The Lady of the Camellias - Opéra Palais Garnier

Location

Opéra Palais Garnier
Place de l’Opéra 75009 Paris
Capacity 1900 seats

Duration

2 h 50 min

With intermission

Details

Ballet

For all audiences

No dialogue

Highlights: La Dame aux camélias

Who is this Lady of the Camellias? What has earned her a ballet?

Inspired by the novel by Alexandre Dumas fils, La Dame aux camélias tells the tragic fate of Marguerite Gautier, a courtesan who falls in love with a young man, Armand Duval. Set in 19th-century Paris, Armand is torn between love and social conventions. It is this intense and impossible love story that choreographer John Neumeier has transformed into a moving and deeply theatrical ballet.

Created in 1978 for the Stuttgart Ballet, this masterpiece of the contemporary repertoire is built on fluid storytelling, refined dramaturgy, and the romantic music of Frédéric Chopin. Neumeier blends the elegance of classical movement with modern expressiveness, bringing rare intensity to the characters.

From 5 May to 23 May 2026, La Dame aux camélias will be performed on the stage of the Palais Garnier. An opportunity to immerse oneself in a world of passion, sacrifice, and beauty. The étoiles and principal dancers of the Paris Opera will embody this masterful work, acclaimed across the globe.

An unmissable event for ballet lovers, for those who seek deep emotion – and for all who cherish literature.

See details for our premium option below!

Next dates

Story: La Dame aux camélias

Here is a brief summary of the story to help you understand this moving tale and better follow the ballet on the stage of the Palais Garnier.

La Dame aux camélias tells the tragic love story between Marguerite Gautier, a famous Parisian courtesan, and Armand Duval, a young man from a respectable family. Armand falls passionately in love with Marguerite, touched by her beauty and sensitivity. Marguerite, initially cautious, grows sincerely attached to him. To live their love away from prying eyes, they settle in the countryside and enjoy a simple happiness.

But this happiness is short-lived. Armand’s father, concerned about the family's reputation, asks Marguerite to leave his son. Aware of the necessary sacrifice, she agrees and departs without explaining her reasons. Armand, hurt, believes she has betrayed him and reacts with anger. It is only after Marguerite’s death from tuberculosis that he learns the truth behind her loving sacrifice.

Alexandre Dumas’ novel, inspired by his own story with the courtesan Marie Duplessis, movingly explores the conflict between passion, sacrifice, and social conventions. A powerful work brought to life through music and movement on stage.

Note: Verdi’s La Traviata, Massenet’s Manon, and Dumas’ La Dame aux camélias share a central theme: that of a “fallen” woman who gives up love through sacrifice or constraint. Violetta (La Traviata) and Marguerite (La Dame aux camélias) are directly connected, with Verdi adapting Dumas’ novel. Manon, Massenet’s heroine, also embodies this tragic fate, torn between true love and the allure of luxury.

Come and experience this tragic love story in John Neumeier’s moving ballet on the stage of the Palais Garnier.

Premium Option and Experience at Palais Garnier

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 Liebermann + Show
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 Palais Garnier's opulent Salon Liebermann — a private space adjoining the Grand Foyer, offering breathtaking views of Place de l’Opéra and Avenue de l'Opéra and exclusively reserved for primary ticket holders.
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.

Reviews

A romantic epic

"La Dame aux Camélias is a wonderfully abundant romantic fresco, showing an idealised image of Paris in the middle of the 19th century." (Translated from French)

Bachtrack

A moving story

"Neumeier turned the moving story of the courtesan with phthisis it into a kind of scrapbook in which he turns the pages of history with the art of rebounding." (Translated from French)

Jacqueline Thuilleux, Concert Classic

Refined

"Sumptuous, refined and romantic, Chopin's music [...] adds to the enchantment of this show of unprecedented visual refinement." (Translated from French)

Dominique Poncet, Culture Tops

Opéra Palais Garnier

Place de l’Opéra 75009 Paris

History and Fun Facts about the Opéra Palais Garnier

One of the most prestigious stages in all of France, the Palais Garnier was constructed between 1860 and 1875, designed by legendary architect Charles Garnier, who was selected among a handful of talented architects in a fierce design competition. The building itself is considered an artful masterpiece, and was one of the most expensive construction projects to come from the Second French Empire under the reign of Napoléon III. The elaborate use of different materials to lend a lavish multicolored facade was typical of many of the works under the rule of Napoléon III, and features sculptures of various figures of Greek mythology. The official inauguration in 1875 was attended by the Mayor of London and Amsterdam, the King Alphonso XII of Spain, and hundreds of members from European high society.

