Concert operas and oratorios at Théâtre des Champs-Élysées

Concert operas and oratorios at Théâtre des Champs-Élysées
Théâtre des Champs-Élysées

From 01/10 to 07/06/2026

Other languages with surtitles

Location

Théâtre des Champs-Élysées
15 avenue Montaigne, 75008 Paris
Capacity 1905 seats

Duration

Between 2 hours and 4 hours

With intermission


Details

Operas and Oratorios

For all audiences

In different languages, with English & French surtitles


Highlights: Concert Operas and oratorios

The Théâtre des Champs-Élysées invites you on an extraordinary lyrical journey for the 2025–2026 season, with a programme of concert operas and oratorios that promises unforgettable moments.

 

Dive into the world of great composers such as Cavalli, Handel, Vivaldi, Cherubini, Mozart, Purcell, Haydn, and many others, and let yourself be transported by the beauty and power of the music (without the distraction of staging), performed by internationally renowned artists.

Story: Concert operas and oratorios at Théâtre des Champs-Élysées

The 2025–2026 season at the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées celebrates the splendour of the baroque repertoire (though not exclusively!) with major lyrical events.

 

To open the season, Pompeo Magno by Francesco Cavalli, a rare gem of the 17th century, will be performed in concert version with a dazzling cast: Max-Emanuel Cenčić will portray a Pompeo as noble as he is tormented, joined by Victor Sicard (Cesare), Lucía Martín-Cartón (Giulia), and Stefan Sbonnik (Crasso). This work, both political and passionate, will revive the dramatic intensity of Venetian theatre.

 

Another highlight: Handel’s Messiah, a timeless oratorio, will be brought to life by the sublime voices of Grace Davidson, Martha McLorinan, Jeremy Budd, and Jimmy Holiday, accompanied by the Kammerorchester Basel under the inspired direction of Nigel Short, with the Tenebrae Choir. A moment of pure spiritual elevation, to be experienced on 6 January 2026.

 

Il Tamerlano by Vivaldi, a lesser-known opera of striking expressive richness, will bring together a prestigious vocal line-up: Carlo Vistoli, Julia Lezhneva, Renato Dolcini, Vivica Genaux, and Anthea Pichanick will embody this tale where love, power, and revenge clash with brilliance.

 

These are just a few examples of the wide-ranging offerings awaiting you in the sumptuous pink and gold hall of the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées for the 2025–2026 season.

Sit back, leave your daily worries behind, and let yourself be carried away by the voices and the music.

A truly beautiful way to savour this line from Baudelaire: “Here, all is luxury, calm and pleasure.”

Concert Programmes

  • Tuesday, 17 June 2025 at 7:30 p.m.
  • With Karine Deshayes (Semiramide), Franco Fagioli (Arsace), Giorgi Manoshvili (Assur), Alasdair Kent (Idreno), Mara Gaudenzi (Azema), Antonio Di Matteo (Oroe), the Orchestre de l'Opéra de Rouen Normandie conducted by Valentina Peleggi, the Accentus Chorus / Opéra de Rouen Normandie conducted by Vito Lombardi
  • Gioachino Rossini: Semiramide
  • Duration approximately 3 hours
  • Language: Opera in Italian with French and English surtitles

 

  • Wednesday, October 1st, 2025 at 7:30 p.m.
  • Concert Opera: Pompeo Magno
  • With Cappella Mediterranea, conducted by Leonardo García-Alarcón; starring Max-Emanuel Cenčić (Pompeo), Victor Sicard (Cesare), Lucía Martín-Cartón (Giulia), and others
  • Cavalli: Pompeo Magno
  • Duration: Approximately 3 hours
  • Language: Opera in Italian, surtitled in French and English

 

  • Tuesday, October 7th, 2025 at 7:30 p.m.
  • Concert Opera: Theodora
  • With Ensemble Jupiter, conducted by Thomas Dunford; featuring Lea Desandre (Theodora), Hugh Cutting (Didymus), Véronique Gens (Irene)
  • Haendel: Theodora
  • Duration: Approximately 3 hours
  • Language: Oratorio in English; surtitled in French and English

 

  • Wednesday, October 8th, 2025 at 7:30 p.m.
  • Concert Opera: Farnace
  • With Ensemble I Gemelli, conducted by Emiliano Gonzalez Toro; starring Emiliano Gonzalez Toro (Farnace), Key’mon W. Murrah (Gilade), Deniz Uzun (Tamiri)
  • Vivaldi: Farnace
  • Duration: Approximately 2 hours 30 minutes
  • Language: Opera in Italian; surtitled in French and English

 

