Music & Opera : programm and booking for Paris

Paris and music

Orchestras & Composers

History

With its rich architectural and historic heritage and some 15,000 seats in its various concert halls and opera houses, Paris glitters with exciting things to do and see.

OPERA NATIONAL DE PARIS

Since 1994, the Palais Garnier and Opéra Bastille have been brought together under the banner of the Opéra National de Paris.

- Palais Garnier
A model for a great many auditoriums all over the world, it was constructed in the time of Napoleon III as part of the major development scheme carried out by Haussmann; the Opéra was put out to competition and Charles Garnier submitted the winning design. The construction work was to last from 1860 to 1875.
Since 1994, major refurbishment work has been undertaken to restore the sumptuousness of the Palais, very typical of the Second Empire style. The Groupe de la Danse de Carpeaux [Young Carp Dance Group], the marble Grand Staircase, the red and gold auditorium with ceiling by Chagall and a crystal chandelier weighing 8 tonnes are all designed for performance and illusion. In Box 5, you might even perhaps encounter the famous phantom …
Backstage, the Palais Garnier is home to some 70 stage technicians and Ballet de l’Opéra company, one of the most famous in the world.

- Opéra Bastille
The work of Carlos Ott whose construction was one of François Mitterrand's major building projects, it was officially opened on 13 July 1989, at the time of the commemorative celebrations of the bicentenary of the French Revolution. This large, modern, 2,703 seat theatre has all the latest equipment technology can offer.

THEATRE DES CHAMPS ELYSEES
Driven through by Gabriel Astruc, this art nouveau theatre built in 1913 by Les Frères Perret [the Perret brothers] with the collaboration of the sculptor Antoine Bourdelle and the painter Maurice Denis, was listed as an historic monument in 1953. The scandal of the first performance of the Rite of Spring by the Russian ballet should not consign the great figures who followed one another on to this prestigious stage to oblivion: from Debussy, Saint-Saëns to Furtwängler, Boulez and Gergiev, from Nelly Melba, Callas, Elizabeth Schwarzkopf to Cecilia Bartoli…

THEATRE DU CHÂTELET
First opened in 1862, with its 2,500 seats it was then the largest auditorium in Paris. The Théâtre du Châtelet has been an eclectic venue since the very beginning, for it has been host to Plays, Extravaganzas, Operetta (Luis Mariano, Tino Rosi), Variety shows, Films (Méliès) and Dance (Pavlova, Nijinski, Diaghilev). Since Edouard Colonne who staged first performances of French works (Bizet, Massenet, Ravel), the theatre has played a major role in the musical life of Paris. Tchaikovsky, Debussy, Grieg, Mahler and Richard Strauss have come to conduct their works. In our day, by inviting the greatest conductors and bringing theatre directors in to the Opéra, the Théâtre du Châtelet has managed to retain its international standing.

OPERA COMIQUE
The first building dates from 1783. After two fires in 1838 and 1887, the present auditorium was first opened in 1898. Here the notes of Mignon, Carmen, Pelléas, Louise and Lakmé still resonate. Even though the programme today puts undue emphasis on music-hall, you can still listen to a few operas and recitals here.

SALLE GAVEAU
This 1,020 seat showcase for chamber music and recitals almost became a carpark in 1963. Since listed as an historic monument, it has just been completely renovated and restored to its original form.

SALLE PLEYEL
Originally intended for testing and appraising the company's pianos, there were several Salles Pleyel. The present building was officially opened in 1927 with 3 concert halls, studios, exhibition rooms, offices, staff accommodation, etc. Currently being refurbished, the major orchestras should be back again in 2005.

CITE DE LA MUSIQUE
Strongly advocated by Pierre Boulez, this was one of President Mitterrand's first development projects. The Cité de la Musique, the work of Christian de Portzamparc, was officially opened in 1995. Its eclectic programme combines world music and classical.

Orchestras

Orchestre National de France
Founded in 1934 and, since the beginning led by the most distinguished conductors (Inghelbrecht, Munch, Désormières, Maazel…) it may be considered the leading French symphony orchestra.
Its present musical director, Kurt Masur, is consolidating the Repertoire and continuing the French performance style while developing the educational activity considerably.

