- October 14, 2021
- Parisian theatre
- Eléonore Duizabo
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2021 is coming to a close. But never fear, you still have time to take full advantage of Parisian cultural life before the year is up! Must-see shows of all styles await you between now and January. Whether you're a dance enthusiast, an opera lover, or a one-man show aficionado, you're sure to find something to your liking. What's more, many of these shows are suitable for all ages and foreign language speakers. So what are you waiting for – book your tickets to a new Parisian show now!
Don Quichotte ©Svetlana Loboff
The Most Beautiful Classical and Contemporary Ballets
If you're like us and winter holiday magic just isn't the same without a dance show, these ballets are made for you! At the Opéra Garnier, the incredible contemporary ballet Play will blow you away with its avalanche of balls, dancing stags, and surprising duos. Next up, you'll be dazzled by the ballet Le Rouge et Le Noir, with performances lasting through the beginning of November. For his latest creation, choreographer Pierre Lacotte adapts Stendhal's novel for the stage in this gorgeous classical ballet. Then, on to the Opéra ballet students for the impressive performances of the Paris Opera Ballet School Demonstrations. At these shows, you'll get a glimpse of the students' lessons and their brilliant artistic personalities, all while enjoying extracts from the greatest ballets. Don't miss this unique opportunity to discover the future Étoile dancers of the Opéra ballet company. For the Christmas holidays, rediscover the works of three renowned choreographers: Ashton, Eyal, and Nijinsky. The dancers will perform Frederick Ashton's Rhapsody, a reinvention of The Afternoon of a Faun by Sharon Eyal, and Nijinsky's The Rite of Spring, all in one evening. At the Opéra Bastille, the Iberian sun will shine in Rudolf Nureyev's Don Quichotte. White tutus, flamenco dresses, fans, and castanets will whirl around the stage, keeping company with the lovers Basilio and Kitri – and the knight Don Quixote! At the Opéra Royal de Versailles, French choreographer Angelin Preljocaj will showcase his latest creation, Swan Lake. Transporting the famous love story to contemporary times, Preljocaj mixes Tchaikovsky's music with electronic beats and classical dance with contemporary movement. Next, the dance company l'Éventail will perform The Four Seasons, the baroque ballet set to Vivaldi's concertos of the same name. In early December, works from six contemporary choreographers will share the stage at the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées in Dialogues. Pieces from Ohad Naharin, Crystal Pite, and Mats Ek will be performed by dancers from around the world. Don't miss the exceptional evenings of dance that Paris has to offer before the year's end!
Cyrano de Bergerac ©Fabienne Rappeneau
Dom Juan ©Grégoire Matzneff
Classic Masterpieces at the Théâtre Ranelagh
Molière, Corneille, Rostand, Guitry, and even Alexandre Dumas are waiting to be rediscovered at the Théâtre Ranelagh. Experience the love triangle and famous tirades of Cyrano de Bergerac. You won't be able to escape the star-crossed lovers Rodrigue and Chimène, or the incredible fight scenes, in Corneille's Le Cid. Last but not least, the literary and visual humour of Molière's The Miser will keep everyone on the edge of their seats. Bring the whole family to see these classics of the literary and theatrical repertoire re-imagined at the Théâtre Ranelagh!
The concerts at the Eiffel Tower in the Salon Gustave Eiffel
Classical Music in Beautiful Places
End the year on a high note with magical concerts at the Eiffel Tower. the most iconic monument in Paris. On the 25th December and the 1st January at 6 p.m., spectacular classical music concerts will be held on the Eiffel Tower's first floor. The advantages of your ticket don't stop at the concert: you also get to skip the line at the elevators and roam the first and second floors of the tower throughout the evening. Spend an evening like no other, solo, in twos, or with the whole family! And that's not all. In addition to music at the Eiffel Tower, you can also attend enchanting concerts in the magnificent Sainte-Chapelle church. Let the magic of the music transport you as you listen to Vivaldi's The Four Seasons and opera arias composed by Mozart, all while admiring the 1,113 stained glass windows that brighten Sainte-Chapelle. Incredible choirs, virtuoso soloists, and the greatest Parisian orchestras await you for a series of entirely unique evenings. At the end of December, sacred and popular Christmas songs will be on the programme at Sainte-Chapelle: a concert that will fill the space with beautiful melodies, and bring sweetness to your winter festivities.
The Lion King is back! ©Disney
The Opera Locos ©Dominique Plaideau - Claire Bracq
Glittery Musicals and Musical Extravaganzas
Take advantage of these Broadway-worthy musical extravaganzas in Paris! A line up of six musical shows sure to delight kids and adults alike. First up, the unparalleled The Lion King will be back at the Théâtre Mogador starting 7 November 2021! Elton John's smash-hit songs, the fabulous costumes and sets, the impressive choreography, and the stunning story will take your breath away. This production of The Lion King is performed in French with English subtitles! At the Théâtre Bobino, two family-friendly musical extravaganzas are waiting with open arms. First on the list, The Opera Locos! Five opera divas get together for an aria recital, but nothing goes as planned and pop songs are thrown into the mix. These wacky situations are sure to make you laugh! Plus, it's performed entirely in song. Next up, the four musicians of the MozART Group will make you cry tears of laughter during their new musical cabaret, Globe Trotters. Whether it's playing Vivaldi with a ping pong racket or with a telephone, classical music and comedy have never been so in harmony!
