beeswing

I'm confused! I've read online that there is a free organ recital at Notre Dame on the Sunday we'll be in Paris. I also saw that http://www.classictic.com/ says that there is a (for charge) recital on Monday, but to guarantee a seat you need to book ahead with them (of course). I'd obviously prefer free, but I'd hate to be shut out entirely. Has anyone attended a free recital at Notre Dame who could please tell me how tough they are to get in to (and when you should start queuing!) Thanks.

beeswing

Wait, to confuse things further, the Notre Dame Web site says that vespers is at 5:45 pm Sunday and says nothing about an organ recital. Are these one and the same? Thanks.

adrienne

What date are you looking at?

beeswing

Sunday, July 11 for the free recital (?), and Monday, July 12 for the concert. Thanks.

adrienne

I see the organ recital on the 11th but do not see the July concerts posted yet. Yes, the 11th is free "entree libre". It's at 16.30 (4:30).

http://www.musique-sacree-notredamed...p.php?article8

Are vespers the same as an organ recital? Not at all. Vespers are prayer, traditionally sung (a capella) but may be spoken. Catholic vespers do not involve organs.

adrienne

I wouldn't worry about getting in. The church is huge.

beeswing

I see...I got the time wrong for the free recital. Vespers is a little later.

Thanks so much for the info! Free is always good.

illnative

We went to one of the free Sunday concerts at Notre Dame. As noted, the place is huge so getting a seat won't be a problem. Please be aware though that people will be touring the cathedral still during the recital - so there are lots of people milling around etc. I found it a little distracting....

dhunts

While you are there you might also try the concerts at St. Chapelle. St. Chapelle has stunning stained glass windows and although just a few blocks from Notre Dame is far less visited. I believe entrance to the chapel is covered by the Paris museum pass (a must for visiting Paris and bypassing the queues). http://en.parismuseumpass.com/rub-th...vantages-2.htm

The following is a link to concerts:
http://www.classictic.com/en/Search/...0,0/page1.html

beeswing

Thanks, all. We already have our museum pass, so we're covered, there! And thanks for the note on the distraction factor...that will be an issue for me (I'm easily distracted!), so it's good to know what to expect.

kayd

Not exactly a recital, but definitely free is the half hour between masses when the St. Sulpice organist plays that church's awesome organ for anyone who lingers after the 10:30 mass or arrives early for the noon mass, or who just slips in around 11:30 for that half hour without attending a service.

Christina

Notre Dame has a regular concert series where they charge and it is in the evenings, that might be what you saw for some other day. The organ recitals that are free are always Sunday afternoon, I believe. They aren't concerts, it is just an organ recital.

Images2

A partir du 1er janvier 2012, les auditions d’orgue
seront suspendues pour permettre la réalisation
d’importants travaux sur le grand-orgue.

It seems that the organ concerts in Notre Dame will not be held for awhile.

MaineGG

There are free concerts at the Madeleine church also.

http://www.concerts-lamadeleine.com/

The organ there, like the one in St.-Sulpice, was built by the famous organ builder, Cavaillé-Coll. We attended a Sunday afternoon concert and experienced the distraction of visitors to the church wandering in and out. Most were quiet and respectful, though.