Music, opera, dance, circus and shows: let the magic begin!
December is here and with it comes a wonderful range of live entertainment—here’s my pick!
This year, the Christmas concerts take pride of place, for an immersion in the musical, sparkling and traditional atmosphere of the Nativity. Then there are the end-of-year concerts and shows, with their stage costumes and festive atmosphere! Read on to find out more...
Concerts, music and opera
On the 11th of December, Le Concert de l’Hostel Dieu is giving its Christmas concert at the au Grand Temple. The excellent programme includes 'Messe de Minuit' by Charpentier, 'Noëls à grand chœur' by Saby and 'Dixit Dominus' by Campra. This promises to be a magical evening!
The Opéra de Lyon’s orchestra and children’s choir (La Maîtrise) are giving their Christmas concert at Saint-Bonaventure church on Sunday the 16th and 23rd of December. The programme explores different epochs and styles, from Georg Friedrich Handel to Gabriel Fauré, César Franck or Benjamin Britten, and from Franz Xaver Grüber to Gustave Holst, Leonard Bernstein, Franz Biebl, Bob Chilcott ou John Rutter… This is a great opportunity to enjoy the talent and professionalism of the choir’s young singers.
The Opéra de Lyon is also treating us to Handel’s Rodelinda, a Baroque opera that transports us to Italy with a drama of passion, featuring political rivalry and marital fidelity. The opera is staged by Claus Guth, with a stunning black and white set design, and promises to be a masterpiece. From the 15th of December 2018 to the 1st of January 2019.
2018 will end with a flourish, with a recital by Felicity Lott on the 30th of December, followed by the New Year's Concert, the next day: a firm tradition, featuring Viennese waltzes and joyous opera melodies. Works by Strauss, Gounod, Puccini, Offenbach, Gounod, Donizetti will be conducted by Roland Böer, for an evening of splendid, light-hearted music.
Les Grands Concerts a season of chamber music and Baroque concerts, is serving up a treat too, with Couperin’s 'Les Nations' performed by Le Concert des Nations, conducted by Jordi Savall, on the 15th od December. This will be followed by the concert 'English Songs' featuring Purcell and the voice of counter-tenor Tim Mead, accompanied by the musicians of Saint-Julien and conducted by Franck Lazarevitch, for a thrilling night of music at the Chapelle de la Trinité (which is also Baroque) on the 19th of December.
L’Auditorium whets our appetites with the ‘Surprise du Chef’ (the American conductor Joshua Weilerstein) with an ‘Expresso’ concert at 12.30 and 3 pm on the 14th of December—ideal for an invigorating break from shopping. Highly recommended!
This is followed by an impressively rich programme: a festive ambiance with Musique Klezmer on Sunday the 16th of December, followed by Beethoven's Heroic Symphony with Renaud Capuçon on the 20th and 21st. L’Arpeggiata will be putting on a programme of music by Handel (not to be missed) and Vivaldi on Saturday the 22nd of December.
The grand finale of the year will be Winter Wonderland: a magical concert-show made up of extracts from three major ballets by Tchaikovsky (The Nutcracker, Swan Lake and Sleeping Beauty) with a light show and dancers—ideal for a family outing! From the 29th of December to the 1st of January.
Lastly, Gospel fans can enjoy a concert by Rev Jackson and the Legend Singers, at Saint-Pothin church on Saturday the 22nd of December.
Salle 3000 presents Offenbach's brilliant, festive and slightly nostalgic The Tales of Hoffmann. With the Russian National Opera’s Ballet, on the 21st and 22nd of December.
At the Maison de la Danse, the Malandain Ballet de Biarritz revisits the story of Noah set to Rossini's ‘Messa di Gloria’, which promises to be excellent! From the 18th to the 22nd of December.
Circus, acrobatics and extravagance…
At the Théâtre des Célestins, Victoria Thierrée-Chaplin’s Bells and Spells sees Aurélia Thierrée play a kleptomaniac trapped by the objects she has stolen. From the 12th to the 31st of December.
We also like Amour, a sweet and poetic musical show by the company Marie de Jongh. Perfect for the festive season. From the 14th to the 31st of December.
The Canadian circus company Flip FabriQue is returning to Lyon, at Le Radiant in Caluire, with its show Transit, which tells the story of the life of a circus troupe. The six performers—actors, acrobats and jugglers—put on an astonishing performance! On the 15th and 16th of December.
The only difficulty will be making a choice!
We wish you an excellent festive season of shows and music.
Isabelle, our editor born and bred in Lyon! She was born in Sainte-Foy-lès-Lyon in fact, studied in Lyon and now lives here. Territorial? Absolutely not! She loves travelling, widening her horizons, meeting new people and enjoys a change of scenery (without snow, if possible). Isabelle is curious and a people person, two attributes that often go hand in hand! Her favourite colour is green and her motto "a day without laughter is a day wasted!"
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