Welcome to the Opéra Orchestre National Montpellier Occitanie

Discover one of France's most important musical stages.

With around 200 curtain raises and more than 150,000 spectators attending each season, the Opéra Orchestre National Montpellier Occitanie is one of the most important national stages in France.

Les fauteuils de l'Opéra Comédie de MontpellierOpéra Orchestre national Montpellier Occitanie

Two halves make a whole

Born in 2000 out of a merger between the opera and the orchestra, the Opéra Orchestre National Montpellier Occitanie is an association established under the law of 1901, supported by the Metropolis of Montpellier, the Region of Occitania, the Ministry of Culture, the Regional Directorate of Cultural Affairs, and the City of Montpellier.

Valérie Chevalier, directrice générale de l'Opéra Orchestre national Montpellier Occitanie (2019)Opéra Orchestre national Montpellier Occitanie

Valérie Chevalier, Managing Director

In 2014, Valérie Chevalier was appointed as Managing Director of the Opéra Orchestre.

Roderick Cox, music directorOpéra Orchestre national Montpellier Occitanie

Roderick Cox, Music Director

Roderick Cox has been named music director of the Opera Orchestre national Montpellier Occitanie. He will begin his tenure during the 2024–25 season.

La grande salle de l'Opéra ComédieOpéra Orchestre national Montpellier Occitanie

One location, three artistic forces

The Opéra Orchestre National Montpellier Occitanie not only combines a professional orchestra and chorus, but also the Opéra Junior—a singing school for students aged from 6 to 25

Les musiciens de l'Orchestre national Montpellier Occitanie (2021-10)Opéra Orchestre national Montpellier Occitanie

1 - Orchestre National Montpellier Occitanie

Founded in 1989, the Orchestre national Montpellier Occitanie has experienced a spectacular growth in its forty-year career, which makes it today one of the most dynamic orchestras in the French musical landscape.

Les musiciens de l'Orchestre national Montpellier Occitanie (2021-10)Opéra Orchestre national Montpellier Occitanie

1 - Orchestre National Montpellier Occitanie

Now comprising 88 musicians, the Orchestra takes on the entire lyric and symphonic repertoire from the 18th century to contemporary times and can rejoice to see its history engraved on more than forty public recordings.

Roderick Cox, music director (2024-04-22)Opéra Orchestre national Montpellier Occitanie

Roderick Cox, Music Director of the Opéra Orchestre

The American conductor will take up his post in September 2024.

Dorota Anderszewska, premier violon solo supersoliste de l'Orchestre national Montpellier Occitanie (2019)Opéra Orchestre national Montpellier Occitanie

Dorota Anderszewska, First Violin and Supersolist

A key role, the first violin is the second-most senior position in the orchestra after the conductor. Supersoloist is a special title given to musicians not only able to play solo parts during a concert but also to perform certain concertos.

Cyrille Tricoire lors du concert Au cœur de l'Orchestre (2019-11-16)Opéra Orchestre national Montpellier Occitanie

Cyrille Tricoire De Haro, Cellist and Supersoloist

Cyrille Tricoire De Haro   up-close with the public during the concert Au Cœur de l'Orchestre at the Opéra Berlioz.

Choeur de l'Opéra de Montpellier 1Opéra Orchestre national Montpellier Occitanie

2 - The Choir of the Opéra National Montpellier Occitanie

Founded in 1982, the Choir of the Opéra National Montpellier Occitanie has been led by Noëlle Gény since 1994.

Choeur de l'Opéra de Montpellier 2Opéra Orchestre national Montpellier Occitanie

The Choir of the Opéra National Montpellier Occitanie

Having been invited to perform at all the musical stages in France, the choir has a broad repertoire including grand choruses from operas, operettas, musical theater, melodies in French, Italian, German, and Slavic languages, as well as religious and contemporary music.

Geneviève de Brabant de Jacques Offenbach (2016) by Jacques Offenbach and Benoît BénichouOpéra Orchestre national Montpellier Occitanie

3 - Opéra Junior

Founded in 1990, this unique organization celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2020!

Symphonie n°3 de Gustav Mahler à l'Opéra Berlioz (2019)Opéra Orchestre national Montpellier Occitanie

Gustav Mahler's Symphony No. 3 by Opera Junior choir

The Opéra Junior Choir is an ensemble of young singers aged from 6 to 25 who are trained by the Opéra Orchestre in stage arts, singing, and acting. 

Opéra Junior dans Step in ! (2016) by Olivier CollinOpéra Orchestre national Montpellier Occitanie

The Opéra Junior Choir in Step In!

Following on from their show built around  The Tempest by William Shakespeare, the ensemble Les Ombres worked with the Opéra Junior Choir to create the musical and choreographic performance Step In!

