National Opera of Bordeaux

A ballet led by renowned choreographers, a choir of 40 talented artists and an orchestra regularly invited to major events in France and abroad, sumptuous sets and costumes: focus on the secrets of the prestige of opera National of Bordeaux.

The opera ballet

Directed by Eric Quilleré, the ballet of the National Opera of Bordeaux has acquired its letters of nobility thanks to its creativity and its ability to reach out to modernity while retaining its essence. Its development in the Bordeaux city dates back to the 18th century, and converted Bordeaux into the first city in France after Paris in terms of the production of large ballets. Rewarded with several international prizes, the ballet of the National Opera of Bordeaux is distinguished by the creativity of its choreographers and its repertoire which combines classical shows (Lac des Cygnes, Sleeping Beauty, Snow White) and contemporary works.

The choir

The 40 artists who make up the choir regularly participate in lyrical performances at the Bordeaux National Opera and in symphonic performances by the Bordeaux Aquitaine National Orchestra. Under the leadership of Salvatore Caputo, he is also present in several prestigious festivals, notably that of Radio France in Montpellier and the Chorégies d'Orange. The choir offers workshops to raise awareness among young people and thus reach all audiences.

The orchestra

Directed by Paul Daniel, the Bordeaux-Aquitaine National Orchestra (ONBA) has taken over from another orchestra, that of Sainte-Cécile, founded in the 19th century. Each year, it offers a rich and varied program, with around twenty major events such as festivals (Chorégies d'Orange, Folle Journée de Nantes), chamber music and summer concerts. Funded by the City of Bordeaux with the support of the Ministry of Culture and the Regional Council of New Aquitaine, ONBA gained notoriety in the late 1980s under the direction of Alain Lombard, when international tours and recordings of discs followed one another.

The decorations

The Bordeaux National Opera is also a successful setting and staging, up to the quality of the shows and its notoriety. Behind the scene, many committed and talented professionals make each performance possible:

Decor workshop (located in the Bacalan district of Bordeaux): carpentry, locksmith, sailmaking, sculpture, painting.
Sewing workshop (located in the Grand-Théâtre): making and decorating costumes.
Set staff: machinery, sound, light, make-up, clothing, accessories, wigs.
Technical direction
Design offic

The workshops and trades on the stage of the National Opera of Bordeaux are under the direction of Yves Jouen.

The 2020 season of the Bordeaux Opera

The 2019-2020 season revolves around 4 main themes

Mozart: A trilogy based on the booklets of Da Ponte.
Offenbach: A tribute to the "little Mozart of the Champs-Elysées" on the occasion of his 200th birthday.
Through the stories: Shows inspired by stories from here and elsewhere like Cinderella and The Legend of the Dragon King.
Schubert: two symphonic concerts and a Sunday concert to pay homage to the Austrian composer.

These four themes were chosen by the director general of the Bordeaux National Opera, Marc Minkowski, with the precious advice of its artistic directors.

Practical information

The National Opera of Bordeaux has two rooms:

The Grand-Théâtre: Place de la Comédie, tram stop of the same name and easy dedicated parking
The auditorium: 9-13 cours Georges Clémenceau, several paying car parks nearby (in particular the Clemenceau car park), 2 tram lines (line b Gambetta stop, line C Quinconces stop).

You can buy your tickets and subscriptions: