Maldoror : Festival d'Avignon 2026

The ultimate romantic ballet, performed by former Bolshoi Ballet principals Olga Smirnova and Jacopo Tissi, who fled Russia and joined the Dutch National Ballet, where this production is filmed. The young peasant girl Giselle falls in love with Albrecht, a nobleman already betrothed who hides his true identity from her. When she learns the truth, she becomes mad and dies. Against her own will, Giselle joins the Wilis: vengeful spirits of jilted brides who condemn Albrecht to dance until he dies of exhaustion.

The story of Giselle tells of the shattered love of a young peasant girl who believes she has found the man of her dreams in Albrecht, only to discover he is promised to another. This betrayal causes her downfall, but even beyond death, her love remains unbroken… Through her forgiveness, Giselle transcends betrayal and restores a form of peace, as powerful as the love she has lost. This version from the Dutch National Ballet, directed by Rachel Beaujean and Ricardo Bustamante, revisits Giselle while staying true to the essence of the iconic choreography by Marius Petipa, after Perrot and Coralli. The production combines precise and expressive choreography with sets and costumes that elegantly support the narrative: a perfect setting for stars Olga Smirnova and Jacopo Tissi, who bring the doomed couple to life with masterful intensity.

At the crossroads of arts, bodies and images merge to create a world of poetry and dreams.

Bernadette Soubirous, just 14 years old, goes by the river near the Massabielle cave. It is there that, for the first time, a “lady dressed in white” appears to her. Accused of lying, Bernadette’s revelation initially provokes mistrust and tensions in her family, drawing the wrath of civil and ecclesiastical authorities. The rumor spreads. Pilgrims begin to converge. Lourdes goes down in History.

Sergei Prokofiev's setting of the fairy tale "Cinderella" premiered at Moscow's Bolshoi Theater in 1945. In 1986, Rudolf Nureyev, then ballet director of the Paris Opera, choreographed the ballet anew and transposed the story into a private cinema, with sets reminiscent of Fritz Lang's "Metropolis." ARTE shows the Paris Opera performance from December 31, 2018.

Benjamin Millepied and the L.A. Dance Project join forces with Esa-Pekka Salonen and the Orchestre de Paris to celebrate Pierre Boulez through dance. A performance to mark the composer's centenary, followed by works by Stravinsky and Bartók.

The production by Calixto Bieito extracts all the potential from this work in a most convincing and spine-chilling way. The action takes place in a closed society of the 1950s, taking this story of witchcraft, sex and religion to the realism of imitation leather sofas, crochet cardigans, medical abuse and child molestation.

During his birthday’s celebration, Prince Siegfried must choose a bride. Trying to escape reality, he dreams of a perfect love. His tutor tries to bring him down to Earth and reminds him of his duties. On a dreamlike getaway, the prince meets Odette, a princess who has been transformed into a swan by the powerful sorcerer Rothbart. Only true love can break the spell. Captivated, Siegfried promises Odette to save her and invites her to his party. To trap the prince, the sorcerer sends his daughter Odile, disguised as Odette, to seduce him.

The French Youth Orchestra showcases young French artists aged 16 to 25. Accompanied here by pianist Alexandre Tharaud, the ensemble performs works by Shostakovich, Maresz, and Rimsky-Korsakov.

The Radio France Philharmonic Orchestra, Bastien Stil and Nathan Mierdl transport the Radio France Auditorium into the spellbinding world of John Williams. From Jurassic Park to Harry Potter, rediscover legendary melodies from Hollywood cinema.

Invited to the Philharmonie de Paris, the virtuoso Yuja Wang performs a programme of Maurice Ravel's two piano concertos, conducted by Klaus Mäkela.

Under the baton of charismatic Finnish conductor Esa-Pekka Salonen, the Orchestre de Paris performs Olivier Messiaen's most famous work: The ambitious and beguiling Turangalîla-Symphonie.

At the Lyon Dance Biennale, Aina Alegre, the Grenoble National Choreographic Centre and STUDIO FICTIF celebrate the legacy of Carmen Amaya, who revolutionised flamenco in the 1930s.

Choreographer Marcos Morau and the Ballet Nacional de España combine their choreographic work with the images of Colombian photographer Ruvén Afanador.

Swanhilda notices her fiancee Franz is infatuated with the beautiful Coppélia who sits reading on her balcony each day. Nearly breaking up the two sweethearts, Coppélia is not what she seems and Swanhilda decides to teach Franz a lesson… The Bolshoi’s unique version of Coppélia exhibits a fascinating reconstruction of the original 19th century choreography of this ebullient comedy involving a feisty heroine, a boyish fiancee with a wandering eye, and an old dollmaker. The company’s stunning corps de ballet shines in the divertissements and famous “dance of the hours,” and its principals abound in youthful energy and irresistible humor in this effervescent production.