La Vie parisienne at the Théâtre du Châtelet: the spirit of Offenbach in a festive Paris

Jacques Offenbach's opéra bouffe comes to the Théâtre du Châtelet from June 12 to July 11, 2026, in a contemporary staging by Valérie Lesort, combining social satire and Parisian festivities.

On June 12, 2026, the Théâtre du Châtelet reopens its doors to the joyous, effervescent capital of the Second Empire with La Vie parisienne, Jacques Offenbach 's opéra bouffe in four acts. Written with the help of librettists Henri Meilhac and Ludovic Halévy, this work premiered in 1866 has lost none of its mordant bite. The satirical look at Paris, its mores, its visitors and its art of partying continues to resonate with astonishing relevance. For this new production, director Valérie Lesort, set designer Éric Ruf and the Comédie-Française troupe revisit 19th-century Paris with a tender yet critical distance, between joyful pastiche and social portrait.

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La Vie parisienne follows the burlesque crossroads between Parisians and provincials, tourists and socialites, through a gallery of colorful characters. The plot is based on a series of misunderstandings, identity swaps and false pretenses, in a Paris bubbling with life, where desires intersect and merge. Behind Offenbach's light-hearted musicality lurks a sharp critique of emerging urban society, its shaky hierarchies and its obsession with appearances.

Accessible to the general public thanks to its French libretto and surtitles, La Vie parisienne appeals as much to opera lovers as to spectators curious to discover a festive, biting work. Offenbach's light, brilliant music, combined with a playful staging, opens the doors to a repertoire often considered demanding. An ideal show for first-time opera buffs, it can also appeal to younger audiences, attracted by the lively pace, abundant visual tableaux and humorous situations. Audiences looking for a faithful historical reconstruction will, however, have to accept a contemporary interpretation.

First performed in 1866 at the Théâtre du Palais-Royal, La Vie parisienne was an instant hit with the public, hailed for both its light-heartedness and its astute social observation. This new production, bringing together the forces of the Théâtre du Châtelet and the Comédie-Française, is part of a drive to bring the great works of our lyrical heritage to life, through a renewed visual, scenic and critical prism.

Part social satire, part light comedy and part musical fantasy, La Vie parisienne is one of Jacques Offenbach's most delightful classics. In this new version, presented at the Théâtre du Châtelet from June 12 to July 11, 2026 , the city of light rediscovers its scenic brilliance, its joyful excesses and its ever-present contradictions.

This article is based on information available prior to the show's premiere. It was written without prior viewing of the production.

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