It was indeed in the costume of Albrecht – the lovesick suitor of the tragic Giselle – that, just over two years ago, the young dancer was promoted to Étoile. Alongside Dorothée Gilbert, who performed as Giselle, he wrote a new chapter in the history of the Paris Opera Ballet.

Yet at the time of this consecration, Guillaume Diop was still only a Sujet – in other words, a junior soloist promoted from the corps de ballet. Like several illustrious Étoiles before him, such as Hugo Marchand and Dorothée Gilbert, he failed his first promotion competition to the rank of Coryphée (a confirmed member of the corps de ballet). In June 2021, three years after joining the company, he landed his first true solo role while still just a Quadrille substitute in the corps de ballet. That year, he performed Romeo for the first time opposite Étoile Léonore Baulac in Rudolf Nureyev’s ballet set to Prokofiev’s sublime score.

It was partly due to a series of injuries suffered by other dancers during the 2022–2023 season – notably during performances of Swan Lake – that Guillaume Diop emerged as a potential future Étoile. When the company embarked on its tour in South Korea, he was chosen to perform Albrecht alongside the celebrated Dorothée Gilbert, nearly twenty years his senior. It was then that he was officially named Étoile of the Paris Opera Ballet.

Today, he reprises this iconic role in the Paris Opera Ballet’s 2025–2026 season, on October 18 and 28, 2025. In addition, he will appear in the contemporary dance program Contrastes, running from December 1 to 31, 2025.

Pour découvrir Guillaume Diop dans Giselle, cliquez ici !

Et pour le voir dans le programme Contrastes, c’est ici !

Et pour en savoir plus sur l’actualité de l’Opéra de Paris, cliquez ici !

Guillaume Diop – c – Virginie Ribaut / Musée Grévin

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A star among stars, it was only after a long and difficult road that Dorothée Gilbert succeeded in reaching the ultimate rank in November 2007 after a
performance of The Nutcracker.

Contrary to popular belief, she didn’t get into the prestigious Ecole de danse de l’Opéra national de Paris on the first try. It was only through hard work that she gained a place in the prestigious school on her second attempt, in 1995, at the age of 13. Like many other dancers who have gone on to become soloists or stars of the company, she spent two years as a Quadrille, i.e. replacing members of the corps de ballet.

She won prestigious awards in her first years as a professional dancer: firstly, the Prix AROP de la danse in 2003, then the Cercle Carpeaux in 2004 and the Prix Leonide Massine in Positano, Italy, as well as the Prix Ballet 2000 in Cannes in 2006. Much later, in 2022, she received the Prize for best choreographic performer from the Syndicat professionnel de la Critique Théâtre, Musique et Danse.

The duo she forms with Hugo Marchand, 10 years her junior, has also built a legend. Since their artistic encounter in 2015 during performances of Kenneth MacMillan‘s ballet Manon, the dancers have enchanted Parisian audiences with the intensity of their interpretation.

Dorothée Gilbert is a role model in the world of dance, thanks to her determination and hard work. After the performances of Giselle, she will be back in the Contrastes program with O złożony / O composite by choreographer Trisha Brown.

This is the last full season for the dancer, who turns 42 this season and will bid farewell to the stage in September 2026.

To see Dorothée Gilbert in Giselle, click here, and to see her in Contrastes, click here!

To find out more about the Paris Opera Ballet, click here!

Dorothée Gilbert in rehearsal and on stage in the ballet Giselle – c – Maria-helena Buckley & Agathe Poupeney

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When, in 2020, Klaus Mäkelä became Musical Advisor and then Music Director in September 2021, the Orchestre de Paris caused a stir by appointing such a young conductor, almost unknown to the wider public. A bold move that paid off: Mäkelä, then only 24, was quickly noticed by other major orchestras such as the Koninklijk Concertgebouworkest and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Amsterdam has offered him the post of Chief Conductor beginning in 2027, while Chicago has called upon him to succeed Riccardo Muti, also from September 2027. With so many commitments—while still holding his post as Chief Conductor of the Oslo Philharmonic since 2020—the young Finnish maestro had to make a choice, and Paris was the one he sacrificed.

