French Music Online: Live Performances, Streaming, Podcasts and Our Favorite Songs

While much of the world might be on lockdown, technology allows Francophiles and culture lovers to remain connected to French artistic life by discovering (or re-discovering) French music online. Here’s where to hear some of our favorite tunes and live performances broadcast online:

Philharmonie de Paris 

Find all of their old concerts on Philharmonie Live. There are various playlists as well as a virtual visit to the Philharmonie’s Music Museum on the website. The app provides free access to a collection of almost 700 videos featuring classical music, jazz, pop-rock, and world music, filmed at venues including the Cité de la musique, Salle Pleyel, and the  Philharmonie.

France Musique 

France Musique is offering online concerts for free and in full. Genres include classical, symphonic, chamber music, and jazz, and are all performed in the Auditorium of the Maison de la Radio and other concert halls, including appearances by the l’Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France, l’Orchestre National de France, and a number of other international orchestras and soloists at the Philharmonie de Paris. You can watch in replay or listen in high definition. 

ARTE Concerts

Since 2017, the Franco-German television channel devoted to cultural programming has made its entire digital offering available on one website. You can watch programmes on the website or via the ARTE app. ARTE Concert offers a broad range of live performing arts events, interviews, and backstage footage. Right now, you can watch concerts by Dido, IDLES, Blondie, Iggy Pop, Tina Turner, Nouvelle Vague, Interpol, Sepultura, The Lumineers, and more. For classical lovers, throughout the 2020 Beethoven anniversary year, Arte Concerts will offer performances of the composer’s complete catalogue via archive recordings, livestreams, and current productions. 

Opéra de Paris 

The Opéra de Paris will replay performances online including the following:

April 20-26: Tales of Hoffman 

May 27-June 3: Carmen 

Until August 5: Giselle

Also, Les Indes galantes is currently available to watch on Arte Concerts. 

Culture Box 

Culture Box brings together cultural programming from France Télévisions Group. It broadcasts live performances, with editorial content available on the France Info site. Video content is available on France.tv. Classical music, theater, dance, pop, rock, electronic, hip-hop, and jazz are all on offer.

Radio Nova

Radio Nova has been broadcasting from Paris for nearly 40 years. Its playlists include lesser-known artists of different genres including electro, new wave, reggae, jazz, hip-hip, and world music. The station is owned by Nova Press, which also owns Nova Records and the radio station TSF Jazz.

FIP

Originally an abbreviation for “France Inter Paris,” FIP is part of the Radio France. It offers commercial-free music featuring chanson, classical, film music, jazz, pop, rock, world music, and blues. Jack Dorsey, CEO of Twitter, said he listens to FIP regularly and considers it the best radio in the world. 

HiP Playlist

And finally…the tunes we’re listening to now—new and old —from the Francophone world. 

Indila – Dernière danse

Django Reinhardt and Stephane Grappelli – Tea for Two

Yael Naim – Come Home 

Serge Gainsbourg – La noyée

Angèle – Balance ton quoi

Alain Souchon – Foule sentimentale

Manu Dibango – Ah! Freak Sans Fric

Joe Dassin – Aux Champs-Élysées 

Marwa Loud feat. Naza – Allez les gros

Vanessa Paradis and -M- – La Seine

Barbara – Nantes

Coeur de Pirate – Comme des enfants

Mika – Elle me dit

Thomas Dutronc – J’aime plus Paris

Baptiste Trotignon – Choro da cigarra

Related Links

• Check out our recommendations for where to learn and practice your French online!
• Follow David Lebovitz around his perfect day in Paris (pre-lockdown, of course!)
• Watch 50 French musicians from l’Orchestre National de France come together for a virtual performance

Written by Surekha Gupta for HiP Paris. Looking to travel? Check out Haven In for a  fabulous vacation rental in Paris, France or Italy. Looking to rent long-term or buy in France or Italy? Ask us! We can connect you to our trusted providers for amazing service and rates.