Musicians from the Opéra national de Paris have announced the creation of Philopéra, an independent symphony orchestra that will be run collectively by its own members, in what the ensemble describes as the first initiative of its kind in France.
The new orchestra will make its debut on 6 September 2026 with an inaugural concert at the Palais Garnier, where Daniel Harding will conduct Symphony No. 3 by Franz Schubert and Symphony No. 1 ‘Titan’ by Gustav Mahler..
Philopéra was founded by musicians from the Paris Opera Orchestra who wanted greater opportunities to perform the symphonic repertoire outside their regular opera and ballet commitments. According to the orchestra, the project was created entirely through the initiative of its members and is organised as an independent association.
Philopéra describes its governance model as the first of its kind in France, saying it was inspired by musician-led ensembles such as the Vienna Philharmonic, the Filarmonica della Scala and the Bayerisches Staatsorchester.
The creation of Philopéra does not replace the orchestra of the Paris Opera, whose musicians will continue their work in the opera house. Instead, it establishes an independent symphonic ensemble that allows its members to explore a broader orchestral repertoire in what they describe as a freer artistic environment.
For its first concert, the musicians invited Harding, who is currently Music Director of the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia and Music and Artistic Director of the Youth Music Culture The Greater Bay Area. The programme pairs Schubert’s youthful Third Symphony with Mahler’s expansive First Symphony, known as the “Titan.”
The orchestra has also launched its official website and social media presence ahead of its debut, signalling ambitions to establish itself as a permanent symphonic project alongside the musicians’ work at the Paris Opera.
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