The appointment of Esa-Pekka Salonen, though sometimes anticipated, does not come with the same surprise as Mäkelä’s arrival. Salonen first conducted the Orchestre de Paris in 1988 and has returned almost every season since. A renowned conductor, composer, and initiator of cultural projects, Salonen has distinguished himself at the helm of several prestigious ensembles, including the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra, the Philharmonia Orchestra in London, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, and the San Francisco Symphony, where he has served as brilliant Principal Conductor or Music Director.

Olivier Mantei, General Director of the Cité de la musique – Philharmonie de Paris, stated: “We are very happy and proud to welcome to the head of the Orchestre de Paris an exceptional musician who has maintained a close relationship with the orchestra for many years, and who has left a lasting mark on the ensembles he has led worldwide through his talent and vision. Esa-Pekka Salonen is an artist deeply anchored in today’s world, and we look forward to working with him on the artistic and societal challenges of the present and future, through the chair specially created for him by the Philharmonie de Paris.”

At the head of the Orchestre de Paris, Salonen will follow in the footsteps of Charles Munch, Herbert von Karajan, Sir Georg Solti, Daniel Barenboim, Semyon Bychkov, Christoph von Dohnányi, Christoph Eschenbach, Paavo Järvi, Daniel Harding, and his fellow Finn, Klaus Mäkelä.

To discover the upcoming season of the Orchestre de Paris with Esa-Pekka Salonen, click here!

To learn more about the conductor’s latest news, click here!

Esa Pekka Salonen & Klaus Makela – c – Ava du Parc & Marco Boggreve

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The French conductor, who has led the Brussels institution since 2016, will continue his mission alongside the new General and Artistic Director Christina Scheppelmann, who recently took office.

According to Scheppelmann—who has long known the artist—renewing his contract was a top priority from the very beginning of her tenure. “Extending his mandate was one of my very first objectives when I was appointed. La Monnaie is fortunate to have, in its Music Director, not only such a talented conductor, but also a passionate artist deeply devoted to music and opera, beloved by both the musicians and the audience,” she declared, adding that she is delighted their terms will now end at the same time.

For nearly a decade, Alain Altinoglu has continued to shape La Monnaie’s musical identity in profound ways. Under his baton, the orchestra and audiences have explored a wide range of repertoires through major opera productions, from Wagner to Poulenc. In concert, he effortlessly traverses paths from Mozart to Stravinsky, via Mahler, Berlioz and Ravel, cementing his central role in the artistic influence of La Monnaie-De Munt.

Much to the disappointment of Parisians wanted Altinoglu at the helm of the Orchestre de l’Opéra national de Paris, the continuation of his mandate ensures a stable and ambitious artistic vision for the coming seasons. A major highlight of this extension will be the opening of La Monnaie’s new season with Verdi’s Falstaff, staged by Laurent Pelly.

The eagerly awaited production is already close to sold out—a clear sign of the enduring appeal of both the French conductor and the institution.

To book your tickets for the Fastaff’s performances, click here!

To learn more about Alain Altinoglu and his actuality, it’s here!

Alain Altinoglu – c – Vincent Callot

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This contemporary ballet, entitled Red Carpet, had its world premiere at the Palais Garnier on 10 June 2025. It marks an important stage in the choreographer’s career: it is his very first creation specially conceived for the Opéra national de Paris. True to his characteristic style, Hofesh Shechter has also created the soundtrack for Red Carpet, a haunting music with folkloric overtones that matches his “glamorous” and“punk” choreography.

In Red Carpet, the thirteen dancers of the Opera are not the only ones to occupy the stage. The emblematic red curtain and the majestic chandelier of the Palais Garnier also play a central role, almost as characters in their own right. But why this focus on the décor? When asked about the meaning of the title, Hofesh Shechter remains enigmatic: he simply wanted “to make a nod to the Opera“.

Red Carpet is set to seduce audiences across the Atlantic. The troupe will perform from 2 to 4 October 2025 at the Berkeley Theatre in San Francisco, then from 9 to 12 October 2025 at the New York City Center.

In the meantime, the creation continues to impress Parisian audiences. Red Carpet is on show at the Palais Garnier until 14 July 2025.

To see Hofesh Shechter’s creation at Garnier, click here!

To find out more about the latest news from the Paris Opera, click here.