  • Wednesday, November 5th, 2025 at 7:30 p.m.
  • Concert Opera: Alcina
  • With Ensemble Artaserse, conducted by Philippe Jaroussky; starring Kathryn Lewek (Alcina), Carlo Vistoli (Ruggiero), Lauranne Oliva (Morgana)
  • Haendel: Alcina
  • Duration: Approximately 2 hours 50 minutes
  • Language: Opera in Italian; surtitled in French and English

 

  • Saturday, December 13th, 2025 at 7:30 p.m.
  • Oratorio: Handel's Messiah
  • With Grace Davidson (soprano), Martha McLorinan (alto), Jeremy Budd (tenor), Jimmy Holiday (bass), Kammerorchester Basel, conducted by Nigel Short, with Tenebrae Choir
  • Handel: Messiah
  • Duration: Approximately 1 hour 15 minutes
  • Language: Oratorio in English; surtitled in French

 

  • Tuesday, January 6th, 2026 at 7:30 p.m.
  • Concert Opera: Il Tamerlano
  • With Les Accents, conducted by Thibault Noally; starring Carlo Vistoli (Tamerlano), Julia Lezhneva (Andronico), Renato Dolcini (Bajazet)
  • Vivaldi: Il Tamerlano
  • Duration: Approximately 3 hours
  • Language: Opera in Italian; surtitled in French and English

 

  • Wednesday, February 11th, 2026 at 7:30 p.m.
  • Concert Opera: Médée
  • With Le Concert de la Loge, conducted by Julien Chauvin; starring Marina Rebeka (Médée), Julien Behr (Jason), Mélissa Petit (Dircé)
  • Cherubini: Médée
  • Duration: Approximately 2 hours 10 minutes
  • Language: Opera in French; surtitled in French and English

 

  • Thursday, March 19th, 2026 at 7:30 p.m.
  • Concert Opera: Orlando
  • With Les Musiciens du Louvre, conducted by Marc Minkowski; featuring Ana Maria Labin (Angelica), Yuriy Mynenko (Medoro), Alina Wunderlin (Dorinda)
  • Haendel: Orlando
  • Duration: Approximately 2 hours 40 minutes
  • Language: Opera in Italian; surtitled in French and English

 

  • Wednesday, March 25th, 2026 at 7:30 p.m.
  • Concert Opera: Ascanio in Alba
  • With Les Talens Lyriques, conducted by Christophe Rousset; starring Mélissa Petit (Venere), Alisa Kolosova (Ascanio), Anna El-Khashem (Silvia)
  • Mozart: Ascanio in Alba
  • Duration: Approximately 2 hours 30 minutes
  • Language: Opera in Italian; surtitled in French and English

 

  • Friday, March 27th, 2026 at 7:30 p.m.
  • Concert Opera: Didon et Énée
  • With Les Épopées, conducted by Stéphane Fuget; starring Véronique Gens (Didon), Luigi De Donato (Énée), Manon Lamaison (Belinda)
  • Purcell: Didon et Énée; Lully: Ballet royal de la naissance de Vénus
  • Duration: Approximately 2 hours 15 minutes
  • Language: Opera in English; surtitled in French

 

  • Wednesday, April 8th, 2026 at 8:00 p.m.
  • Concert Oratorio: La Création
  • With Le Concert de la Loge, conducted by Julien Chauvin; featuring Regula Mühlemann (Eve/Gabriel), Nahuel di Pierro (Raphaël/Adam), Stanislas de Barbeyrac (Uriel)
  • Haydn: The Creation / Die Schöpfung
  • Duration: Approximately 1 hour 50 minutes
  • Language: Oratorio in German; surtitled in French and English

 

  • Sunday, April 19th, 2026 at 6:00 p.m.
  • Concert Opera: Siegfried
  • With Rotterdams Philharmonisch Orkest, conducted by Yannick Nézet-Séguin; starring Clay Hilley (Siegfried), Tamara Wilson (Brünnhilde), Brian Mulligan (Wanderer)
  • Wagner: Siegfried
  • Duration: Approximately 4 hours
  • Language: Opera in German; surtitled in French and English

 

  • Friday, June 5th, 2026 at 8:00 p.m.
  • Cantatas: Il Delirio amoroso and Aminta e Fillide
  • With Kammerorchester Basel; featuring Emmanuelle de Negri (soprano), Bruno de Sá (sopranist)
  • Handel: Il Delirio amoroso and Aminta e Fillide
  • Duration: Approximately 2 hours
  • Language: Sung in Italian; surtitled in French and English

 