Orchestre philharmonique de Radio France
Created in 1937, to give Radio France an orchestra suited to the variety of its programmes, it has enormous flexibility.
Gilbert Amy, Emmanuel Krivine and Marek Janowski succeeded each other in the post of musical director, held since 2000 by Myung-Whun Chung who, remaining faithful to tradition, devotes a significant proportion of its repertoire to 20th century works.

Orchestre de Paris
Created in 1967 on the initiative of André Malraux and Marcel Landowski, it succeeded the Société des concerts du Conservatoire. Charles Munch, at the age of 76, became the Orchestra's permanent director. The most illustrious conductors (Ozawa, Bernstein, Boulez, Kubelik, Celibidache, Böhm, Haitink, Mehta…) have worked with it.
Karajan, Solti, Barenboim, Bychkov then Dohnányi succeeded Munch as artistic advisor. Since 2000 Christoph Eschenbach has been its illustrious musical director, presenting most notably a remarkable Berlioz cycle.

Ensemble Orchestral de Paris
Over the years this Ensemble, founded in 1978, has established itself as a world class chamber orchestra. Its conductor, John Nelson, has developed a rich repertoire open to all the great works.

Composers

The musical life of Paris is studded with the names of distinguished composers, Rameau, Lully Gounod, Cherubini, Meyerbeer, Offenbach, Spontini, Rossini, Verdi, Fauré, Debussy, Ravel … It is one of these who experienced his greatest successes and his greatest failures in the capital.

Hector BERLIOZ (1803-1869)
In 1821 he arrived in Paris to study medicine. But a keen opera fan, he decided to become a composer taking courses taught by Lesueur and Reicha at the Conservatoire. His hopeless love for the actress Harriett Smithson inspired his Fantastic Symphony. After a stay in Italy he returned to Paris in 1832 and married her. Despite the success of his Requiem his compositions did not bring him enough to live on so he became a journalist and turned to opera. Benvenuto Cellini was a flop. Despite a few successes and some friendly support he left to seek his audience elsewhere. Europe worhsipped him (especially London) but Paris, in 1948, continued to ignore him giving a frosty reception to The Damnation of Faust. The success enjoyed by The Childhood of Christ in 1854, encouraged him to compose a large scale work which was be his musical legacy, The Trojans. Despite some concessions, only a small scale version was performed at the Théâtre-Lyrique in 1863. An emblematic work, the opera was to be chosen for the opening of the Opéra Bastille (without the ballets) and was to enjoy its first genuine Parisian triumph at the Théâtre du Châtelet, under the baton of John Eliot Gardiner in 2003, at the time of the commemorative celebrations for the great Composer's bicentenary.

The founding of Paris dates back to 52 BC when it was known as Lutetia and ruled by the Romans until the arrival of the Franks in the late 5th century. In 508 it became the capital of the kingdom.

From the 12th to 13th century Paris grew to a considerable size under Philippe Auguste (creation of fountains, Les Halles market, paved streets, draining of the Marais [marshes], the construction of ramparts and the Louvre). Notre-Dame cathedral, Sainte Chapelle and the Palais Royal were completed. It was the largest city in Christian Europe.

The 14th century was marked by famine, plague and the Hundred Years War with the English siege. In the following century François I gave Paris back its role as capital with the rebuilding of the old Louvre, the Hôtel de Ville, the Collège de France and the Pont Neuf. The city then suffered another dark period with the Wars of Religion (Saint-Barthélemy, 1572). Henri de Navarre became king after having renounced his faith in 1594. A very popular monarch, he continued the construction of the Louvre and made a start on Place des Vosges, the embankments, etc.

The cultural influence of the capital was strengthened under Louis XIII with the creation of the Imprimerie Royale [the royal printworks] and the Académie Française.
In 1682, Louis XIV moved the court to Versailles, but the storming of the Bastille, on 14 July 1789, marked the start of the French Revolution.

The monarchy was abolished, the Republic proclaimed and Louis XVI executed. After a troubled period, a coup d'etat brought Napoleon Bonaparte to power. He had himself crowned Emperor in 1804. The military conquest of Europe gave way to defeat at Waterloo in 1815. While the city became overpopulated, the revolutions of 1830 and 1848 led to the proclamation of the Second Republic.

Napoleon III entrusted to Haussmann management of the major urban development projects which form the present appearance of the capital. Intellectual, artistic and economic influence grew until the Franco-Prussian war of 1870.

