Wagner's Die Walküre

Wagner's Die Walküre at Opéra Bastille in Paris - Opéra de Paris - Theatre in Paris
Opéra Bastille

From 11/11 to 30/11/2025

Other languages with surtitles
Wagner's Die Walküre at Opéra Bastille in Paris - Opéra de Paris - Theatre in Paris
Wagner's Die Walküre

Choose your date From €223 / person

Location

Opéra Bastille
Place de la Bastille, 75012 Paris
Capacity 2700 seats

Duration

4 h 45 min

With intermission


Details

Opera

For all audiences

In German with French and English surtitles


Highlights: Wagner's Die Walküre

Some of you know Ride of the Valkyries thanks to the famous scene in Francis Ford Coppola’s Apocalypse Now, in which helicopters fly over the jungle. But do you know which opera this music comes from? Yes, it is indeed from an opera by a great German composer.

 

This renowned piece comes from the opera Die Walküre (The Valkyrie), the second day of the famous four-opera cycle by Richard Wagner, known as the tetralogy Der Ring des Nibelungen (The Ring of the Nibelung).

 

Don’t be daunted by the length of the work. In this extraordinary opera, the music seems to flow like a stream. Time passes at an incredibly fast pace.

 

For the 2025–2026 season, the Opéra Bastille presents a new production of Die Walküre, directed by the provocative and always impactful Calixto Bieito. In a dark and deeply human universe, he sheds light on the intimate conflicts at the heart of this mythological legend: forbidden love, betrayal, sacrifice, and rebellion against paternal authority.

 

The cast is exceptional. Bass-baritone Iain Paterson portrays a powerful and tormented Wotan, a father and god torn between duty and love. French tenor Stanislas de Barbeyrac plays a Siegmund brimming with emotion, opposite Elza van den Heever, a moving Sieglinde, a wounded woman in search of freedom. Elza van den Heever also lends her warm and intense voice to Brünnhilde, a rebellious and poignant Valkyrie.

 

Under the inspired baton of Pablo Heras-Casado, Wagner’s music unfolds in all its orchestral and dramatic richness. It is a total immersion into a world where myth meets humanity, and where each note continues to resonate long after the curtain falls.

 

 

See details for our premium option below!

Story: Wagner's Die Walküre

Die Walküre, the second part of Wagner’s tetralogy The Ring of the Nibelung, is a three-act opera blending passion, family drama, and the fate of mythological heroes.

 

The story opens in the midst of a storm: Siegmund, a hunted warrior, seeks refuge in the home of Sieglinde, unaware that she is his sister. A powerful passion ignites between them, provoking the wrath of the gods. Their father is none other than Wotan, king of the gods, torn between love for his children and the laws he is bound to uphold.

 

At the heart of the tale is Brünnhilde, one of the Valkyries, who disobeys her father to save Siegmund. She pays the price: Wotan condemns her to become mortal and to fall into a deep sleep on a rock, surrounded by flames – until a hero comes to awaken her.

 

With its mesmerising music and epic scale, Die Walküre offers an almost mystical musical experience. Even without knowing Wagner, you will be swept away by this moving story, brought to life by powerful characters and raw emotion.

 

An opera to experience at least once in your lifetime.

Premium Option and Experience at Opéra Bastille

Looking for more than a standard ticket to the show? To make your experience an unforgettable one, choose the following offer at the time of booking:
 

  • Champagne + Programme + Exclusive Access to Salon Berlioz + Show
  • Indulge in the premium opera experience! Elevate your evening with our exclusive package, available even after standard ticket sales have closed. With this premium option, relish a glass of champagne, receive a show programme, and enjoy privileged access to the Opéra Bastille's Salon Berlioz — an intimate space reserved for our premium guests.
  • Please note, this special package is exclusively offered through the Theatre in Paris box office, thanks to our official partnership with the Friends of Paris Opera Association. Don't miss the chance to make your opera night truly exceptional.

Opéra Bastille

Place de la Bastille, 75012 Paris

History and Fun Facts about the Opéra Bastille

 

Designed by Uruguayan architect Carlos Ott, the building was commissioned by French President François Mitterrand and inaugurated in 1989. For years, many had lamented the lack of a modern venue in Paris capable of welcoming modern concerts and performances with different acoustic approaches, and the flexibility that a modulable venue lends. A movement started in the 1960s called for a larger new venue in Paris that would appeal to the masses, a modern compliment to the elaborate Palais Garnier. Just over 100 years after the inauguration of the Palais Garnier, the demands finally won over the newly-elected President Mitterrand, who supported the project as the headliner among many modern works launched during his term. Selecting the popular Bastille neighbourhood for its ease of accessibility from Paris and the surrounding areas, the old Bastille Train Station was destroyed to make way for the construction of the new venue. The building was completed just in time for the bicentenary of the French Revolution.  

