Les Folies Bergère, l’esprit artistique du Paris d’hier et d’aujourd’hui

Taking your seat in the auditorium, admiring the gilded details, feeling a tinge of anticipation as the curtain rises… This is how you truly step into the history of a performance venue. And when it comes to the Folies Bergère, this anticipation evokes a world of daring, elegance, and pleasure. A blend where art meets celebration the moment the lights dim in this historic venue, which has embodied a certain vision of French-style entertainment for over a century and a half.

A theater born to entertain Parisians

Opened in 1869, the Folies Bergère initially followed the tradition of the café-concert, which was all the rage in the late 19th century. People came to be entertained, listen to music, and discover a variety of acts in a lively and welcoming atmosphere.

The venue quickly evolved into a music hall, blending song, dance, and visual performances. The sets became more sophisticated, the costumes adorned with feathers and sequins, and the shows turned into true tableaux vivants.

For nearly 160 years, this iconic venue of festive Paris has lived up to its name; the “Folies” have historically been places of entertainment associated with a certain carefree spirit, even a form of exuberance, while the other part of its name simply refers to the street where it is located (hence the singular form and capital letter in Bergère).

An avant-garde scene immortalized by artists

In 1882, Manet’s “A Bar at the Folies Bergère” captured an iconic vision of this cultural effervescence. In this painting, a waitress looks directly at the viewer, with a mirror behind her that suggests the bustle of the room without ever showing it directly. This visual sleight of hand, and the fact that it was the first time electric lighting in an enclosed space was depicted in a painting, constitute a major milestone in the history of modern art, just like the scandalous “Olympia” by the same artist.

Another avant-garde artist who contributed to the legend of the Folies Bergère was Loïe Fuller, who revolutionized the stage with her famous serpentine dance, in which veils and lighting effects created almost hypnotic, shifting forms. A performance that fascinated both the audience and the artists of her time. Later, Josephine Baker and Mistinguett would thrill audiences there, confirming the Folies Bergère’s role as a laboratory of creativity and modernity.

A venue always in the spotlight

Today, while feathers and sequins have given way to other forms of expression, the spirit of the place remains. The Folies Bergère’s contemporary program blends musicals, concerts, comedy shows, and visual arts.

And this iconic venue in the 9th arrondissement continues to invite a diverse audience to gather, be moved, and marvel as they discover artistic offerings that blend culture and pleasure, tradition and boldness.

To plan your visit to this venue, also famous for its beautiful Art Deco-style façade, visit this website.

Enjoy your journey into the timeless, and ever-vibrant, Folies Bergère.

Valérie from Comme des Français

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