Paris was then beseiged by the Germans and the Commune was overthrown in May 1871. The end of the century was marked by apeasement and the establishment of a moderate Third Republic. The great Universal Exhibitions testified to scientific and technical advances.
During the First World War Paris was saved from German invasion. The period between the wars was marked by its artistic influence. In the Belle Epoque [the Edwardian era] Montmartre and Montparnasse between them became the world centre of the intellectual and artistic avant-garde. The depression and instability of 1929 to 1936 led to scandals, riots and strikes.
The Second World War had a direct and devastating effect on the capital which experienced four years of privation, bombing, arrests and deportations although resistance was organized around Jean Moulin. Paris was liberated in August 1944. The Fourth Republic was promulgated, followed by the Fifth with General de Gaulle elected President.

The 20th century was marked by major construction projects: Roissy Charles de Gaulle Airport, Georges Pompidou Centre, Musée d'Orsay, Grande Arche de la Défense, Pyramide du Louvre, Opéra Bastille and Bibliothèque Nationale de France.

Architecture

Some Highlights

Gardens & in the surrounding area

Different styles of architecture

Romanesque : church of St Germain des Prés…

Gothic: Notre Dame Cathedral, Sainte Chapelle…

Renaissance: Saint-Eustache church, Hôtel de Sully, Place des Vosges…

Italian Baroque: Observatoire, Tuileries gardens…

Classical: colonnade of the Louvre, Invalides, Place des Victoires…

Romano-Byzantine: Sacré Cœur…

Haussmann's grand urban scheme

In order to ensure better control of working class districts and to keep the social threat away from the centre, Napoleon III gave Haussmann the task of making Paris an imperial capital.
The ground plan is based on the efficiency of the straight line and the axis. Grand boulevards and wide avenues were driven through. The Grand Boulevards were widened and new buildings constructed (halls, stations and theatres). Montsouris park and the Luxembourg gardens were laid out and the Bois de Vincennes and the Bois de Boulogne were transformed into places for outings and walks. Several districts on the outskirts were incorporated into Paris and its suburbs, now Arrondissement numbers 12 to 20.

Notre-Dame Cathedral www.cathedraledeparis.com
The first religious building in France, the Gothic masterpiece designed by De Sully was constructed between 1163 and 1345. Distances by road in France are calculated from the "0 km" point on the cathedral square.

Eiffel Tower www.tour-eiffel.fr
Symbol of the city, it was constructed by Eiffel for the Universal Exhibition of 1889 to commemorate the centenary of the French Revolution. The view from it is outstanding.

Place des Vosges
Completed in 1612, it forms a quadrilateral. Its symmetrical brick and stone houses which surround the garden were lived in by Richelieu, Madame de Sévigné, Bossuet, Victor Hugo and Alphonse Daudet.

Cimetière du Père-Lachaise
Created in 1805, this is the most visited cemetery in the world. The greatest celebrities of music, theatre, cinema, painting and literature rest here.

Arc de Triomphe
Constructed in 1836 at the top of the Champs-Élysées to the glory of the Grande Armée, it was commissioned by Napoleon in 1806. Beneath it lies the tomb of the unknown soldier and the eternal flame commemorating the dead of the two World Wars.

Champs-Élysées www.champselysees.org
This wide avenue, a symbol of Paris, offers a vista stretching from Place de la Concorde to the Grande Arche [of La Défense] passing through Place Charles de Gaulle-Etoile.

Sacré coeur www.sacre-coeur-montmartre.com
This basilica consecrated in 1919, was constructed in atonement for the horrors of the Commune and the Siege of Paris in 1870. It overlooks the Montmartre district, a popular tourist area.

Grande Arche de la Défense
This enormous hollow cube weighing more than 30,000 tonnes and standing on 12 pillars, was unveiled in 1989.

Quais de la Seine
Included on the Unesco World Heritage list, a walk along the embankments offers a view of bridges and monuments and the sight of secondhand booksellers and painters.

Jardin des Tuileries
These vast royal gardens stretching from the Louvre to Place de la Concorde, are named after the clay once used by Parisians to make tiles. As well as the Orangerie and Jeu de Paume galleries, numerous sculptures dating from the Louis XIV period to the present day stand in the gardens

Jardin du Luxembourg
A French style park where visitors can admire the Fontaine de Médicis and sculptures by Bourdelle, Rodin and Zadkine, the site of Luxembourg Palace, seat of the French Senate.

