Here’s a good reason to go to church: most Paris churches regularly host free concerts. Their unique acoustics and fine settings guarantee concert-goers an unforgettable experience.
Not to be missed, on Sundays at Église Saint-Eustache (1st arrondissement): morning concert by the singers of Saint-Eustache preceded by an introduction to the Great Organ and at 5pm the audition of this same Great Organ before the 6pm mass. It is also in Saint-Eustache that the Festival 36h is organised, offering free concerts on the occasion of the Fête de la musique. The Église Saint-Roch (1st arrondissement), the Oratoire du Louvre (1st arrondissement), the Église de la Madeleine (8th arrondissement) and paroisse Sainte-Clotilde (7th arrondissement) also host free concerts.
© Marc Chapelat Fotolia
Another good way to enjoy a free concert is to go along to performances by students at music conservatories and schools. The École normale de musique de Paris regularly organizes such concerts at the Salle Cortot, the Conservatoire national supérieur de musique et de danse de Paris and the Conservatoire à rayonnement régional de Paris (CRR).
© OTCP David Lefranc
Some associations also organize free concerts: for example, Jeunes Talents puts on a series of concerts in exceptional venues such as the Archives nationales, the Petit Palais and the Cercle suédois. Especially in summer, during the Festival Européen des Jeunes Talents, the public is invited to attend free rehearsals of certain concerts.
For fans of electroacoustic music and new sounds, the Motus association organizes free concerts in various locations, including the town hall of the 2nd arrondissement.
Town halls quite regularly host free concerts. The Midi-Concerts event, held at 1pm every Thursday at the 8th arrondissement town hall, has an eclectic programme of classical music, jazz, pop music, etc.
The Maison de la Radio is still a reference for free concerts. There are events and public recordings open to the public for free. Tickets are available at the Maison ronde, as Radio France’s headquarters is commonly known – generally an hour before the start of the performance.
Don’t forget that many other music events are also entirely free of cost, like Opéra côté Cour: an open-air opera festival at Bercy Village in June.
