The Paris Opera and its Académie are creating France’s first youth lyric orchestra. In partnership with eleven conservatoires in Paris and Seine-Saint-Denis, ADO (Apprentissage De l’Orchestre) aims to encourage pupils aged 12 to 18 to develop their musical skills and discover the opera and ballet repertoire. Throughout the school year, these 160 students take part in workshops and courses, and have the opportunity to perform in concert on the main stages of the Opéra Bastille and the Palais Garnier.

In addition to the collective practice provided at the conservatoires, ADO gives young musicians the chance to discover the operatic repertoire through weekly work sessions at the conservatoires, rehearsals at the Paris Opéra and collective singing and dancing workshops one Saturday a month. Students also come together for intensive 3-day courses during the school holidays at the Opéra Bastille to prepare the programme for the end-of-season concert on the main stage of the Palais Garnier. The orchestra rehearsals and concert are conducted by Victor Jacob, principal conductor of the ADO orchestras.

ADO also includes a discovery tour of the Paris Opera, enabling young people to visit both theatres, attend performances and meet professionals.