- November 17, 2023
- All things Paris
- Niamh Daly & Clara Palas
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Christmas concerts, shows, and more to see in Paris this 2023!
With Christmas fast approaching, it's finally time to enjoy the finer things in life – fine dining, the company of loved ones, and a festive dose of music and theatre! Here at Theatre in Paris, we've compiled a stellar list of the greatest Christmas concerts and shows across the city in the run-up to Noël. If you're in the mood for a timeless carol, a side-splitting comedy show, or a stirring orchestral concert, there's something for everyone to enjoy in our carefully curated Christmas compilation. Whether it be with family, friends, or if you fancy treating yourself this Christmas in Paris, take a seat and enjoy the festivities!
A dazzlingly musical festive period!
What better way to get that Christmassy feeling than by celebrating it in advance? Here are our top picks for ways to get your Christmas on this festive season!
CONCERTS AT SAINT-GERMAIN-DES-PRÉS CHURCH • (Classical concerts in a gorgeous Parisian church // Until March 2nd, 2024) In the run-up to Christmas this year, Paris’ oldest church welcomes you for a series of merry celebrations within its sacred hall - the festive season is in full swing, and in its wake the Saint-Germain-des-Prés Concert Series offers a stellar spirited programme. Beloved classics such as Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons, Schubert and Caccini’s transcendental Ave Maria, and a selection of secular and sacred Christmas carols make up the Saint-Germain-des-Prés’ gorgeous programme. With Christmas concerts scheduled from December 16th to 28th inclusive, you have ample time to experience all the beauty and cheer of the festive season within one of Paris’ most historic venues… Buy your tickets to an orchestral concert at the Saint-Germain-des-Prés Church!
SAINTE-CHAPELLE CONCERT SERIES • (Classical concerts in Paris’ renowned Holy Chapel // Until December 31st, 2023) Enter one of Paris's most iconic venues, the Sainte-Chapelle, for a Christmas concert held in a venue like no other. Running every day from December 22n until the 26th inclusive, experience musical majesty bathed in the glow of its famed stained windows and appreciate the virtuosity of the solo vocalists, choirs, and string ensembles, as they pay scintillating homage to French renditions of some of the greatest Yuletide scores. Better yet - why not enjoy a glass of champagne along with your show? Explore the diverse programme for yourself! Don’t wait - tickets sell fast for this extremely popular show… Buy tickets to a spectacular Christmas concert at the Sainte-Chapelle!
DIRTY DANCING, THE MUSICAL • (Cult classic musical show // Until December 23rd, 2023) Ready to have the time of your life? This Christmas season, treat yourself to a cult classic as it takes to the theatrical stage! Dirty Dancing, The Musical is an adaptation you won’t be able to tear your eyes away from, punctuated with all the whimsy and colour of the summer of 63’. It arrives in Paris fresh from London’s West End as a scintillating homage to the late-80s classic, complete with the dazzling musical numbers and choreography we all know and love. Whether you’re discovering Baby and Johnny’s iconic story for the first time, or you’re looking for a dose of nostalgia this Christmas period in Paris - this is the show for you! Indulge in a story that has stood the test of time! Click here to get your tickets to Dirty Dancing, The Musical this Christmas season!
T’was the Night before Christmas…
If you’re in search for things to do in Paris on Christmas Eve, you have most certainly come to the right place! Theatre in Paris has more spectacular shows, mesmerising musicals, and cheerful comedies than you can shake a stick at. Here are our top contenders for Christmas Eve 2024!
BLANCHE NEIGE (SNOW WHITE) BY BALLET PRELJOCAJ • (Exceptional ballet // Until December 29th, 2023) A charming prince, a vindictive Evil Queen, and a magic mirror… as goes the classic tale popularised by Walt Disney, The Grimm Brothers’ beautiful tale of Snow White now takes to the stage of the opulent Royal Opera of Versailles, courtesy of the incredibly talented choreographer Angelin Preljocaj and music by Gustav Mahler. What’s more, this production features costumes designed by Paris’ very own Jean-Paul Gaultier - expect crinoline dresses and extravagant costumes pulled straight from a haute-couture dream…a ballet experience that is designed to entice and bewitch! Book your tickets for a Christmas Eve showing of the gorgeous Blanche Neige ballet at the Royal Opera of Versailles!
