Photo : Ecole Cortot
Animalia Concert: When nature awakens in music - Hôtel de la Marine
Trade city noise for a seat in a grand historic salon where classical piano meets the untamed beauty of the natural world. This immersive recital explores the interplay between animal symbolism and seasonal melodies in a truly breathtaking setting.
Hôtel de la Marine (Paris 8th)
About
The Hôtel de la Marine hosts a musical exploration of the natural world on Thursday, December 17, 2026. Organized in partnership with the École normale de Musique de Paris – Alfred Cortot, this concert highlights the intersection of animal symbolism and musical composition. Pianist Louisa Sophia Jefferson will perform Rameau’s Les Cyclopes and Tchaikovsky’s complete cycle of The Seasons, capturing the essence of shifting landscapes and living creatures. The event is recommended for ages 11 and up, echoing the themes of the Animalia exhibition from the Al Thani Collection. Admission is free for visitors under 18 years old.
Presentation
Designed with the École normale de Musique de Paris – Alfred Cortot, this concert is part of the "Animals in Music" series, created in echo to the exhibition "Animalia. Bestiary of the Al Thani Collection".
For centuries, animals have fueled the imagination of composers. Their songs, movements, evocative power, or symbolic dimensions inspire works of great richness, blending poetry, fantasy, and virtuosity.
This third concert opens a perspective on nature as a whole, through the way the arts allow us to see and hear the living world. Echoing the myths and imaginary creatures of the exhibition, Rameau's The Cyclopes opens the program, before Tchaikovsky's The Seasons unfolds, in twelve tableaux, landscapes, animals, atmospheres, and scenes of daily life throughout the year.
Featuring:
Louisa Sophia Jefferson, piano.
Program
"Tchaikovsky's The Seasons"
When nature awakens in music
Louisa Sophia Jefferson, piano
Jean-Philippe Rameau (1683–1764)
The Cyclopes
excerpt from Harpsichord Pieces
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840–1893)
The Seasons, op. 37a
January — By the Hearth
February — Carnival
March — Song of the Lark
April — Snowdrop
May — May Nights
June — Barcarolle
July — Song of the Reaper
August — Harvest
September — The Hunt
October — Autumn Song
November — Troika
December — Christmas
Our take on this event
Located at 2, place de la Concorde, the Hôtel de la Marine welcomes guests for an evening of classical music on December 17, 2026, from 20:00 to 21:00. This recital is the third installment of the series Music and Animals, curated to complement the Animalia exhibition currently on display.
The program features pianist Louisa Sophia Jefferson performing Jean-Philippe Rameau’s Les Cyclopes, followed by Tchaikovsky’s op. 37a, The Seasons. This twelve-part suite offers a musical journey through the year, depicting everything from the arrival of spring in March to the autumnal harvest in September and the winter scenes of December.
This performance is suitable for attendees aged 11 and older. Tickets are priced at 9 € for adults. Admission is complimentary for all visitors under the age of 18.