Jardin du Palais Royal
Tranquil gardens with marble statues, fountains, pools, lawns bordered by huge flowerbeds. Don't miss: the Colonnes de Buren and the Arcades

Jardin des Plantes
This huge garden has numerous tree species, a wide variety of flowers, glasshouses, a menagerie, an Alpine garden and a maze

Parc Monceau
A garden in which Proust like to stroll. Enter through large wrought iron gates with gold embellishment.

Parc de la Villette www.villette.com
A man-made green space in which stands the Cité des Sciences et de l’Industrie and La Géode whose mirrored facets give the park an infinite dimension.

Parc André Citroën
This area was created in 1990 by landscape architects and gardeners and offers of futuristic features on 14 hectares.

AROUND

Château de Versailles www.chateauversailles.fr
Constructed in the reign of Louis XIV, it is a masterpiece of French classical architecture. From September to December, the Automne Musical festival provides a revival of 17th and 18th century French music in the very place it was first performed.

Vincennes www.mairie-vincennes.fr
A Royal Town with a château erected by Charles V, woods, zoo, flower gardens and Saint Louis church.

Château de Chantilly www.ville-chantilly.fr
The château standing in grounds which include an English garden, houses one of the region's finest museums.

Fontainebleau www.fontainebleau.com
Son château de style Renaissance était une résidence de chasse très prisée des rois français

Disneyland Paris - www.disneylandparis.com

Food & Drink

Festivals, Traditional customs

Fine food and drink continue to be one of France's main attractions and Paris offers the culinary specialities of every region.

A few specialities by region

Alsace : choucroute and kouglof
Bordeaux : foie gras, truffes and grilled entrecôte steak.
Burgundy : snails, beef and frogs' legs
Brittany : crêpes (pancakes)
Charente maritime : oysters
Lyon : charcuterie (cooked meats)
Marseille : bouillabaisse
Nice : ratatouille
Normandy : mussels, sole and tripe
Savoy : fondue, tomme (cheese)
South-West : foie gras with truffles, preserved 'confit' goose and duck
Toulouse : cassoulet

Cheeses
France claims to have almost 400 varieties. Each region has its own specialities. Some, like Roquefort, Camembert and Emmental have a world-wide reputation. Others include: Cantal, Reblochon, Comté, Saint Nectaire, Gruyère, Brie, Munster, Livarot, Bleu d´Auvergne etc.

Desserts
Mille-feuilles, Profiteroles, Croissants, Crêpes, quatre quarts (chocolate or pound cake), Clafoutis, Far breton (prune flan), Madeleines, Tarte Tatin (upside-down apple cake) …

Drinks

Wine: French wine is reputed all over the world. Among the best known: Bordeaux, Burgundy, wine from the Rhône and Loire valleys, Champagne etc.

Cider: fermented apple juice. A Breton and Norman speciality

Festivals

Festival d’Automne
Created in 1972 by Michel Guy with the support of President Pompidou, it very quickly became an established event. Devoted to contemporary arts, opera, drama, dance, music, the visual arts and film are all represented.

Festival d’Ile de France
Festival of baroque, classical contemporary and traditional music.

Traditional customs

Late February, early March: Mardi Gras (fancy dress, crêpes)

Early March: Agricultural show

Late April-early May: Foire de Paris [Paris Show]

1 May: Labour Day

8 May: Commemoration of the 1945 victory

May-June: International tennis championships at Roland Garros

Mid-June: Air Show

21 June: Music Festival: music events throughout the city.

14 July: National Day (military parade, fireworks, dances)

Late July: Finish of the Tour de France in the Champs-Elysées

11 November: Commemoration of the 1918 Armistice

Things to Do

Hotels

Restaurants

Museums

Musée du Louvre www.louvre.fr
Once the residence of the kings of France and now one of the world's greatest museums. Comprises 7 departments: Oriental, Egyptian, Greek, Etruscan and Roman antiquities, Paintings, Sculptures, Objets d'Art and Graphic Arts

Musée d'Orsay www.musee-orsay.fr
Specializing in 19th and 20th century art, this is where to find the Impressionists, post-Impressionists, Art nouveau, photography, etc. An excellent cycle of concerts linked to temporary exhibitions is offered in the auditorium.

Centre Georges Pompidou www.cnac-gp.fr
A museum of modern and contemporary art, an exhibition space and venue for performance and experimental events.

