3 Best Performing Arts Venues in Aix-en-Provence, Provence

In late June and July, opera and music lovers descend on Aix to see world-class opera productions in the courtyard of the Palais de l'Archevêché and other of the city's most beautiful venues. The repertoire at this internationally acclaimed festival is varied and often offbeat, featuring works like Britten's Curlew River and Bartók's Bluebeard's Castle as well as the usual Mozart, Puccini, and Verdi. Most of the singers, however, are not celebrities, but rather an elite group of students who spend the summer with the Academie Européenne de Musique, training and performing under the tutelage of stars like Robert Tear and Yo-Yo Ma.

This contemporary 1,350-seat concert hall is the city's primary year-round venue for world-class musical performances of all kinds and for all audiences, including classical, opera, recitals, jazz, and world music. It is also a major host of the Festival d'Aix.

Angelin Preljocaj has created original productions for the New York City Ballet and the Paris Opera Ballet, and his modern-dance troupe, Ballet Preljocaj, is based at the monolithic Pavillon Noir, designed by architect Rudy Ricciotti. From September through May, the Pavillon hosts contemporary ballet and modern dance performances featuring an international roster. Note that admission to the 6 pm rehearsals is free.