Samson at Opéra Comique

Honour a true architectural and historical gem in the heart of Paris by rediscovering a work on the cusp of extinction…

Behold the jewel to which all opera lovers in Paris flock: the Opéra Comique. The building, also known as the Salle Favart, is tucked away on a small square in the heart of the 2nd arrondissement of Paris. It’sbuildings like this that make Paris the beautiful and iconic city that it is - you’ll love the Opéra Comique’s six-step staircase as punctuated by railings and candelabras, its ground floor with contrapuntal furnishings of bosses and smooth stonework, and its three high-arched windows framed by Corinthian columns.

While the building's exterior is beautiful to look at, it gets better once you enter the auditorium! Discover the rich and plush interior design. Words truly don’t do it justice — you simply have to discover it for yourself.

What better excuse to return to the Opéra Comique than for Samson, an opera by Jean-Philippe Rameau? This work suffered the wrath of censorship twice, both in 1734 and 1736, on account of thinly veiled implications of sacrilege and profanity (ooh la la!). These two blows of fate led to the abandonment of the project and the disappearance of the score. It was later used in other works by the French composer.

However, they say that truly great art is meant to shock and delight! This season, German director Claus Guth and French conductor Raphaël Pichon, a specialist in Baroque music, have chosen to offer you this breathtaking creation.

It's a rare experience served up by internationally renowned performers, including American baritone Jarret Ott and Romanian-Swiss soprano Ana Maria Labin, amongst others. The Pygmalion Choir and Orchestra, under Raphaël Pichon’s exceptionally talented baton, will add an extra touch of emotion to this lyrical drama.

See details for our premium option below!

Would you like a little more than just a ticket to the show? To make your experience unforgettable, you can choose to extend the evening with an evening concert after the opera has finished. This is given by artists from the production or the Academy on the theme of the opera being performed. It lasts approximately 50 minutes. Choose the night concert when booking.

An evening concert is available on the following date:

• Friday, March 21st, 2025

The re-creation of Jean-Philippe Rameau's Samson at the Opéra Comique promises to be a highlight! This opera lies in the tradition of 18th-century lyrical tragedy, combining epic grandeur with human emotion as it tells the rise and fall of the great warrior.

This collaboration between conductor Raphaël Pichon and director Claus Guth aims to recreate the spirit of the work rather than sticking exclusively to its libretto, offering a new perspective on this lost opera and highlighting the persistence of its artistic impact over the centuries and into the modern era.

How sweet it is to let yourself get carried away by baroque music in the beautiful red and gold setting of the Opéra Comique! Step out of the hustle and bustle of Paris’s busy streets for a few hours and lose yourself in another time.