Les Chorégies d’Orange

A must-do opera festival – and more – “Les Chorégies d’Orange” lights up Orange’s unique and majestic Roman Theatre every summer. An exhilarating experience at a history-packed venue.

The story of France’s oldest festival

Founded in 1869, “Les Chorégies d’Orange” is considered as France’s oldest performance arts festival. It has actually changed names several times: initially baptized “Les Fêtes Romaines”, then “La Représentation Nationale”, it was finally renamed “Les Chorégies d’Orange” in 1903. The name originates from the Ancient Greek word choregos or “chorège” in French, which refers to the wealthy citizens who used to finance and arrange theatrical performances. The “chorégie” became a genuine cultural ritual, and the citizen-patrons who funded and coordinated it enjoyed both prestige and influence. In addition to financing, the “chorège” was in charge of assembling the dramatic or lyrical chorus for the performance by recruiting actors, writers and extras. Thus, the word “chorège” also conveys the idea of gathering together all the participants in the theatrical production, aptly echoing the festival as we know it today.

Théâtre Antique d'Orange

The Roman Theatre, a legendary venue

“Les Chorégies d’Orange” is staged at a historic venue: the Théâtre Antique d’Orange – one of the world’s best-preserved Roman theatres, now listed as UNESCO World Heritage. Far older than the festival itself, the theatre, built in 1 AD, is a genuine jewel of Roman architecture. In addition to the events staged there, such as “Les Chorégies d’Orange”, you can visit the theatre all year round or opt for an immersive audio tour to make the experience even more memorable. Famed for its stage wall measuring an impressive 37 metres in height and 103 metres in length, the Roman Theatre offers the perfect backdrop for spectacular, large-scale performances, further enhanced by the site’s beauty. Today, it is particularly renowned for its unique acoustics and majestic setting.

An eclectic line-up

From the late 19th to the early 20th century, opera, theatre and classical music were especially fashionable and “Les Chorégies” became famed for its innovative, eclectic line-up. The Roman Theatre was the stage for massively successful productions at the time, including the Greek tragedies Oedipus Rex and Antigone, as well as such major works as Gluck’s Iphigénie en Tauride. From the Seventies onwards, the Avignon Festival took over the theatre programme and “Les Chorégies d’Orange” became exclusively dedicated to opera. The festival’s notoriety continued to flourish thanks to its prestigious guest opera singers, international conductors and renowned producers brimming with innovative ideas. Over the years, the immense theatre wall has echoed to the sound of classical masterpieces by such incomparable talents as Verdi, Puccini, Wagner, Bizet and Mozart. Today, although opera continues to form the beating heart of the festival, it also embraces ballets, cinema-concerts, jazz and contemporary music.

A festival committed to the environment and access to culture

The festival’s social and educational programme is also well worth a mention, hallmarked by a commitment to cultural openness that embraces youngsters, people with disabilities, people experiencing social and economic hardship, and prison populations. For example, every year, the festival organizes an event titled “Pop the Opera”, starring several hundred secondary school and lycée students in a large-scale production combining opera, pop, traditional songs and film scores. “Les Chorégies d’Orange” has also partnered up with the association “Cultures du Cœur” to fight against exclusion by facilitating access to culture, sport and leisure for those most in need. Last but not least, on the corporate social responsibility front, the festival strives to prioritize short chains, eliminate single-use plastics and favour soft mobility.A dedicated car-sharing platform has been set up too, along with special train services on performance nights. Give them a try!