A long queue of young people, some in jeans and sneakers, others in evening wear, stretched, Thursday, November 7, over 200 meters of the Place de la Comédie, in the heart of Montpellier. Enough to intrigue passers-by, some of whom approach to question them. “It’s a free classical music concert for students”we answer them, pointing to the facade of the Opéra-Comédie which overlooks the square. On display that evening: works by Wolfang Amadeus Mozart and Felix Mendelssohn.
In front of the doors of the establishment, Emma (who did not wish to give her name) and Saskia Castelain, 23, were among the first arrivals. Having already come in 2023, they were at the end of the line and had to settle for a place with limited visibility. So this time they arrived three hours before the concert to make sure they were well placed. The two friends, in their final year of a language master’s degree, came directly after classes, with the idea of taking advantage of the latest advantages of student life. “I really liked it, last year, it was a nice outing that was out of the ordinary”says Emma, who discovered the event through a classmate.
“We already have a small core of young people who regularly come to the concert, but they are mainly conservatory students, medical students, explains Valérie Chevalier, director of the Montpellier National Opera Orchestra. We set up this evening to expand our community of young spectators. And it bit, beyond our expectations. Word of mouth is working well, and there is now a real expectation among students for this concert. »
An operation renewed every year
This operation, renewed every year, allows students to establish a first contact with the opera, which could encourage them to return. “Entering an opera house, for some, is still scary, not having the right codes… We try to break all that so that everyone feels welcome,” explains Valérie Chevalier.
As soon as they enter this Italian theater dating from the end of the 19th centurye century, many feel a “wow” effect. According to management, three-quarters of the 1,200 spectators are discovering the Opéra-Comédie for the first time, and half are attending their first classical music concert. In the dressing rooms, some take photos while waiting for the Orchester national Montpellier Occitanie to come on stage, with Samy Rachid, 31-year-old conductor and assistant conductor of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, conducting, as well as the soprano Marie Lombard, 25 years old.
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