Oh My God She's Parisian
How To Become a Parisian in One Hour
Very French One-Man Shows
Do you speak Parisian? Never fear, the two best English-language one-man shows will be on display in Paris at the end of 2021. For starters, Julie Collas will be back with a brand-new version of her show Oh My God She's Parisian. In this latest instalment, she talks Paris post-lockdown, toilet paper, work from home, masks... You've been warned: she'll make you crack up, even if you're masked! Between outrageous improvisations with the audience and tales of the fast-paced life of a Parisian woman, this show performed 100% in English is the perfect dose of humour to liven up the end of your year! You can also see the unstoppable Olivier Giraud in How to Become Parisian in One Hour. This show has been a smash hit at the Théâtre des Nouveautés for the past ten years, and it's easy to see why! In 1 hour and 20 minutes, he teaches you the Parisian way. Whether it's talking, taking the tube, getting dressed, or even vacuuming, you'll walk away an expert in all things Parisian. An easy-to-understand show entirely in English, perfect for both an international crowd and born and bred Parisians (for ages 16 and up!). You'll split your sides laughing!
Le Nozze di Figaro ©Vincent Pontet
Stunning Operas
More than ten operas in Italian, Russian, German, and French await you at the end of 2021 in Paris's most prestigious opera houses. At the Opéra Garnier, the sorcery of Handel's Alcina will enchant you with extraordinary vocals. At the Opéra Bastille, you won't need a love potion to fall head over heels for Donizetti's whimsical opera, L'Elisir d'amore (The Elixir of Love). Then, growing storms will rumble on the musical waves of Wagner's Der fliegende Holländer (The Flying Dutchman). Back among Italian composers, the fallen jester of Verdi's Rigoletto will sing of his despair, and don't forget the Duke's famous aria "La donna è mobile". Finally, Puccini's Turandot, and its famous "Nessun Dorma" aria, will be reborn in a minimalist vision of grandeur from Robert Wilson. At the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées, the melancholic love affairs of the characters in Eugene Onegin will be staged by Stéphane Braunschweig. In December, Offenbach's operetta La Vie Parisienne (Parisian Life) will be the life of the party. Zany characters, mix-ups, and hilarious melodies are waiting to end the year with you on a high note. Head to Versailles for an evening fit for a king! In November and December, you'll be blown away by James Gray's production of Le Nozze di Figaro (The Marriage of Figaro) in a staging very faithful to Mozart's original version. With baroque sets, sumptuous costumes by Christian Lacroix, and arias from Susanna, Cherubino, and the Countess, you're sure to have a once-in-a-lifetime evening.
The Lido ©Cédric Delseaux
The Paradis Latin ©Alix Malka
Paris is One Big Cabaret!
No trip to Paris is complete without attending a mesmerising performance at one of the French capital's many cabarets. You'll have stars in your eyes watching the dancers in Totally Crazy, the revue at the Crazy Horse. This collection of the iconic venue's best acts includes performances of unmissable numbers like "God Save our Bareskin" and "Rougir de Désir", created by Philippe Decouflé. With our premium offers, you can sip champagne, feast on caviar and macarons, and even discover the cabaret's titillatingly secretive backstage. On the Avenue des Champs-Élysées, the most beautiful boulevard in the world, you won't be able to resist the charms of the Bluebell Girls at the Lido de Paris. Every evening, more than 2 million Swarovski rhinestones sparkle hypnotically on stage, surrounded by 600 costumes, loads of feathers, magical dance and musical acts, and gravity-defying acrobatics. Before the show, enjoy special offers such as a gourmet dinner, bottomless drinks, and a photo with the dancers. At the Paradis Latin, you're guaranteed to spend an evening like no other. L'Oiseau Paradis, the variety show choreographed by Kamel Ouali, brings a breath of fresh air to cabaret stylings, incorporating new technology, colourful costumes, and a revisited French Cancan. Not to mention the soaring acrobatics and the acts performed mid-air over the audience! To put the cherry on the cake, make your evening unforgettable with a three-course dinner prepared by a Michelin-starred chef. Then, it's off to the Cabaret Burlesque, where the setting will take your breath away just as much as the show. After all, it's not easy to beat a theatre-boat anchored right across from Notre Dame! Yes, you heard correctly: you'll watch the glamourous Cabaret Burlesque, complete with its extravagant strip numbers, on the water. Before the show, enjoy a three-course meal, champagne, and wine while admiring the stunning view. These unbeatable evenings in the French capital will light up the end of your year!
The audience arrives at the Théâtre des Champs-Elysées before a recital
Concerts of all Shapes and Sizes
Maestro, if you please! At the end of 2021, Paris will be bursting with music in all its forms. Operas, orchestras, chamber music, or recitals, at the Opéra de Paris or at Versailles: the choice is yours, and all choices are correct! First up at the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées, you'll be lulled into a trance by chamber music concerts either in the evening or on Sunday mornings, and by virtuoso trios, quartets, and ensembles in the evenings. Pleasant surprises await you with orchestras from all over the world featured in programmes ranging from oratorios, to operas in concert version, to symphonies. Plus, don't miss Vocal Recitals from incredible soloists like Pretty Yende, Jakub Józef Orliński, and Philippe Jaroussky. Then, internationally-renowned pianists will perform Beethoven, Schubert, and Chopin in unforgettable concerts. At La Scala, the next piano sensations will take turns in a programme driven by classical and contemporary music alike, while in the Saint-Germain-des-Prés and Saint-Sulpice churches, melodies from Vivaldi and Bach will ring out in all their splendour. At the Château de Versailles, baroque pieces played by choirs, soloists, and orchestras will resonate beautifully. And for jazz lovers, head over to the Sunset Sunside Jazz Club to hear the new generation of jazz artists! There's no two ways about it: an exquisite musical programme welcomes you with open arms before the end of 2021. All that's left is to take your pick – and the choice won't be easy!
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