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Hi everyone! I know of all (if not most) of the famous museums in Paris...but where can one find the best music?? I would like to go to some free concerts. I have heard that some churches hold free concerts. Are there any particular churches to try? Does anyone know if the Sorbonne has any free concerts?? What about clubs or coffee houses with live music? --I am not really much of a club person --are there any alternatives for live music??? Thanks for your suggestions!;) Patricia

Pariscope, a weekly events magazine you can pick up for 3F at any newstand, lists free classical concerts every week. Most are in churches. The Time Out section at the back (also in English) has news of all concerts, free or not.

For a preview, Pariscope is also available on-line (in French): http://www.pariscope.fr/index.phtml Time Out is on the web, too, with limited entertainment listings (mostly $$): http://www.timeout.com/paris/

Thanks Francesca and Lesli. I had heard of the pariscope --but will definitely, as you advise pick one up in Paris. I didn't realize there was a section for free concerts (that is great to know!!) And, Lesli, I will look online for the pariscope too. Have either of you heard of free concerts at the Sorbonne, or been to any concerts that are lesser known?? Much appreciated! Patricia

There are concerts at the Sorbonne, and a website re same (in French): http://www.musique-en-sorbonne.org/ I was unable to find any price info. Art Lovers' Paris has concert listings w/prices: http://www.stargonaut.com/ And Paris Pages has a Calendar - Click on the date to see what's listed (scroll down to get past the exhibits to the performing arts): http://www.paris.org/ I attended a classical music concert at St-Chappelle and a ballet at the Opera Garnier during my last visit to Paris. The tickets were not inexpensive (though I could have bought cheaper ones for the ballet), but worth every penny! Seeing Cendrillon (Cinderella) in that beautiful building was one of the highlights of my trip! I also saw posters/flyers everywhere announcing concerts at varying costs, mostly in churches, so keep an eye out for those.

Fodors Another web site is http://www.leconcertographe.fr Ben Haines, London

Hi Patricia, I like using the beautiful Zingeurs site for live music in small venues: http://www.zingueurs.com/zingueurs/z...=rech_eve.php3 If you recherche d'evenements (research an event), you can specify the arondissement . . . it's also a fantastic resource to find out what's happening in which bistrot, when! Have fun & let us know what you find there!

Patricia- I would check out some of the great article on bparis.com In particular, click on articles, then paris sites, and scroll down to the bottom. Then read the article about the Cite de la Musique. Although I don't think it's free, it sounds like a great place to hear music. Good luck!

Thanks everyone for the great links! Ben- I can't actually get that site to come up. Maybe I'm doing something wrong. I will keep trying... Tracy- That site is great. Very useful. Thanks again! Amy- Thanks! I will definitely check out the article on the Cite de la Musique. Many Thanks! Patricia

There isn't a section in Pariscope just on free concerts, there will be a section on classical music concerts in general and it will list them all and that listing includes the venue and fee. There are sometimes free ones in churches, but the churches don't put them on, they merely function as venues for the artists, so the quality depends on the program and artist, not on the particular church. One exception is the American Church which I think does have it's own classical music program that they plan and organize, but I haven't actually seen much there in recent years (they will often schedule American musicians wanting a Paris engagement on their resume). Some churches might have slightly better acoustics than others, but most of them are pretty good so that's not a big concern. There aren't very many held at the Sorbonne; there are sometimes some in the auditorium of the Louvre (not free), but there are frequent concerts at many of the well-known churches in central Paris (St-Julien, St-Sulpice, the Madeleine, St-Germain des Pres, St-Eustache, St-Etienne and St-Louis en Ile are used frequently). Most of these are not free, but are reasonable for a good concert (prob about 50-150F). If you want a free one, your choice will be limited, but there are usually a couple a week; these are more likely to be by unknown artists trying to get heard, often solo recitals rather than an ensemble, or various college choirs or musical groups touring around Europe. They will usually be of good quality, however, I have never heard a bad concert in Paris in terms of quality, and I go to several a week when I'm there, but sometimes the repertoire may not be exactly what I wanted. I also think the zinguers site is about the best for folk/world music playing dates; you can hear live music fairly often at a few smaller cafes in the outer arrondisements--La Folie en Tete in the 13th arr., for example, or Piston Pelican in the Charonne area in the 11th arr. The Cite de la Musique has a wonderful music museum that is well-worth going to if you are interested in the history of music. Other than that, it has a large modern concert hall and occasional free concerts. I wouldn't go there just for a concert as it's too far away unless there is some group playing there you especially want to see (they have some internationally well-known groups there, such as the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra) or if you want to be out there for other reasons. I use the Concertographe site also, it's great, and its correct URL is: www.leconcertographe.com YOu can also search the Paris Tourist Office Web site for classical music concerts and you can check to search for free ones (check "gratuit"). Not sure how well this works as the info doesn't usually list fees, unfortunately, so you have to trust them whether they are free, it seems (www.paris-touristoffice.com). You don't need advance reservations for these concerts in churches, I have always gotten in at the door even for concerts I predicted would be in big demand, and were (ie, Mozart's Requiem in St-Louis en-Ile by the St Petersburg Radio Symphony & Chorus). If you want organ music, you should go to St-Sulpice, they have a very famous old organ and wonderful concerts, often Sunday afternoon around 4.

Christina, Thank you for your thorough advice. You seem to know very much about what's going on in Paris' various music venues. I am a little surprised that, as you say, there aren't very many *free* concerts at the Sorbonne. It just seems to me that during the fall, there would be music students holding recitals that I could hear for free --is this possible, or do even the students charge for recitals?? (I'm sure they are good enough to! ;) Thanks everyone! Patricia p.s I did try e-mailing the Sorbonne, but they did not reply

By the way, I forgot to add above that the concerts don't have to be professional. I would love to hear about amateur groups, student recitals, and even where to hear the best lone street musicians. (and I know there are a few great ones that deserve mentioning);) Thanks to all! Patricia

Fodors Cultural Paris This is terrible. I meant to say http://www.leconcertographe.com/ Sorry. Would music students perhaps be at the Conservatoire, not the Sorbonne ? Ben Haines

Ben, Thanks Ben for setting the record straight. I'm sure you are right about the conservatoire. I didn't realize that the Sorbonne wouldn't have its own separate music department or school. What is the name of the conservatory in Paris, or is it just known as the Paris Conservatory? And would anyone know if they would have free student recitals?? Thanks much, Patricia