The interior was meticulously designed with intertwining corridors, alcoves and landings to allow for easy movement of large numbers of people; complete with a grand marble staircase and the grand foyer, acting as the drawing room for all of Paris high society and covered in gilded paintings. The auditorium itself is in a traditional Italian horseshoe shape, seating 1900. The stage is the largest in Europe and can accommodate 450 artists, revealed by the opening of the legendary painted curtain. Garnier himself designed the 7-tonne chandelier sparkling above the audience. In 1896, one of the many chandelier counterweights broke free and killed a concierge, the incident that inspired the scenes in the 1910 novel-turned-musical The Phantom of the Opera. The space above the auditorium in the copula dome was once used strictly for cleaning the chandelier, but has since been transformed into a space for opera and dance rehearsals.

The legendary building was initially deemed the Academie Impériale de Musique, yet with the fall of the Second Empire and the start of the Third Republic, this was aptly changed for the Academie Nationale de Musique, which we see written across the exterior facade to this day. Garnier envisioned his design and the transformation of the surrounding area, and to this day the opulence of the Second Empire lives on in this living monument. The avenue de l'Opéra remains the only large Parisian corridor without trees, as Garnier explicitly prevented Haussmann from adorning the street with trees, arguing that his Palais Garnier was to be the main focus. Palais Garnier became the official name in 1989 with the construction of the Opéra Bastille, and the venue now houses primarily ballets.

Fast facts
Capacity: 1,979
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 palais paris view ©Christian Leiber / OnP

palais garnier ©Jean-Pierre Delagarde OnP

opera palais garnier plan de salle seating chart tickets billets paris

FAQ

How do I get to opera house Palais Garnier in the 9th arrondissement of Paris?

The Palais Garnier opera house is accessible by:
Metro: Line 3 (station Opéra), line 7 (station Chaussée d’Antin), line 8 (station Madeleine and Opéra), line 9 (station Chaussée d’Antin)
RER: Line A (station Auber)
Address: Place de l’Opéra, 75009 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 Palais Garnier opera house?

We invite you to arrive 45 minutes before the beginning of the ballet, La Dame aux camélias, and present your voucher at the front desk. Palais Garnier’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 ballet, La Dame aux camélias, last?

The ballet, La Dame aux camélias, at the Palais Garnier opera house lasts approximately 2 hours and 50 minutes, with intermission.

Is La Dame aux camélias for an international audience or French speakers?

Both! The Palais Garnier opera house welcomes audiences from all over the world! Dance is a universal language, therefore, the dance piece, La Dame aux camélias, is accessible to anyone from any corner of the world.

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!
To get a guaranteed view of the French and English surtitles, we recommend purchasing tickets for Category Optima or in Category 1.
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.

Is there a dress code at the Palais Garnier opera house?

There is no specific dress code at Palais Garnier opera house, but proper attire is appreciated. Feel free to dress to impress and reflect the opulent architecture at Palais Garnier!

What is included with my premium ticket at the Palais Garnier opera house?

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 Liebermann.

Your programme: At the Palais Garnier, you may obtain your programme in the main shop as well as at the programme stands located in the entry hall and at the bottom of the prestigious Grand Staircase.
Your glass of champagne: You are welcome to enjoy your complementary glass of champagne either before the performance or during intermission. Champagne will be available at the public bars or in the exclusive Salon Liebermann. The Salon is located on the right-hand side of the Grand Foyer, behind the fireplace.

I bought premium tickets for La Dame aux camélias and I haven’t received them yet. Is this normal?

Yes, it’s completely normal! As the premium tickets for La Dame aux camélias 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 receives, 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.