 

The venue has undergone many changes in direction resulting from varying political affiliations, and has undergone major renovations since its construction to repair and to soundproof the entire structure. Unlike other auditorium designs, each and every seat at the Opéra Bastille guarantees an unrestricted view of the stage. With its white glass ceiling, crisp gray compliments, and black seating adorned with rich oak, the venue is an ode to modernity and simplistic design. From the exterior, made of blue granite from Brittany and blocks of glass, light is reflected from every corner of this angular venue.

 

Fast facts
Capacity: 2,745
Handicap Accessible: Yes – in order to guarantee access to specific locations, we ask that you make your reservation at least 15 days before the performance.
Air conditioning: Yes
Heating: Yes
Coat Check: Yes (free service)

opera-bastille-backstage-interior©patrick-tourneboeuf
opera-bastille-grande-salle--interior©patrick-tourneboeuf
opera-bastille©david-mark-pixabay-exterior
opera bastille plan de salle seating chart tickets billets paris

FAQ

How do I get to Opéra Bastille in the 12th arrondissement of Paris?

The Opéra Bastille is accessible by:
Metro: Line 1 (station Bastille), line 5 (station Bastille), line 8 (station Bastille)
RER: Line A (station Gare de Lyon)
Address: 120 rue de Lyon, 75012 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 Opéra Bastille?

We invite you to arrive 45 minutes before the beginning of Die Walküre, and present your voucher at the front desk. Opéra Bastille’s English-speaking staff members will guide you to your seats.
The concert hall’s doors close 15 minutes after the start of the performance and reopen at intermission if the performance includes one.
If you arrive within 15 minutes after the start of the performance, you will not be allowed to enter the opera house and will be directed to an area with a television where you can watch the first part of the show. You will be able to return to your seats during the intermission if the performance includes one.

How long does the opera, Die Walküre, last?

The opera Die Walküre at Opéra Bastille lasts approximately 4 hours and 45 minutes, with intermission.

Is Die Walküre for an international audience or French speakers?

Both! The Opéra Bastille has been welcoming audiences from all over the world for many years. The opera, Die Walküre, is sung in its original German version. Surtitles are provided in both French and English so that international audiences can appreciate this opera in this incredible Parisian venue.

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

At Opéra Bastille, each category provides a comfortable view of the surtitles. The surtitles are projected above and on the sides of the stage. Our Premium tickets offer the best view of the stage and surtitles.
*Surtitles (also called supertitles) are the theatre equivalent of subtitles. That’s because in French “sur” means “above”.

Is there a dress code at Opéra Bastille?

There is no specific dress code at Opéra Bastille, but proper attire is appreciated. Feel free to dress to impress and reflect the fabulous contemporary architecture at Opéra Bastille!

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! Our Premium tickets offer the best view of the stage and surtitles.
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.

 

At the Paris Opera, the seats are assigned in odd numbers or even numbers. Therefore, if your tickets are consecutive odd numbers or even numbers (For example: 1, 3, 5,...), they will be adjacent.

 

You can find the seating plan in the theatre’s "photo" section on this page.

What is included with my premium ticket at Opéra Bastille?

The Premium tickets are our most exclusive package and include seating in category Optima, the best category in the house, a programme of the show, a glass of champagne, and exclusive access to the magnificent Salon Berlioz.

 

Your programme: At the Opéra Bastille, you may pick your programme in the main shop as well as at the programme stands located at the main entrance, on the 2nd and 4th floors.
Your glass of champagne: You can choose to enjoy your glass of champagne before the performance or during intermission. Champagne will be available at public bars or in the exclusive Salon Berlioz. The Salon is located on the 1st floor, at the right of the entrance to the Opéra Bastille. It is accessible by elevator or by stairs.

I bought premium tickets for Die Walküre and I haven’t received them yet. Is this normal?

Yes, it’s completely normal! As the premium tickets for Die Walküre include exclusive add-ons, your order will first be created as a pre-booking so the Paris Opera can assign your seats and prepare your exclusive package.
You may see a pre-charge on your card but you can rest assured that we will not charge your card until the booking is validated by the Paris Opera. After the tickets are confirmed, you will receive your tickets by email.
Given the large number of requests the Paris Opera has to manage, this process usually takes two business days but can take up to six days maximum. After six days if your order has not been validated, it will be cancelled, the pre-charge will disappear, and you will not be charged.