Premiere of Red Carpet at the Palais Garnier – c – Julien Benhamou

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From 27 June to 14 July 2026, the Paris Opera Ballet will revive her masterpiece The Seasons’ Canon, a creation that has become iconic since its premiere in 2016.

Crystal Pite is one of the most beloved contemporary choreographers among Parisian audiences. Her monumental work Body and Soul, created in 2019 for the Paris Opera’s 350th anniversary, left a lasting impression with its dramatic intensity and groundbreaking choreographic storytelling.

With the return of The Seasons’ Canon, she invites spectators once more into her hypnotic world, set to Max Richter’s reimagining of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons.

The piece is renowned for its striking visual effect, with the dancers of the Paris Opera Ballet forming a human tide that moves in perfect unison, echoing the structure of a musical canon and creating the illusion of a constant flow. There are no solo stars here—only a celebration of the collective, where every body contributes to a living fresco in perpetual motion.

This much-anticipated revival already promises to be one of the standout events of the 2025–2026 season. Fans of contemporary dance and loyal followers of the Paris Opera alike are sure to snap up tickets to (re)discover the brilliance of Crystal Pite.

To be the first to have your tickets for the performance, click here!

The Season Canon by le Ballet de l’Opéra de Paris & Crystal Pite – c – Julien Benhamou & Anoush Abrar

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Just weeks before Jordan’s departure, after serving since 2020, the news takes on a very real turn as he bids farewell with performances of Tannhäuser, Wagner’s complete Ring Cycle, and the final notes of Götterdämmerung, marking the end of an important chapter.

Philippe Jordan will then return to Paris, where he is set to become Music Director of the Orchestre National de France in 2027.

A passionate interpreter of Wagner, the former Music Director of the Paris Opera has never hidden his visceral attachment to the composer of Bayreuth, describing his music as “elemental, filled with a raw energy, which at first glance seems simple but goes incredibly deep, where emotion guides reason and the narrative is elevated by the music.”

Five masterpieces by the German Romantic genius will be performed from 22 May to 28 June 2025 at the Vienna State Opera, including Tannhäuser from 22 May to 4 June, Das Rheingold from 28 May to 20 June, Die Walküre from 2 to 22 June (already sold out), Siegfried from 8 to 25 June, and finally Götterdämmerung from 15 to 28 June 2025.

On stage, the great Wagnerian voices take centre stage, with tenor Andreas Schager—a key figure in the repertoire—starring in Siegfried, Götterdämmerung, and Die Walküre, alongside Anja Kampe as Brünnhilde and the powerful Simone Schneider, stepping in for new mother Lise Davidsen as Sieglinde. The production by Sven-Eric Bechtolf is a revival of the cycle created over several seasons between 2007 and 2009.

In Tannhäuser, rising star Clay Hilley takes the title role, partnered by the fiery Venus of Ekaterina Gubanova and the noble Elisabeth of Malin Byström. However, French baritone Ludovic Tézier, originally cast as Wolfram von Eschenbach, will not take part in the production and is replaced by Martin Gantner.

A blazing month of June awaits at the Wiener Staatsoper, where, between the fire of the Valkyries and the twilight of the gods highlighted by Philippe Jordan, this Wagnerian immersion is sure to be a major event.

TO ATTEND ONE OF THE FIVE OPERAS IN VIENNA, CLICK HERE!

Philippe Jordan – c – Christian Michelines

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At just 38 years old, Lionel Bringuier already boasts an impressive career. In 2005, aged only 15 years old, he won the prestigious Besançon International Competition for Young Conductors. Two years later, he flew off to Los Angeles, where he was appointed Assistant Conductor of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, working alongside the celebrated Venezuelan maestro Gustavo Dudamel.

Following stints in Spain and Zurich, Bringuier returned to Nice in 2019, first as Associate Conductor of the Nice Philharmonic, and later rising to Principal Conductor in 2023. In January 2024, he announced his upcoming move to Liège.

Under the evocative title “Lionel Bringuier: A Shared Passion”, the RPHO and its future Music Director are preparing to explore a rich repertoire together, focusing on French masters (Ravel, Dukas, Roussel), Russian giants (Tchaikovsky, Stravinsky), and Ukrainian legend (Prokofiev) — a programme that promises true artistic synergy between conductor and orchestra.