Institut du Monde Arabe www.imarabe.org
Presents Islamic Arab civilisation from its origins to the present day.

Musée National d'Histoire Naturelle www.mnhn.fr
The natural history museum presents the story of life, the mechanisms of evolution and relationships between man and nature.

Musée Grévin www.musee-grevin.com
Waxworks museum portraying scenes from the history of France and current affairs.

Palais de la découverte www.palais-decouverte.fr
Fundamental and contemporary science in the form of interactive experiments.

Musée Rodin www.musee-rodin.fr
Bronze and marble sculptures by Rodin and Camille Claudel.

Musée Picasso - www.musee-picasso.fr

Musée Carnavalet
History of Paris from its origins to the present day.

Bibliothèque-Musée de l’Opéra Place de l'opéra
Music related, iconographic and archive documents arising from the activities of the Opéra national de Paris and the Opéra-Comique. Temporary exhibitions relating to productions presented at the Opéra Garnier are mounted regularly.

Cité de la Musique /Musée de la musique
The museum of the music world enables visitors to see instruments, to hear what they sound like, to learn about the rooms in which they were played and to understand their social function.

Groupe HOME PLAZZA
Les Jardins du Marais****
74 rue Amelot - 75011
Tel : 33 (0)1 40 21 22 23
A few steps away from the Opera Bastille and the Palais Garnier, within walking distance of the Place des Vosges, the hotel « Les Jardins du Marais» is set in the historical heart of Paris, in the trendy and atmospheric Marais district. With its 265 bedrooms refurbished in an elegant "art deco" style, the hotel offers a unique florishing private courtyard (1500 sq meter) providing a very romantic feel to the place.

Hôtel Westminster – 4* Deluxe
13, rue de la Paix - 75002
Tel : 33 (0)1 42 61 57 46
Fax : 33 (0)1 42 60 30 66
Email : resa.westminster@warwickhotels.com
Site www.hotelwestminster.com
Located at a few steps from Opéra Garnier and Place Vendôme, the Hotel perpetuates the traditional Parisian lifestyle with its 80 rooms and 21 Suites. The starred restaurant « Le Céladon » becomes the « Petit Céladon » during week-ends. Discover a lare range of cocktails at the « Duke’s Bar » in a jazzy ambiance. The « Westminster Fitness Club » overlooking the rooftops of Paris offers sauna, steambath and Orlane beauty room.

Hôtel Scribe 4*
1 rue Scribe – 75009
Tel : (33) 01 44 71 24 25
Fax : (33) 01 44 71 24 42

Sofitel Arc de Triomphe 4*
14 rue Beaujon - 75008
Tel : 33 (0)1 53 89 50 61
Fax : 33 (0)1 53 89 50 51

Jardins du Trocadéro 4*
Near Place du Trocadéro. Rooms with view of the Eiffel Tower

Crillon 4*
Facing Place de la Concorde, it is one of the palatial hotels most popular with the greats of this world.

Madison 3*
It was in this house in the heart of Saint Germain des Prés that Camus completed the manuscript of his novel L'Etranger [The Stranger]

La Tour d’Argent
www.latourdargent.com
Gourmet restaurant in a Regency style setting with a panoramic view of the Seine and Notre Dame de Paris

Maxim’s
www.maxims-de-paris.com
World famous for its splendid Belle Epoque [Edwardian] decor and sophisticated food.

Fouquet’s Barriere
www.lucienbarriere.com
Restaurant on the Champs-Élysées listed as an historic monument

La Frégate
www.la-fregate.com
View of the Louvre and the Tuileries Gardens. Speciality: Blanquette de veau [veal].

Bateaux Parisiens
Port de la Bourdonnais Pont d'Iéna
Two hour cruise along the Seine providing the opportunity to see many of the sights of Paris as you dine.

Au Pied de Cochon 6 rue Coquillière
Eating house on several floors serving French onion soup, meat dishes including first class pig's trotters and excellent selected oysters

La Coupole
102 boulevard du Montparnasse
A legendary 'brasserie' first opened in 1927 and frequented by Man Ray, Aragon, Picasso, Hemingway etc. The restaurant dining room is the largest in France. Typical brasserie style cooking

Les Deux Magots
6 place St germain des prés
Famous meeting place of the great writers and philosophers of the 1950s. Typical brasserie style catering