A Leading Force in French Culture
Founded as a creative powerhouse, Opéra de Lyon distinguishes itself as one of France’s leading cultural institutions. As General and Artistic Director Richard Brunel emphasizes, “The Opéra de Lyon is a creative opera house: we work to produce new works from A to Z, as opposed to merely hosting performances. We are an opera house known for our mission to create and produce new works.”
In a country deeply centralized around its capital, Paris, Opéra de Lyon is a beacon of connection en région as a National Theater, with a strong presence in prestigious French and international festivals such as Festival d’Avignon and Festival Aix-en-Provence.
What makes it stand out further, however, is its international identity; as Brunel emphasizes, “Opéra de Lyon is perhaps one of the most international opera houses in France, if not in Europe.” This global outlook is reflected through yearly collaborations and co-productions, including this season’s production of “Les Contes d’Hoffmann.” with world-renowned institutions, including London’s Covent Garden, Teatro Real in Madrid, and Munich Opera.
Boasting a 60 member orchestra, a ballet company of 30 dancers, and a choir of 34 singers, Opéra de Lyon leads national and international tours, taking performers across the world. Its outstanding training programs include a children’s choir of 100 students enrolled in a specialized vocal academy, as well as a highly selective two-year residency for five emerging artists, chosen from 1,000 applicants across 80 countries.
Its international artistic DNA is further reflected in the diversity of its performers: the Orchestra, headed by Conductor Daniele Rustioni—who will soon join the Met Opera in New York as principal guest conductor, only the third person in the company’s 141-year history to hold the title—as well as the Chorus, directed by Benedict Kearns, and the Ballet company, directed by Cédric Andrieu, are a constellation of French and international artists.
With this distinctive artistic identity, it is only fitting that Opéra de Lyon be known for its celebrated multicultural contemporary works, particularly through its Ballet company, which embodies a unique French-American heritage.
The Ballet: Guardians of Contemporary Choreographic Legacy
At the heart of Opéra de Lyon’s artistic identity lies the internationally celebrated Ballet de l’Opéra de Lyon. Under the leadership of Ballet Director Cédric Andrieu, the company has solidified its reputation as one of the world’s premier interpreters of contemporary choreography, particularly from leading American choreographers. With these roots dating back to the 1980s, the Ballet performs and even holds exclusive performing rights to canonical works by choreographic legends such as Merce Cunningham, Trisha Brown, Lucinda Childs, and William Forsythe.
The company’s relationship with Lucinda Childs, for example, includes a triumphant re-creation of her seminal work Dance in film, as well as on tour in New York City in 2023 to critical acclaim. It remains the only troupe to have been granted permission to re-stage Trisha Brown’s work Set and Reset/Reset.
“We’re very proud and honored by the trust the choreographers have placed in us, especially because some of these legendary choreographers don’t often grant the rights to perform their repertoire,” reflects Andrieu.
Andrieu himself danced with Cunningham’s renowned New York company for 10 years, and continues to steward the contemporary repertoire with dedication by preserving and expanding this cherished legacy. Andrieu explains, “We’re not only committed to preserving the postmodern canon, but to commissioning and premiering new works that keep the art form evolving.”
With 30 dancers representing 14 nationalities—including 5 or 6 Americans each season—the Ballet embodies a multicultural identity, enriching both its performances and its outreach.
For Andrieu and the dancers, performing American choreography in the United States is profoundly meaningful. “Touring in America is always a powerful experience,” he shares. “The connection our dancers—especially our American members—feel with the audience, performing works rooted deeply in this cultural heritage, creates unforgettable moments of pride and artistic exchange.”
While the company last toured in the U.S. in 2023, the ballet is set to return in early 2026 to again reconnect with American audiences.
Expanding the Mission of Opera
Yet, Opéra de Lyon’s innovation extends far beyond the stage. Brunel and his team believe deeply in democratizing opera, expanding access to those who may never have imagined themselves in a theater.
Such powerful interactions underscore the transformative power of dance and music. As Brunel passionately asserts, “Artistic emotions are universal, and we firmly believe in creating profound emotional experiences for those who least expect them—experiences they carry forever.”
The Opéra’s audience mirrors this inclusive philosophy. With over a quarter of its visitors under the age of 29, the institution actively dismantles stereotypes of opera as elite or inaccessible. As Brunel recalls, “Sometimes guest soloists perform and afterward ask, ‘Is this a soccer stadium? I’ve never seen so many young faces!'” Maintaining affordable ticket prices is a key initiative in ensuring that this young audience continues to have access to inspiring and thought-provoking experiences at the opera, a key area art patrons can support.
For those who can’t come to the opera, Opéra de Lyon brings the opera to them. The company’s mobile tour truck—equipped with a stage and seating for 100—travels to rural areas where access to cultural events is limited, performing in towns where live opera might otherwise be out of reach. These performances often explore socially relevant themes like climate change, creating a meaningful dialogue with local audiences.
Beyond expanding access to opera onstage and on tour, Opéra de Lyon performs in what may be an unexpected performance venue: local hospitals. In partnership with medical staff, the dancers and musicians at Opéra de Lyon lead initiatives like dance workshops conducted for hospitalized children in Lyon. Andrieu recounts one particularly moving experience: “One of our dancers led a workshop for children just before a major surgery. Afterwards, a surgeon shared he’d never operated on a child so calm and relaxed, remarking that he’d prefer a dancer engage with children before every major surgery!“
Innovation and inclusion also find expression in the Opera’s forward-thinking environmental projects. In collaboration with top European institutions like the Paris Opera and the Festival d’Aix-en-Provence, Opéra de Lyon is leading a pioneering initiative to develop modular, sustainable stage designs, drastically reducing carbon emissions.
By reaching beyond the traditional stage—into classrooms, rural communities, and hospital wards—the Opera ensures its work resonates where it’s needed most.
Strengthening French-American Artistic Bonds
Looking ahead, Opéra de Lyon, now under the helm of its new Deputy General Director, Agathe Chamboredon, aims to deepen its transatlantic ties while reaffirming its commitment to artistic excellence and cultural exchange. The Ballet company will return to the U.S. in 2026 for a highly anticipated tour, offering American audiences the chance to once again experience its unforgettable performances—now featuring new dancers since its last visit in 2023.
Joining Friends of Fondation de France represents a meaningful step in strengthening these bonds. “Arts transcend language, nationality, and background,” Brunel notes. “The goal is to create powerful shared experiences and human connections. We want our American audiences and donors to feel at home in our values, because they are shared values.”
Opéra de Lyon invites American audiences and philanthropists to support and participate in its journey. Through your generosity, you help ensure that opera, ballet, and music continue to reach audiences worldwide, fostering creativity, empathy, and understanding. Through Friends of Fondation de France, American donors can directly contribute to sustaining Opéra de Lyon’s artistic standards and expanding their impactful social programs.
To learn more about Opéra de Lyon, the Ballet’s upcoming U.S. tours, or to support their vital initiatives, please visit the Opéra de Lyon page on our website.
