World City Guide

Culture

Innovation and creation – Lyon has always favoured this combination and in doing so has developed a strong cultural influence. Cultural events and institutions benefit from one of the largest chunks of Lyon’s budget – and it shows. The presence in Lyon of prestigious cultural institutions, such as the National Opera, the National Orchestra, the Lumire Institute, La Maison de la Danse and the Clestins Theatre, contribute to the city’s international reputation. Lyon also is a musical city, enjoying ancient, classic, contemporary, international, traditional French songs, rap, rock and more. Of course, this is not to mention dance, theatre and cabaret too, all of which are prevalent in the city. The city nurtures creation and hosts productions from around the world. The Conservatoire national suprieur and the Conservatoire national de rgion are among the most important centres of musical learning in France outside Paris.

Tickets for theatrical or musical events can be bought from the booking offices directly or from FNAC, 85 rue de la Rpublique (tel: (04) 7240 4949). Local newspapers and magazines, such as the weekly Lyon Poche or Lyon Capitale, carry information about cultural events taking place in the city.

Music: The National Opera, 1 place de la Comdie (tel: (04) 7200 4500 or 4545; fax: (04) 7200 4501; e-mail: rpublic@opera-lyon.org; website: www.opera-lyon.org), houses several institutions. Among them is the Opera Orchestra, which started from scratch in 1983, with young musicians and experienced conductors. Its musical director since 1998 has been Luis Langre and it alternates repertory works and new compositions.

The Lyon National Orchestra has its permanent residence in the Auditorium, 149 rue Garibaldi (tel: (04) 7895 9595; fax: (04) 7860 1308). A symphony orchestra with 102 musicians since 2000, under the direction of David Robertson, the Lyon National Orchestra has acquired an international reputation throughout the world.

The Palais des Congrs, 50 quai Charles de Gaulle (tel: (04) 7267 0188), hosts famous French artists, such as Serge Lama or Enrico Macias, as well as many classical concerts.

Theatre: From classical to contemporary, all styles are represented in Lyon. The Clestins Theatre, 4 rue Charles Dullin (tel: (04) 7277 4000; fax: (04) 7277 4006; e-mail: courrier@celestins-lyon.org), is the oldest theatre in Lyon and has had two centuries of continuous dramatic activity. It welcomes Parisian shows as well as regional companies, with productions ranging from classical theatre to music hall. Le Thtre des Jeunes Annes, founded by Maurice Yendt, at 23 rue de Bourgogne (tel: (04) 7253 1515; fax: (04) 7253 1519), in 1968, is a permanent venue for contemporary theatre. It also offers special children’s productions.

Lyon was also the birthplace of the theatrical puppet figure known as Guignol, which was created in 1808, by Laurent Mourguet. This tradition is still alive today with the Compagnie Laurent Cappezone, 2 rue Louis Carrand (tel: (04) 7828 9257).

There are many theatres offering young people an opportunity to be noticed, such as Les Maronniers, 7 rue des Maronniers (tel: (04) 7837 9817), Les Clochards Clestes, 51 rue des Tables Claudiennes (tel: (04) 7827 0695), Le Carr 30, 12 rue Pizay (tel: (04) 7839 7461), and Le Thtre de la Crois-Rousse, 3 place Johanns Ambre (tel: (04) 7207 4949; website: www.croix-rousse.com).

Dance: The Lyon Opera House Ballet Company, place de la Comdie (tel: (04) 7200 4545), offers a contemporary repertoire of international standing. The Maison de la Danse, 8 avenue Jean Mermoz (tel: (04) 7278 1818; fax: (04) 7875 5566; e-mail: maisondeladanse@wanadoo.fr; website: www.maisondeladanse.com), was created in 1980. The company, directed by Guy Darmet, is completely devoted to choreographic art, with an emphasis on new creations and welcomes French and foreign companies.

Film: In 1895, the Lumire brothers invented cinematography and shot the first ever film. The Lumire Institute (tel: (04) 7878 1895; fax: (04) 7801 3662; website: www.mairie-lyon.fr) offers cinema screenings every day, costing 4.50. It is also the best place for film aficionados to catch celluloid rarities and arthouse movies.

There are many other cinemas in Lyon, offering a wide choice of movies, including CNP Bellecour, 12 rue de la Barre (tel: (04) 7842 3322), UGC Cin-cit, 60 quai Charles de Gaulle (tel: (04) 7269 7070), and Path, 79 rue de la Rpublique (tel: (04) 7837 6464). There are, however, no options for visitors who do not understand the mother tongue – English-language theatres are non existent in Lyon.

There are many French movies that have been shot in Lyon, for example Lucie Aubrac (1996) by Claude Berry, Louis Enfant-Roi (1991) by Roger Planchon and Les Voleurs (1995) by Andr Tchin.

Cultural events: Les Nuits de Fourvire takes place from June to September and is one of the highlights of the summer events in Lyon. It offers a prestigious selection of musical and theatrical performances in the Gallo-Roman amphitheatre of Fourvire.

Since 1991, Lyon has hosted the prestigious National Biennial Festivals of Dance and Contemporary Art. In 2003, the Biennial will be held between mid September and the end of the month. Hundreds of dancers, musicians and singers will present creations around the theme of South American territories ‘from the fire of the earth down to the Rio Grande river’. More than 100 artists from all over the world will come to present their creations in the Halle Tony Garnier, 20 place Antonin Perrin (tel: (04) 7276 8585; fax: (04) 7872 3707; e-mail: htg@halle-tony-garnier.com; website: www.halle-tony-garnier.com).

The Festival of Lights is one of Lyon’s most popular and traditional events. The 150-year-old tradition takes place on 8 December every year and is a religious celebration that honours the statue of the Virgin Mary on Fourvire Hill. The people of Lyon put lanterns on their balconies and their windowsills and then congregate on the streets to enjoy the spectacle. A range of different performances are also organised at the same time throughout other parts of Lyon.

Literary Notes
During the Renaissance, the Lyon publishing industry was the most important one in France. Rabelais (1483-1553) was a doctor at Htel Dieu in Lyon, before writing Pantagruel (1532) and Gargantua (1535). The poet, Louise Lab (1526-1566), was born in Lyon and used to hold a literary salon in the city.

The year 2000 saw the centenary of the birth of one of Lyon’s most famous authors, Antoine de St-Exupry, best known as the author of Le Petit Prince (1943). St-Exupry wrote many other well known books, such as Courier du Sud (1927), Terres des Hommes (1939) and Vol de Nuit (1931), before disappearing in his aircraft over the Mediterranean Sea in 1944. To celebrate the centenary of his birth, Lyon’s airport changed its name from Lyon-Satolas to Lyon-St-Exupry.