Alexander Neef, director of the Paris National Opera, has crafted a 2024-2025 season that now defines his artistic policy. Between new creations, heritage works, and major revivals, music lovers can now rejoice in finding the great institution that everyone admires, especially with José Martínez, the impeccable director of dance. With his international stature, he offers relevant choices for dance, with some new opportunities for the Étoiles, Premières Danseuses, Premiers Danseurs, and the ballet corps of the Opera. It is now traditional for the Palais Garnier to host dance performances as well as some opera productions. The legendary venue is, of course, open for visits, but nothing replaces the experience of a live performance.
On the ballet side, it’s a true celebration with a repertoire festival. Masterpieces of the white ballet such as Tchaikovsky‘s The Sleeping Beauty by Rudolf Nureyev or Pierre Lacotte’s Paquita are mostly at the Opéra Bastille, but the Palais Garnier also includes great classical dance masterpieces in its 2024-2025 ballet season. Classical dance returns with strength in the programming with works like Onegin, the masterpiece of the great choreographer John Cranko. Aficionados will also not want to miss Sylvia, and should book their tickets early! Set to the music of the highly esteemed Léo Delibes, Sylvia is the very first ballet created at the Palais Garnier, which will be presented in the version by Manuel Legris, a famous Étoile dancer of the Paris National Opera and now the renowned director of the La Scala Ballet in Milan. This addition to the repertoire is an event. Other shows that quickly sell out include the season’s Gala with the Ballet parade, as well as the Demonstrations and the Dance School Show, which are doubled by two exceptional performances. The first unites Maurice Béjart, August Bournonville, and Antony Tudor, while the second features the prestigious names of choreographers William Forsythe and Johan Inger. Throughout the rich 2024-2025 season, dance and ballet enthusiasts will flock to evenings where the new generation meets more established choreographers. Mats Ek’s brilliant Appartement is paired with Sharon Eyal’s OCD Love. All ballet lovers await the creation of the brilliant Hofesh Shechter, and those who have not yet seen it will benefit from the revival to buy their tickets to see the delightful Play by Alexander Ekman, a must-see. Speaking of essentials, Mayerling, the absolute classic masterpiece by choreographer Kenneth MacMillan, will undoubtedly bring a few tears, especially when performed by the Paris National Opera Ballet, one of the most prestigious companies in the world.
Also noteworthy, the chamber music concerts offered by members of the Paris National Opera Orchestra always enjoy great success. Recitals make a notable return to the Palais Garnier.
Music lovers who are fond of great voices will book their seats in advance to not miss the recitals of Benjamin Bernheim, the greatest French tenor of his generation, or the sublime Elina Garanca in French and international melodies. Two great stars are making their return to Garnier, Natalie Dessay and Renée Fleming, an event! Among the new opera productions at the Palais Garnier, there will be laughter with the comic opera that opens the season. Offenbach‘s The Brigands is directed by Barrie Kosky, who has brightened the nights of the Komische Oper in Berlin with his whimsy. The superb cast motivates reservations. What promises to be the season’s great success is almost sold out for the fall of 2024 but will fortunately be revived at the end of the season. One of the most anticipated opera performances at the Palais Garnier for the 2024-2025 season is Rameau’s Castor and Pollux, bringing together a perfect cast with Reinoud Van Mechelen, Marc Mauillon, Jeanine De Bique, and Stéphanie d’Oustrac under the expert direction of the brilliant Teodor Currentzis. This superb baroque opera is eagerly awaited by all specialists. Another anticipated production is the revival of Stravinsky‘s The Rake’s Progress, a chance to rediscover the incredible world of Olivier Py, who delivers a great spectacle here. The story of the Faust myth revisited is embodied by young and very great voices to discover urgently (Golda Schultz and Ben Bliss).
The last events of the 2024-2025 season at the Palais Garnier are exceptional concerts. A concert of the Rolex Ambassadors brings together Sonya Yoncheva, Juan Diego Flórez, Bryn Terfel, Rolando Villazón, Yuja Wang, and the musicians of the Vienna Philharmonic, while the 150th anniversary of the Palais Garnier will be celebrated with a gala featuring Lisette Oropesa and Ludovic Tézier. One must rush to get available tickets as the event is significant!
Get your tickets now for the new 2024-2025 season at the Palais Garnier
© Opéra national de Paris website
