Ah… the room of the Water Lilies, its captivating, meditative, soothing paintings… But do you know the Echo of the Water Lilies? A cycle of cultural events which takes place at the Musée de l'Orangerie on the third Monday of each month and which offers a series of exceptional evenings where literature and music meet, offering the public unique concert-reading experiences. Every month, writers and musicians come together to combine their arts, creating moments of sharing and discovery alongside Monet's water lilies. Unmissable.

Alice Zeniter and Bastien Lallemant around a dazzling inaugural evening

Monday September 23, 2024, the Écho des Nymphéas cycle opens with Alice Zeniter, award-winning novelist, and Bastien Lallemant, talented musician. Alice Zeniter will read extracts from her new novel Frapper l'épopée, a poetic and temporal exploration of the Caledonian archipelago, accompanied by the elegant melodies of Bastien Lallemant. A moment of wandering and daydreaming guaranteed.

September 23, 2024, sessions at 7 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.

Léonor de Recondo and Ophélie Gaillard between Letters and Strings

Monday October 21, 2024, Léonor de Recondo, author of “Le Grand Feu” and cellist Ophélie Gaillard will offer a harmonious performance mixing words and music. This vibrant evening will highlight the Venetian 18th century under the aegis of Vivaldi, creating a unique symphony between literature and music.

October 21, 2024, sessions at 7 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.

Bertrand Belin and Mahut invite us on a musical and literary journey

Monday November 25, 2024, Bertrand Belin, singer and author, will present his world through a musical reading accompanied by the percussionist Mahut. Together, they will transport the audience into an introspective and dreamlike atmosphere, guided by the light of Giverny.

November 25, 2024, sessions at 7 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.

Adama Diop offers an impressionist palette of words and music

Monday December 16, 2024, Adama Diop, actor and playwright, will combine his stories with musical accompaniment, exploring the nuances of Monet's impressionist palette. This performance will highlight humanism and the diversity of the arts, offering an immersive experience.

December 16, 2024, sessions at 7 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.

Éric Reinhardt and Sonia Wieder-Atherton create an alchemy of fiction and reality

Monday January 27, 2025, Éric Reinhardt, author of “Sarah, Susanne and the Writer” will join cellist Sonia Wieder-Atherton for an evening merging fiction and reality. This musical reading promises a deep and introspective exploration of the themes addressed in his works.

January 27, 2025, sessions at 7 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.

Marie Darrieussecq and the Duo Namoro offer us an electronic-poetic symphony

Monday May 19, 2025, Marie Darrieussecq, writer and translator, joins forces with Duo Namoro for an intense and experimental evening. This fusion between electronic music and poetry will offer a unique sensory experience, highlighting Darrieussecq's interest in artistic metamorphoses.

May 19, 2025, sessions at 7 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.

Souleymane Diamanka revisits Slam as a tool for Peace

Monday June 23, 2025, Souleymane Diamanka, poet and pioneer of French slam, will close the cycle with a captivating performance of his "One Poet Show" Mixing softness and strength, his poetry will find echo in music and colors, offering an evening imbued with peace and reflection.

June 23, 2025, sessions at 7 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.

Did you know?

Claude Monet's Water Lilies, exhibited at the Musée de l'Orangerie, constitute one of the most famous and emblematic pictorial sets of Impressionism. Their story is as fascinating as the works themselves, blending art, war and resilience.

The eight monumental panels that make up the Orangerie installation were designed as an immersive work, intended to envelop the viewer in a peaceful and contemplative panorama. Monet wanted these works to be exhibited in a special way. In 1918, at the end of the First World War, he offered the Water Lilies to the French state as a sign of peace and renewal. Georges Clemenceau, then President of the Council and personal friend of Monet, played a crucial role in the acceptance of this donation.

Monet imagined a special installation for these works, which he wanted placed in an oval room to offer a panoramic and immersive vision. The Tuileries Orangery, built in 1852 to house the orange trees of the Tuileries garden, was chosen to accommodate the Water Lilies. The architect Camille Lefèvre was responsible for transforming the space according to Monet's wishes. The two oval rooms, bathed in natural light, were inaugurated in 1927, a few months after the artist's death. The Water Lilies are exhibited there in a setting that responds to Monet's desire to create a space of meditation and tranquility. However, the peace of the Nymphéas was disturbed by the tumults of the Second World War. During the Occupation, the works of the Orangery were threatened by bombings and looting. To protect them, the authorities decided to hide the Water Lilies. They were dismantled and sheltered, far from sight and the dangers of war. This gesture made it possible to preserve this invaluable heritage from potential destruction. After the war, the Water Lilies were reinstalled in their setting at the Orangery, where they continue to fascinate and enchant visitors from around the world. A moving testament to art and history, uniting the timeless beauty of nature with the resilience of humanity in the face of hardship.

ORANGERY MUSEUM
The third Monday of the month, two sessions at 7 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.
Room of Water Lilies, Jardin des Tuileries, 75001 Paris
Prices: €12 - Reduced price: €8
Youth and solidarity rate: €5
Reservation