A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM • (Broadway musical comedy // Until February 4th, 2024) Westside Story, Into the Woods, Sweeney Todd... these are just some of the star-studded stories that the late and great Stephen Sondheim has worked on throughout his incredible career. This Christmas Eve, witness the glory of this exceptional talent with this, one of his finest shows: A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum! A whimsical parody that pokes fun at the tropes of classical Roman comedies, the original production of this widely beloved show won a slew of Tony Awards, including that of Best Musical, and has since been performed countless times by some remarkable talents, including Whoopi Goldberg and Nathan Lane. For a barrel of laughs courtesy of New York’s exceptional Broadway theatre scene, drop by the newly renovated Lido2Paris this Christmas Eve with all the family - this musical show is to be enjoyed by all ages! Don’t miss out - click here to get your tickets to A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum!
A Christmas Day to remember in Paris!
It’s never too early to start planning for the perfect Christmas Day in Paris…on the 25th of December, end the day on a high at one of our fabulous shows!
THE NUTCRACKER AT THE OPÉRA BASTILLE • (Classic Christmas ballet // Until January 1st, 2024) Behold: a delightful tale that has entertained Christmas crowds since the 19th century! One fated Christmas Eve, our small but mighty protagonist, Clara, receives a wooden nutcracker as a gift. Once she awakes from her slumber, she finds herself transported to a whimsical fantasy world, wherein her nutcracker soldier - who, in this fanciful wonderland, takes the form of a charming prince - takes her on an otherworldly journey… Hoffman’s gorgeous ballet is a breathtaking story for the ages, and the perfect Yuletide heart-warmer that the whole family will adore! Christmas only rolls around once a year…why not make it special with a Premium Ticket? Treat yourself to exclusive access to the Opéra Bastille’s gorgeous Salon Berlioz, a limited edition programme - and what Christmas is complete without a drop of complementary bubbly? Click here to buy your tickets to a spectacular Christmas Day showing of The Nutcracker!
CHRISTMAS CONCERT AT THE SAINT-SÉVERIN CHURCH • (Classical Christmas concert in Paris) The Saint-Séverin Church treats us to two terrific concerts to send us off into the New Year, including a special orchestral performance on Christmas Day! Join fellow music lovers for an evening recital this Noël, held within this breathtaking pearl of Paris’ 5th arrondissement. The remarkable talents of the Orchestre Les Solistes Français, soprano Sabine Revault d’Allonnes, and violinist Paul Rouger will combine their collective virtuosic vitality for a Christmas performance that will undoubtedly pay perfect homage to this merry holiday. Christmas carols, sacred and popular, will feature in this warming performance, as well as extraordinary scores from Bach, Vivaldi, Mozart, Handel, and Caccini. Come together in Saint-Séverin’s ornate vaulted hall to finish your Christmas Day with perfect musical majesty! Click here to buy your tickets to the Christmas Day orchestral concert at Paris’ Saint-Séverin Church!
CONCERTS AT THE EIFFEL TOWER • (Classical concerts playing in Paris’ Eiffel Tower) What could possibly say “Magic of Christmas” better than a performance inside the Eiffel Tower itself? The Gustave Eiffel lounge, which is located – that's right – inside the Eiffel Tower, invites you to an incredible performance of popular and traditional Christmas songs as performed by an exceptional orchestra, soprano, and solo violinist. Offering both an afternoon and an evening show on Christmas Day, you’re spoiled for choice! A dazzling programme offers folk and traditional songs, as well as operatic and sacred arias by Handel, Mozart, Puccini, and Dvorak, as well as Schubert and Caccini’s incomporable Ave Maria. A heart-rending musical show studded by the distant glitter of festive Paris surrounding you, suspended above the pulsing city…there’s no better way to celebrate Christmas 2023! Discover the beauty of Paris from within its most iconic monument on Christmas Day - click here to buy your tickets!
JIRÍ KYLIÁN AT THE PALAIS GARNIER • (Contemporary dance show) A scintillating succession of four of Czech choreographer Jiří Kylián’s finest contemporary dance pieces… if you’re looking to avoid a lazy Christmas afternoon, why not opt for the electrifying thrill of a live dance performance? The breathtakingly opulent Opéra Palais Garnier invites you to experience Stepping Stones, Gods and Dogs, Petite Mort, and Sechs Tänze: four pieces that embody the style of skill of this prolific choreographer. For a brief respite from the intimacy of Christmas Day, take your loved ones to a spectacular show in a gold-laden venue that you won’t soon forget! Click here to discover an incredible contemporary talent with Jiří Kylián’s show at the Opéra Palais Garnier!
