Toulon Opera: our favorites for the 2025-2026 season

Varying the repertoires, giving the public the opportunity to travel through different aesthetics, in different forms: this is what guided Jérôme Brunetière, director of the Toulon Opera, and his teams in composing the 2025-2026 season. "A balanced season," summarizes the director to present this third opus "Hors les murs". Third season of performances in other cultural venues in the Toulon metropolitan area "where we really found our marks," adds the director, welcoming the collaboration with the Zénith de Toulon, the Palais Neptune and the Scène nationale Châteauvallon-Liberté.

Between opera and symphony, we've picked out a few scores that already have us champing at the bit. A completely subjective list, of course.

"Norma" in Châteauvallon

An opera that is among the greatest masterpieces of the repertoire, performed in the Châteauvallon amphitheater, as the site celebrates its 60th anniversary this year: "The magic of the place lends itself to opera, and even beyond what one can imagine," summarizes Jérôme Brunetière. And even more so for this Bellini's opera, which closes the 2024-2025 season and opens the following season. Directed by Emmanuelle Bastet under the musical direction of Andréa Sanguineti, who conducted last year. The sets and lighting—the scenography is by Tim Northman—magnify the venue.

If the by Donizetti, presented at the Zenith in Toulon at the end of the year, makes us dream, we prefer to focus once again on a production which will be presented at... Châteauvallon at the end of the season this time. by Puccini. "This too is obvious in Châteauvallon."

Norma in Châteauvallon, June 26 and 28 at 9:30 p.m. From 5 to 62 euros.

Don Pasquale at the Zénith in Toulon on December 31, 2025 and January 2, 2026 at 8 p.m. From 5 to 79 euros (New Year's Eve from 14 to 99 euros).

Madame Butterfly at Châteauvallon, June 26, 28, and 30, 2026, at 9 p.m. From €5 to €79.

"The Little Mermaid" at the Liberté

A magical opera for all audiences, with music and a libretto by Régis Campo – winner of a Victoire de la Musique 2025 for his play Dancefloor with Pulsing – based on the universally known Andersen tale. Commissioned by Opéra du Sud (which brings together the opera houses of Avignon, Marseille, Nice, and Toulon), this Little Mermaid highlights the work's major themes. A sort of coming-of-age tale for a teenage girl, a story that also speaks of difference and tolerance.

The Little Mermaid at the Liberté Theatre, November 8 at 2:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. From 9 to 20 euros.

"The Phantom Ship" at the Palais Neptune

This time, the opera is in a lyrical version of Richard Wagner's The Flying Dutchman . Under the musical direction of Victorien Vanoosten, the orchestra and chorus of the Toulon Opera – reinforced by the chorus of the Montpellier National Opera – will set the tone for remarkable voices such as the French tenor Mathieu Justine , "whose first helmsman he will be," says Jérôme Brunetière.

The Flying Dutchman, opera in concert version, at the Palais Neptune, February 17 and 19 at 8 p.m. From 5 to 54 euros.

Symphonic concerts at the Palais Neptune

The concerts of the symphony season – which will all be performed at the Palais Neptune – will once again be wonderful events.

New World? is the perfect illustration, with Ukrainian pianist Natacha Kudritskaya for a score that brings together composers from Eastern Europe, including the well-known piece Symphony No. 9 from the New World, Op. 95 by the Czech Antonin Dvorak. A piece more relevant than ever "when you compare it to what's happening in Eastern Europe... Hence the question mark, by the way." Also on the program are Bartok and Prokofiev.

New World at the Palais Neptune, December 10 at 8 p.m. From 5 to 32 euros.

We can also count on Jardins d'enfants, "a proposal from our musical director Victorien Vanoosten. An entirely French program, with pieces that are stories in a way," such as Le Festin de l'araignée by Albert Roussel, Poème pour violon et orchestre op. 25 by Ernest Chausson, or Ma mère l'Oye by Maurice Ravel. The musical direction is Victorien Vanoosten, and the violin is Svetlin Roussev.

Kindergartens at the Palais Neptune, March 19, 2026 at 8 p.m. From 5 to 32 euros.