academy, the School of charters and the Ecole normale des Hautes Etudes. Concerts are not as frequent as the courses in these famous buildings built at the end of the th century, but still. The association Musique en Sorbonne, created in 1982, organizes a quality concert season and a festival in June. There are various trainings, including the Choir and Orchestre de Paris-Sorbonne, the pre-professional formations associated with the FACULTY of Music and Musicology of the University Paris IV-Sorbonne. Since you cannot enter these high places of education if you are not a student or teacher, concerts represent wonderful opportunities to discover them. The concerts are given in the grand amphitheatre - three thousand squares - and the Richelieu amphitheatre - four hundred and fifty seats - two impressive rooms. The Grand Salon, decorated with Benjamin Constant paintings, is used for small training.

Inaugurated in 2008 and blessed by Pope Benedict XVI, this Catholic cultural centre hosts exhibitions, meetings and theological courses. Concerts are organized once a month on average, they're worth it because they're given by value musicians in the beautiful frame of a large nave of warheads or in the big auditorium. Dating back to the th century, the building is a large, medieval stone vessel, which alone is a spectacle. Completely renovated, this vestige of the school buildings of the Old Latin Quarter consists of a superb Gothic nave with columns and warheads, as well as in its basements and floors, meeting rooms and an auditorium. Left of the has been created a small garden. The restoration is the joint work of Herbé Baptiste, chief architect of historical monuments, and architect-designer Jean-Michel Wilmotte. With Cistercian inspiration, the building was built to train young monks from all over Europe. During the French Revolution, it was sold as a national property and then successively served as a prison, warehouse, fire brigade and police barracks.

An exceptional venue in an equally exceptional setting: the Radio France Auditorium is located in the house of the same name. The 1,461 seats are arranged in balconies around a central stage, itself surmounted by a huge organ, with particular attention paid to the location: the audience farthest from the stage is only 17 meters away. A unique experience.