Fauteuils de l'Opéra ComédieOpéra Orchestre national Montpellier Occitanie

Two outstanding venues

The concerts and shows performed by the Opéra Orchestre Montpellier mainly take place in Montpellier's two most important theaters.

La grande salle de l'Opéra ComédieOpéra Orchestre national Montpellier Occitanie

1 - Opéra Comédie

The Opéra Comédie is an Italian style theater built in 1888 with a capacity of 1,200 spectators distributed across five levels.

Mahler 3 à l'Opéra Berlioz (2019)Opéra Orchestre national Montpellier Occitanie

2 - Opéra Berlioz

Opened in 1990, the Opéra Berlioz is located within the Corum at the Palais des Congrés in Montpellier. 

L'Opéra Berlioz vu depuis la scène. (2019)Opéra Orchestre national Montpellier Occitanie

The empty Opéra Berlioz 

The vast Opéra Berlioz venue can seat up to 2,000 viewers and offers exceptional acoustics.

Installation du public dans l’Opéra Berlioz (2019-04-19)Opéra Orchestre national Montpellier Occitanie

People take their seats at the Opéra Berlioz 

A few minutes before the start of a performance, 2,000 spectators take their seats at the Opéra Berlioz. 

Tristan et Isolde à l'Opéra Berlioz (2019-01-17) by Richard WagnerOpéra Orchestre national Montpellier Occitanie

Tristan and Isolde by Richard Wagner at the Opéra Berlioz

The opera Tristan and Isolde by Richard Wagner performed as a concert (unstaged), conducted by Michael Schønwandt at the Opéra Berlioz.

Applaudissements à l'Opéra Comédie (2019-05-31)Opéra Orchestre national Montpellier Occitanie

An artistic program for all audiences

Every year, the Opéra Orchestre offers an accessible and varied season featuring operas, lyrical and symphonic concerts, baroque and chamber music, music from other places, cinema concerts, the escape game, and more.

Don Pasquale de Gaetano Donizetti (2019-02-20) by Gaetano Donizetti and Valentin SchwarzOpéra Orchestre national Montpellier Occitanie

Operas entrusted to new producers

Don Pasquale by Donizetti, by directors Valentin Schwarz and Andrea Cozzi in 2019 at the Opéra Comédie.

Le Barbier de Séville (Rossini) à l'Opéra Berlioz de Montpellier (2020-09-28) by Rafael R. Villalobos and Emanuele SinisiOpéra Orchestre national Montpellier Occitanie

The Barber of Seville by Rossini

A new, very rock 'n' roll production of The Barber of Seville by Rossini entrusted to the producer Rafael R. Villalobos, in September 2020.

Nabucco de Giuseppe Verdi, mise en scène par John Fulljames à l'Opéra Berlioz de Montpellier (2018) by Giuseppe Verdi, John Fulljames, and Opéra national de LorraineOpéra Orchestre national Montpellier Occitanie

Simon Boccanegra by Verdi

The opera also provides an excellent opportunity to enjoy staged performances, such as Verdi's Simon Boccanegra created by David Hermann.

Geneviève de Brabant de Jacques Offenbach (2016) by Jacques Offenbach and Benoît BénichouOpéra Orchestre national Montpellier Occitanie

Operas adapted for the young, by the young!

Geneviève de Brabant (Offenbach), adapted for the Opéra Junior at the Opéra Comédie.

Le Grand Foyer transformé en jardin printanier (2018) by Benoît BénichouOpéra Orchestre national Montpellier Occitanie

Shows for families and children

For opera to work its magic on even the youngest audiences and their families, the Opéra Orchestre adapts its shows to perform them in shorter, more fun-filled formats.

La Soupe Pop de Marie-Ève Signeyrole (2016) by Marie-Ève Signeyrole and The Tiger LilliesOpéra Orchestre national Montpellier Occitanie

Musical theater

There is definitely a place for theater at the opera too, such as with the show La Soupe Pop, a musical and poetic immersion set in a soup kitchen.

Les danseurs de Hamid El Kabouss (compagnie MIMH) dans La Boîte à Joujoux (Claude Debussy) (2016) by Claude Debussy and Hamid El KaboussOpéra Orchestre national Montpellier Occitanie

Dance

Not to be outdone, the dance program at the Opéra Orchestre benefits from an outstanding partnership with Montpellier Danse, resulting in several contemporary shows each season.

Applaudissements à l'Opéra Comédie (2019-05-31)Opéra Orchestre national Montpellier Occitanie

All we're waiting for is you!

Every year, Opéra Orchestre attracts more than 150,000 spectators to the 200 events taking place during its season of performances. Why not join them!

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