Chansons de Paris

About

Chansons de Paris is a montage operetta built to evoke the nostalgia and lively spirit of the Belle Époque. Its entire musical fabric is woven from famous popular songs and airs of the era, carefully arranged and orchestrated by Belgian composer Max Alexys. Premiered in Besançon in November 1954, the work quickly became a touring favorite across the French provinces. For the 1958–1959 staging in Tours, the production drew on the venue’s resident forces—its orchestra, chorus, and ballet—to animate large, festive Parisian crowd scenes and recreate the vibrant color of turn-of-the-century nightlife.