CRAZY HORSE CABARET SHOW • (Cabaret show in Paris) Everyone knows that the best way to keep hearts merry on Christmas Day is to keep the drinks flowing and bellies full! If your 2023 resolution was to shake things up, then you can't go wrong at the Crazy Horse with their world-famous cabaret show Totally Crazy. Add one of Theatre in Paris's additional offers to your ticket for a luxurious meal at the nearby Ginger Restaurant, a glass of champagne, a cocktail, macarons, canapés, and even a delicious tour backstage with the cast – perfect for an unorthodox Christmas that is positively dripping with glitz and glamour. This sensational show offers performances through Christmas and New Year's - click here to get your tickets!
SAINTE-CHAPELLE CONCERT SERIES • (Concerts in Paris' holy chapel) As if an evening performance at the Sainte-Chapelle wasn't exciting enough already, you can embellish your evening with food and drink add-ons here, too. Why not accompany the sparkling effect of the windows with a glass of sparkling wine through our Champagne bundle? Or else, choose the option to follow up your evening of musical delight with a delectable meal at a nearby restaurant with our Wine & Tapas bundle… Joyeux Noël to you, too! Click here to get your tickets for a night of fine dining and music!
End the year with a bang!
Marvel at our incredible list of shows and concert, each more explosive and more colourful than a New Year’s firework spectacular…
NOTRE DAME DE PARIS, THE MUSICAL • (Musical broadway show // Until February 4th, 2023 Behold a classic tale of the French repertoire, popularised in recent years by Disney’s marvel of animation… Notre Dame de Paris throws back the curtains of the incredible Palais des Congrès for a succession of incredible performances, right up until January 7th, 2024! Experience the profound intimacy, the heart-touching score, and iconic characters within Victor Hugo’s heart-stopping story that has captivated audiences for years. Follow Quasimodo’s insightful tale of inner beauty, tolerance, and compassion - virtues that remain relevant almost 200 years later - in the very city the story is situated in! Why not stop by for a special New Year’s Eve performance on December 31st? Click here to get your tickets for the one and only Notre Dame de Paris, The Musical!
PIANO PASSION CONCERTS • (Scintillating piano recitals at the Saint-Julien-le-Pauvre Church Cached within the storied walls of a charming medieval church, witness any one of three spectacular New Year’s shows to celebrate 2024! An evening performance on December 31st promises a thrilling Gospel Concert, wherein the most gorgeous gospel tunes and traditional spirituals are paid tribute by the rich and dulcet tones of The Legend Singers. This January 1st, 2024, celebrate your New Year’s Day in Paris with two incredible performances, the first of which boasts a repertoire glittering with some of history’s most intimate piano pieces - including works by Mozart, Gluck, Marcello, Beethoven, Handel, Chopin, and a host of others. Just an hour and a half later, why not stick around for the return of The Legend Singers for a New Year’s Day Gospel Concert? Click here to discover the full New Year’s programme offered by the Piano Passion Concert Series!
HÉLIOS ORCHESTRA CONCERT SERIES
To appropriately see in the New Year, the Hélios Orchestra is promising a stellar line-up of spectacular shows across Paris! Their series of concerts will be taking place within Paris's oldest and most beautiful churches, including the glorious La Madeleine and
CANDLELIGHT CONCERT SERIES Basked in the soft glow of candlelight, there is certainly nowhere better to come together with friends and family alike and enjoy the heart-warming sound of a gentle New Year’s Concert than the one-of-a-kind Saint-Ephrem Church. Offering a selection of shows from December 30th until January 1st 2024 inclusive, there’s ample opportunity for you to get in on the action. In this hushed atmosphere, revel in the hair-raising harmony of Mozart’s sonatas, Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata, Chopin’s nocturnes and preludes, and an irresistible host of other amazing scores from throughout history. Indulge yourself this 2024! Discover the extended programme for the Saint-Ephrem Candlelight Concert Series by clicking here!
No matter what you choose to see this Christmas and New Year’s season, you’re sure to make memories! Be sure to check out our website to plan your visit to Paris!
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