Page 340 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Paris

338  TR A VELLERS ’ NEEDS

The Auditorium du Louvre was Georges Aperghis, who necessary to go to the theatre
built as part of the Grand Louvre specializes in musical theatre. box office or venue concerned,
project (see pp122–9) and it is The fabulously designed Cité though some festivals may run
used mostly for chamber, piano de la Musique complex at Parc an advance online or postal
and vocal recitals. The Musée de la Villette includes both a booking service.
d’Orsay’s (see pp146–9) spectacularly domed salle de
Auditorium du Musée d’Orsay concerts surrounded by a
is a medium-sized audi torium, glass-roofed arcade, and the Churches
with an active concert Conservatoire National de Music is everywhere in Paris’s
programme. Concerts are Musique with its opera theatre churches, in the form of classical
usually held once or twice and two small concert halls. concerts, organ recitals or
a week, and prices vary. The Chamber Orchestra of religious services. The most
Other museums often hold Europe plays regularly here. outstanding churches which
concerts as part of an exhi bition Both venues are used for regular hold regular concerts include
theme – such as troubadours at performances, including jazz, the Eglise de la Madeleine (see
the Musée National du Moyen ethnic and contemporary p218), St-Germain-des-Prés
Age (see pp154–7) – so do check music, as well as chanson (see p140), St-Julien-le-Pauvre
the listings magazines. and Early Music. (see p158) and St-Roch (see
Musique à la Sorbonne is a For details, either phone the p131). Music is also performed
concert series in the Grand venue concerned or consult the in the Eglise des Billettes,
Amphithéâtre de la Sorbonne listings magazines. For those St-Sulpice (see p174),
and the Amphi théâtre interested in contem porary St-Gervais–St-Protais (see
Richelieu de la Sorbonne. music, the quarterly magazine p103), Notre-Dame (see pp82–5),
Productions have included a Résonance is published by St-Louis-en-l’Ile (see p91) and
Slavonic music festival, IRCAM at the Pompidou Centre. Sainte-Chapelle (see pp88–9).
featuring the works of East A great proportion, but not
European composers. all, of these concerts are free. If
Occasionally concerts are Festivals you have any difficulty contact-
given in the Conservatoire Some of the most important ing the church in question, try
d’Art Dramatique, where music festivals are the result the Office du Tourisme for
Beethoven was introduced to of the work of the Festival information (see pp332–3).
Paris audiences in 1828 and d’Automne à Paris, which
where Hector Berlioz’s major acts as a behind-the-scenes
work, La Symphonie Fantastique, stimulator, commissioning Early Music
was first per formed. Otherwise, new works, subsidizing others A number of early-music
it’s not usually open to public. and in general enlivening the ensembles have taken up
Parisian musical, dance and residence in Paris. The Chapelle
theatrical scene from Royale gives a concert series at
Contemporary Music September to December. the Théâtre des Champs-
Contemporary music in Paris The Festival St-Denis (see p65) Elysées, with programmes
has a high profile and is running throughout June ranging from Renaissance vocal
definitely alive and kicking. and July holds concerts, with music to Mozart. Their enchant-
Jonathan Nott now directs the an emphasis on choral works. ing sacred music concerts (look
experimental Ensemble Most performances are given out for Bach cantatas) take place
InterContemporain, which is in the Basilique St-Denis. at Notre-Dame-des-Blancs-
lavishly supported by the Musique Baroque au Château Manteaux (see p104).
French state in its home at the de Versailles, from around the Baroque opera is more the
Cité de la Musique (see pp238–9). middle of March to the middle domain of Les Arts Florissants,
IRCAM (see p114), founded and of June, is an offshoot of the founded and directed by
formerly directed by Pierre Centre de Musique Baroque American-born William Christie,
Boulez, a composer, conductor de Versailles, founded in 1988. who perform French and Italian
and writer who was a leading Operas, concerts, recitals, operas from Rossi to Rameau,
figure in the capital’s chamber music, dance and and Les Musiciens du Louvre,
contemporary music scene, theatre are on offer in the directed by Marc Minkowski.
is a major centre for ground- fabulous surroundings of Both companies perform
breaking new musical forms. It Versailles (see pp250–55). regularly at the Théâtre du
organizes a programme of new Other interesting festivals Châtelet (currently closed) and
music performances, talks and include the Festival Chopin, the Opera National Garnier. The
an annual festival in June. held in the Orangerie in the Bois Théâtre de la Ville (also closed,
Other bright stars among de Boulogne from mid-June to but due to reopen summer
the many talented composers mid-July, and the Quartier d’Eté 2018) is also an excellent venue
include Pascal Dusapin, Philippe Festival, which hosts a series of in which to hear Baroque
Fénelon, George Benjamin and outdoor classical music chamber music, as is the pretty
Philippe Manoury, as well as concerts. For tickets, it is usually Eglise St-Germain l’Auxerrois.

334-351_EW_Paris.indd 338 03/04/17 2:53 pm
Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Practical template “UK” LAYER
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Date 17th October 2012
Size 125mm x 217mm