Sù!, ballet imaginaire: Monteverdi and Les Cris de Paris at the Arsenal
In 6 days
Geoffroy Jourdain and Les Cris de Paris turn Monteverdi's masterpieces into a choreography of sound and vision. In this circus ballet, the singers play with balance and make the music dance, at the Arsenal in Metz.
A tribute to Monteverdi
“Prima la musica e poi le parole”: first the music, then the words. With this motto, Claudio Monteverdi paved the way for an art in which singing becomes theatre and body and music merge. On stage, the performers embody this idea, defying even gravity.
The Arsenal on a Sunday: a 4 pm performance and arts-based childcare
Sù ! is part of the Cité musicale-Metz “Extra Dimanche” series, and the performance is shaped like an afternoon outing: doors at 3 pm, curtain-up at 4 pm in the Grande Salle, for a show lasting 1 hour 20. Seats are numbered, from €8 to €26, so there is no need to queue for a good spot. The page also lists a cloakroom, food on site and the “Extra Kids” option, free arts-based childcare on reservation: while the parents listen to Monteverdi, the children have an artistic experience of their own.
A November Sunday in Metz before the performance
On 15 November the Christmas market has not yet opened, as it starts on the 20th. The city keeps its autumn pace, better suited to a morning at the museum than to browsing stalls. At this time of year Centre Pompidou-Metz opens on Sundays from 10 am to 6 pm, and its exhibition has a fitting title: “Dimanche sans fin” (Endless Sunday), built around Maurizio Cattelan and the Centre Pompidou collection. Have lunch between the station and the centre, then walk to the Arsenal through the Quartier Impérial. The show should end around 5:20 pm, leaving time for an evening train; do check the timetable.
Les Cris de Paris, a name from the Renaissance
Founded in 1998 by Geoffroy Jourdain, who still directs it, the vocal ensemble takes its name from a polyphonic chanson by Clément Janequin, composed around 1530, which turns street cries into music. It combines early music with new work, tackled Monteverdi's “L'Orfeo” in 2016, and won a Diapason d'or for its 2019 recording “Passions”. For Sù !, Jourdain conceived the show with Camille Boitel and Sève Bernard, alongside the company L'Immédiat. The Philharmonie de Paris, which also hosts it in November, lists excerpts from madrigals, the “Selva morale” and “L'Orfeo”; the Metz page does not itemise the pieces.
Practical information
Address: L'Arsenal - Jean-Marie Rausch, 3 Avenue Ney, 57000 Metz
Frequently asked questions
Where and when?
On 15 November 2026: L'Arsenal - Jean-Marie Rausch, 3 avenue Ney, Metz.
How do you reach the Arsenal on a Sunday afternoon?
From Metz-Ville station, the simplest option is to walk through the Quartier Impérial towards place de la République. By Mettis, get off at République, but check the Sunday timetable, which may differ from weekdays.
Where should you base yourself for a Sunday in Metz?
Aim for the centre around the cathedral, as the museum, lunch and the Arsenal can then all be reached on foot. Staylaro covers this area and others in its guide « Se loger à Metz », handy for comparing and then searching for accommodation.
What can children do during the show?
They can join “Extra Kids”, the free arts-based childcare offered by the Cité musicale on reservation. The event page gives no age range for this option, so call +33 3 87 74 16 16 before booking.
