The lion roars, the birds sing, the elephant waddles, the swan glides... All come to life thanks to the instruments of the Orchestre National Montpellier in Saint-Saëns' Carnival of the Animals , a joyful musical bestiary to discover with the family. Each instrument becomes an animal, each piece a sound tableau: flute for the birds, cello for the swan, piano for the kangaroos... This fabulous work is a fun way to discover the sounds of the orchestra by following a real animal parade. Alongside Damien Robert, who designed the staging, actress Wafae Ababou blends gesture and music in a poetic interpretation in LSF, while Lim Kiihwan's projected illustrations accompany the music and invite wonder.

Carnival of the Animals

Opéra Comédie

Three composers and one female composer each explore in their own way the play of contrasts, reflections, and flashes. Sophie Gail, one of the rare female composers of her time, opens the concert with the overture to The Two Jealous , a lively and theatrical work, in the spirit of the comic operas of his time. Étienne-Nicolas Méhul achieved great success with the comic opera Stratonice , oscillating between gravity and lyricism. Then, Beethoven, whose Romance for Violin and Orchestra No. 2 exudes a gentle melancholy, suspends time before deploying his creative energy in the overture to The Creatures of Prometheus . As for Mozart, he breathes into this concert the sparkling youth of his Symphony No. 29 , all lightness and clarity.

Orchestra for All #2

Sophie Gail, one of the rare female composers of her time, opens the concert with the overture to The Two Jealous Ones , a lively and theatrical work, in the spirit of the comic operas of her time. Étienne-Nicolas Méhul achieved great success with the comic opera Stratonice , oscillating between gravity and lyricism. Then, Beethoven, whose Romance for Violin and Orchestra No. 2 distils a gentle melancholy, suspends time before deploying his creative energy in the overture to The Creatures of Prometheus . As for Mozart, he breathes into this concert the sparkling youth of his Symphony No. 29 , all lightness and clarity.

Montpellier Occitanie National Orchestra

Bridges Theatre

With Au cœur de l'orchestre , the audience is invited to enjoy a rare experience: to sit directly on stage, among the musicians, to feel the music from within. Vibrations of the strings, blowing of the winds, striking of the percussions… everything is perceived differently when you are up close. A powerful, lively, unforgettable moment. A total immersion in the beating heart of the orchestra.

At the heart of the orchestra #2

Opéra Berlioz

For more than ten years, the Montpellier Occitanie National Orchestra has been developing a close partnership with the Cité des Arts – Regional Conservatory of Montpellier Méditerranée Métropole.

Tuba in light

La Cité des Arts

Our Ammodo Conducting Masterclass offers a unique opportunity to witness talented young conductors being trained by Paavo Järvi while they are leading the Concertgebouw Orchestra. Each session will be streamed on our video platform the same day from 7 p.m.

EPSG:4326

Ammodo Conducting Masterclass

The Concertgebouw

The Montpellier Occitanie Orchestra is pleased to present a series of open-air concerts, in the parks and gardens of Montpellier, but also in the heart of neighborhoods, in the Maisons pour tous. Whether you come alone, as a couple, with family, or with friends, these concerts will offer you the opportunity to share unique musical moments, outside of our traditional concert halls.

In garden and in courtyard #3

Jardin des plantes de Montpellier

To open this concert, Wagner conceived his Sigfried-Idyll as a gift to his wife Cosima, blending pastoral tenderness and miniature Wagnerian leitmotifs. An intimate dialogue woven by horns and woodwinds already imbued with nostalgia. In his Serenade Opus 44 , a jewel of spontaneity straight out of Czech folklore, Dvořák alternates joyful village dances with more nostalgic melodies. They showcase bassoons and oboes with a subtle art of counterpoint. As for Brahms, his Serenade No. 1 marks his symphonic debut and deploys his classical architecture refreshed by romantic colors. The Orchestre National Montpellier reveals the full palette of melodies that seem blown by the wind – from the transparency of the minuets to the majesty of the finales. A sensitive homage to the instruments that sing, converse, and dance.

Sebastián Almánzar

Events

Upcoming events

May 28, 2026

In garden and in courtyard #3 · Opéra Orchestre National Montpellier

May 31, 2026

Montpellier Occitanie National Orchestra · Opéra Orchestre National Montpellier

Past events

11 - 15 Feb, 2026

Carnival of the Animals · Opéra Orchestre National Montpellier

Jan 25, 2026

Orchestra for All #2 · Opéra Orchestre National Montpellier

Future and recently performed repertoire

Conductor in Symphony No. 2 by Beethoven

Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra

Conductor in Symphony No. 29 by Mozart

Opéra Orchestre National Montpellier

Conductor in The Creatures of Prometheus by Beethoven

Opéra Orchestre National Montpellier

Conductor in Serenade No. 1 by Brahms

Opéra Orchestre National Montpellier

Conductor in The Hebrides Overture by Mendelssohn

Opéra Orchestre National Montpellier

Conductor in Tristan und Isolde by Wagner

Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra

Conductor in Concerto for Tuba and Orchestra by Williams

Opéra Orchestre National Montpellier

Conductor in Romance no. 2 by Beethoven

Opéra Orchestre National Montpellier

Conductor in Carnival of the Animals by Saint-Saëns

Opéra Orchestre National Montpellier

Conductor in Symphony No. 5 by Beethoven

Opéra Orchestre National Montpellier

Conductor in Siegfried-Idyll by Wagner

Opéra Orchestre National Montpellier

Conductor in Serenade for wind instruments by Dvořák

Opéra Orchestre National Montpellier

Conductor in Concerto for 2 Oboes in D minor by Vivaldi

Opéra Orchestre National Montpellier

Conductor in Mazeppa by Liszt

Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra

Conductor in Serenade for Winds by Dvořák

Opéra Orchestre National Montpellier

Conductor in Facades by Glass

Opéra Orchestre National Montpellier

Conductor in Just a Minute by Jolas

Opéra Orchestre National Montpellier

Conductor in 2 Portraits by Bartók

Opéra Orchestre National Montpellier

Conductor in Les deux jaloux by Gail

Opéra Orchestre National Montpellier

Conductor in Stratonice by Méhul

Opéra Orchestre National Montpellier

About

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