As Bringuier himself puts it: “With the RPHO, I instantly felt we were speaking the same language, that we shared a common identity and the same way of thinking about music.”

Exciting new projects are already on the horizon — including a series of concerts dedicated to the Modern Classical movement, featuring prominent figures like Max Richter and Belgian ensemble Echo Collective, injecting a breath of fresh air into the orchestra’s future seasons.

But before settling into the “Cité ardente”, Bringuier will offer one last enchanted interlude in Nice, conducting the Philharmonic Orchestra on 29 and 30 July 2025 at the Auditorium du Parc du Château de Florans. On the programme: Tchaikovsky and Mussorgsky with Bruce Liu at the piano, followed the next day by a performance with Bertrand Chamayou, joining Bringuier for Ravel’s piano concertos — with the iconic Boléro to top it all off. A fitting tribute in this Ravel anniversary year! 

To attend those concerts in Nice, click here!

Lionel Bringuier – c – ORPL Website

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To be fair, José Martinez, the company’s Director of Dance, has pulled off quite the coup: the first cast brings together no fewer than five Étoiles of the Paris Opera Ballet on the Garnier stage — a rare and resplendent event within the company’s historic walls. The tale of Diana’s nymph will be brought vividly to life by Amandine Albisson in the title role, with Germain Louvet as Aminta, Guillaume Diop as Eros, and Marc Moreau as Orion. As for Diana, goddess of the hunt, she will be portrayed by Roxane Stojanov — newly promoted to Étoile at the dawn of 2025!

Manuel Legris, a former Étoile of the company and now a distinguished choreographer, offers a faithful revival of Louis Mérante’s original version, set to the luminous score by Léo Delibes. Faithful, however, does not mean static — Manuel Legris has infused the work with the elegance of the French ballet tradition, combined with a thoroughly modern technical rigour.

And with a five-star cast already in place, José Martinez has entrusted the supporting roles to the company’s virtuoso Premiers Danseurs — Florent Mélac will dance Endymion, Francesco Mura becomes the Faun, and the radiant young Inès McIntosh, full of promise, will perform the Naiad. By spotlighting soloists beloved by audiences — some already prizewinners — José Martinez signals his intention to shake up the company’s famously hierarchical system by offering rising stars a chance to shine now, not later.

The premiere of Sylvia, now entering the Paris Opera Ballet’s repertoire, is already nearly sold out — but this same dazzling constellation of dancers will return for performances on 10, 21 and 23 May 2025.

Secure your seats now — before they vanish!

CLICK HERE FOR THE LAST REMAINING TICKETS!

To learn more about this new production, click also here!

Amandine Albisson, Marc Moreau, Germain Louvet, Guillaume Diop & Roxane Stojanov – c – James Bort & Matthew Brookes (source : OnP)

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Recognised as a prima ballerina assoluta, Alessandra Ferri has left an indelible mark on the stages of the Royal Ballet, American Ballet Theater, and La Scala. Beyond her international acclaim as a dancer, she has also distinguished herself as a répétiteur and mentore, guiding some of today’s most prominent stars in the ballet world. Her appointment heralds a new era and a daring artistic vision for Vienna’s ballet scene.

And she isn’t wasting any time: Alessandra Ferri has already enticed three principal dancers from the Bayerisches Staatsballett — Madison Young, António Casalinho, and Margarita Fernandes — to follow her to Vienna. This high-profile transfer, orchestrated from the company led by Laurent Hilaire (the former dazzling étoile of the Paris Opera Ballet), underscores the new director’s ambition to elevate the artistic excellence of the Wiener Staatsballett.

Before handing over the reins, Martin Schläpfer will unveil his final creations. From 21st April 2025 through to June, ballet lovers will witness Pathétique, a programme that places Schläpfer’s choreography alongside works by George Balanchine and Merce Cunningham.

These performances will mark the end of one era and the stirring dawn of another — a new era we imagine to be deeply inspired by the poetic and visionary spirit of Alessandra Ferri.

To attend the programme of the Wiener Staatsballett, click here!

Alessandra Ferri & Laurent Hilaire – c – Amber Hunt & Julian Baumann

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