I checked out www.ampconcerts.com, and unfortunately, the only concert at Ste. Chappelle during our May 8-21 visit is on the day we arrive. However, there are other concerts (just about all of which interest us) during our stay at the Church or the Madeleine, Church St. Julien le Pauvre and St. Severin Church. The questions:<BR>1. Since all of the concerts sound good, is one of the three churches a better venue for attending (i.e., better acoustics, ambience, etc.) than the other two, or doesn't it make that much difference?<BR>2. Since we're very flexible, I assume we can wait until we get there to buy tickets, right?<BR>Thanks for any input.

Hi Howard,<BR>I attended a concert at Ste Chapelle 2 years ago and it was fabulous. I'll be in Paris about the same time as you with my mom and I am disappointed that there are no concerts listed at www.ampconcerts.com for Ste Chapelle for my dates. I have gone ahead and reserved tickets for a concert at St. Severin. However, I have heard that Ste Chapelle also hosts concerts that are not affiliated with ampconcerts, so you might be able to just wait till you arrive in Paris. Have a great trip.

We attended a concert at St. Julien le Pauvre 10 years ago and enjoyed it a lot. It is an older romanesque-style church. The seats are hard though!!!!

Thanks, Tammy and Sally. After your comments about other possible concerts, Tammy, we definitely won't buy tickets until we get to Paris!<BR>Tammy, did you notice the gospel and spirituals concert on May 18? It looks interesting.

Quite often, there are concerts in St.Chappelle during weekends without listing on the web as while I was in Paris last month,it is not necessary to book ticket ahead,they just add more chairs if more people show up.<BR><BR>There are good concerts in Musee de Cluny at some Fridays.

A couple of summers ago in Paris I was on my way to lunch and stopped by St. Severin. An American student group was giving a free concert, ranging from English chants to spirituals. I had a great time. Does anyone know if there are schedules for these kind of performances?

You will often see posters for these various sites in the neighborhood. Another place we enjoyed was the church on ile St. Louis. It's as baroque and St, J. is romanesque, but it is quite a pretty place for a concert.

Just pick up a copy of Pariscope from any newspaper kiosk and you'll see all kinds of concerts, as well as all other forms of entertainment, listed. It comes out on Wednesdays.

I've always gotten tickets to concerts in churches in Paris at the door with no problem. For schedules, the entertainment weeklies (Pariscope or Officiel des Spectacles) list all of these, just buy one on arrival. Before that, the Paris Tourist Office web site is best for smaller concerts like these (www.paris-touristoffice.com). <BR><BR>As far as acoustics, it depends on the music. The Madeleine is a large venue and appropriate for church and organ music (they have a famous organ), but not the best acoustics for orchestral because of the reverb.<BR><BR>Both St Julien and St Severin have a lot of concerts. I've been to both; acoustics in most churches are pretty good, including those two. If I chose for venue, it would be St-Severin among these. I think it has most architectural interest and good acoustics. St Julien is a smaller simpler church; I think part of it is reconstructed and I don't think it has interesting stained glass windows, unlike St-Severin, unless I'm forgetting or mixing it up with something. <BR><BR>From the calendar of that particular musical group (I would not limit myself to that group at all), I would def. choose the Mozart's Requiem in Saint-Severin because of the acoustics in the Madeleine and I prefer that to the vocal program. Mozart's Requiem is one of the outstanding pieces in the literature, and merits hearing in a church for a memorable event. (Part of this is personal preference for that work, because I am not crazy about Gounod and have heard Schubert's Ave Maria many times and I'm sure I will many more, it's so commonly sung.

We just went to the table that is set just by the ticket window at Ste Chappelle. Go early in the morning and check what concerts are taking place in the next few days. Then buy your tickets and have fun.

Thank you all very, very much. You've provided a wealth of helpful information!

Hi,<BR>For reserving tickets at ste. chappelle I'm given the option of reserving at 23 euros, 20, or 15. Can anyone who has been to a concert at ste chappelle tell me what the dif in ticket prices is for? (e.g., reserved seats, location?) Are there no "bad seats in the house?" Thanks very much.

There is no reserved seating. The difference in price is how close to the musicians you may sit. And in order to sit VERY close, arrive early because it is first in line gets closer (within the price range). It is worth sitting close! Ste. Chappelle is very long.

Just returned from Paris and a highlight for us was the free organ concert at St. Eustache at 5:30 on Sunday afternoons. Even my teenage son was quite impressed!

Gretchen, since we won't be able to get there too early I'll go ahead and reserve the area closest to the front.<BR><BR>Peg, we won't be there on a Sunday but I'll definitely add your tip to my file.<BR><BR>Thanks for the info!

just back from paris. don't stew over concert arrangements..there are posters all over about church venues...st germain des pres is another active one.some tickets are sold at stores [fnac and galleries lafayette for example]. just look for posters and for small printed slips usually lying around on hotel front desks.