  • Sunday, June 7th, 2026 at 5:00 p.m.
  • Concert Opera: Ariodante
  • With La Cetra Barockorchester Basel, conducted by Andrea Marcon; starring Magdalena Kožená (Ariodante), Christophe Dumaux (Polinesso), Erika Baikoff (Ginevra)
  • Haendel: Ariodante
  • Duration: Approximately 2 hours 50 minutes
  • Language: Opera in Italian; surtitled in French and English

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Théâtre des Champs-Élysées

15 avenue Montaigne, 75008 Paris

History and Fun Facts about the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées

Hosting one of the most lavishing concert halls in all of Paris, Champs- Élysées is the true definition of architectural beauty with its historic foundation. Inaugurated on April 2nd, 1913, the structure is quite large comprising three auditoriums: Théâtre des Champs- Élysées, The Comédie des Champs- Élysées, Studio des Champs- Élysées, and a restaurant. The main theatre which has 1905 seats is Italian styled and originally constructed to host guests visiting the theatre to watch opera shows and concerts. This was the first theatre in Paris to be built completely from reinforced concrete instead of steel.

 

Over the years the famed theatre has hosted many recognized artists such as the beautiful cabaret dancer Josephine Baker, Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, Oscar Peterson, Stravinsky, Richard Strauss, and many other entertainers from our cherished olden day era. In 2005 the main room in the theatre was renovated in order to improve the acoustics, it is confirmed that during a show the sounds are very clear, almost as if you were up close to the stage. Théâtre des Champs- Élysées is one of the most frequently visited monuments in Paris, on an annual basis more than 300,000 people attend programs from contemporary dance and ballet recitals to orchestras, operas, and other concerts. Carrying a number of diverse performances of different genres, the theatre attracts audience members of all ages. 


Fast facts
Capacity: 1,905
Handicap Accessible: Yes
Air conditioning: No
Heating: Yes
Coat Check: Yes (paid service)

FAQ

How do I get to Théâtre des Champs-Élysées in the 8th arrondissement of Paris?

The Théâtre des Champs-Élysées is accessible by:
Metro: Line 1 (station Franklin D. Roosevelt), line 9 (station Franklin D. Roosevelt and Alma Marceau)
RER: Line C (station Pont de l’Alma)
Address: 15 avenue Montaigne, 75008 Paris
In case of difficulty, our hotline can be reached during our business hours. Please see the footer of this page for our contact details.

What do I do when I get to Théâtre des Champs-Élysées?

We invite you to arrive 20 minutes before the beginning of the oratorios and concert operas, and present your voucher at the front desk. Théâtre des Champs-Élysées’s English-speaking staff members will guide you to your seats.
The auditorium doors close as soon as the performance of Elektra begins. The first latecomers are placed in late boxes with a limited number of seats.
Those who arrive later will have to wait for the interval (if there is one), watching the broadcast of the performance on screens located around the perimeter of the Orchestra, in order to get back to their seats.

How long do the concert operas and oratorios last?

The performances at Théâtre des Champs-Élysées last between 2 hours and 4 hours depending on the programme, with intermission.

Are concert operas and oratorios for an international audience or for French speakers?

The concert operas and oratorios at the Théâtre des Champs Élysées are for everyone! The performances will be sung in their original version, usually with surtitles in French and English. More information on each performance, such as language and surtitling availability, will be indicated in the programme on this page.

Can I choose my seat when booking?

When purchasing tickets, choose your preferred category and you will be allocated the best available seats in that category!
You can find the seating plan in the theatre’s "photo" section on this page.
Please note that tickets of the same category that are booked during the same purchase session, in the same booking order on our website are always assigned side by side. To be sure of this, make sure all of your tickets are in the same category and are included in your shopping cart at the time of purchase.
If there are no available adjacent seating arrangements, our customer service team will contact you before the booking is confirmed.

Where will I be seated, and will I see the surtitles* properly?

At Théâtre des Champs-Élysées, there are a maximum of four categories available for the concert operas and oratorios. The Théâtre des Champs-Élysées has an Italian-style auditorium, i.e. in the shape of a horseshoe. The surtitles are projected on both sides of the stage. Seats in categories 1, 2 and 3 give a good view of the stage and the surtitles. Category 4, on the other hand, offers reduced visibility.
*Surtitles (also called supertitles) are the theatre equivalent of subtitles. That’s because in French “sur” means “above”. At Théâtre des Champs-Élysées, the text is projected on the sides of the auditorium.

Is there a dress code at Théâtre des Champs-Élysées?

There is no specific dress code at Théâtre des Champs-Élysées, but proper attire is appreciated. Many Parisians will arrive directly from work, dressed in business casual or chic attire.