Photo : Presse
Alcôv, the new spatialized music listening experience
A temporary auditorium. The audience at the center. A new way to listen, see, and feel. Three exclusive musical creations imagined for Alcôv by renowned artists. Five years of research to build its acoustic architecture.
Alcôv (Paris 19th)
About
Alcôv is the first (and only) temporary auditorium for spatialized sound. Each broadcast work is an original creation, built with the artist from the start, specifically for this system. Unique without being perishable, the work travels with the touring device, ensuring a new revenue stream for artists and a new experience promise for the public.
The concept
- spatialized listening: immersive sound from a multitude of sources
- original creation: each work is designed specifically for Alcôv
- temporal scarcity: 65 days of presence per season
- collective intimacy: 300 people maximum per session to preserve listening quality
The program
- AIR: a re-orchestration of The Virgin Suicides soundtrack, for the album's 25th anniversary and specially for this space
- Vivaldi: The Four Seasons, performed by Théotime Langlois de Swarte and the orchestra Le Consort
- Vivaldi with the character Paco for young audiences: an adaptation narrated by Élodie Fondacci and illustrated by Magali Le Huche
The walkthrough
Inside, the public first traverses the Gallery, a space for roaming and initiation into sound spatialization. This entry path hosts "Sound Objects", an exhibition of audio equipment dedicated to the history of sound reproduction, curated by Laurent Massaloux and Jean-Yves Leloup. Dozens of speakers, players, and sound devices from the 20th and 21st centuries, chosen for their formal plasticity: objects that are as technical as they are aesthetic, or even symbolic.
We encounter the Weltron 2007 record player (1975), an iconic flying saucer of the Space Age; the wall-mounted CD player by Naoto Fukasawa for Muji (1999); right up to contemporary creations by Teenage Engineering, Mateo Garcia, or Studio Ambre, witnesses to the current effervescence of design and hi-fi.
The scenography
- visual: the sound system is accompanied by a panoramic video experience: six circular screens 5m high by 5m wide, and on the ceiling, an imposing suspended LED screen 9m in diameter
- olfactory: designed with Agence Grace and perfumer Emmanuelle Grin, the olfactory ambiance draws from the materials of musical creation: woods and resins, instrument varnish, heated equipment metal. Present from the welcome area, it prepares attention and fades away upon entering the hall
- lighting: the scenography and lighting design of Alcôv is by Jean-Christophe Aubrée, through a unique installation where light becomes movement.
Sessions take place without phones. Handed over at the reception upon entry and collected at the exit, devices give way to 40 minutes of total, undivided attention to the work and those listening to it. Before the session, the path allows for photo opportunities to keep a memory and share it, without ever interrupting the listening experience.
Our take on this event
Forget your headphones and prepare for a total immersion where sound becomes a physical substance. Between vintage design and cutting-edge technology, this experience transforms music into moving architecture that envelops your senses far beyond simple listening.
Alcôv arrives at the Parc de La Villette in the 19th arrondissement, offering a unique spatialized audio experience. Running from December 19, 2026, to February 21, 2027, this temporary auditorium features original musical works designed specifically for an immersive, multi-sensory environment. Whether you are a dedicated audiophile or simply looking for a new way to engage with sound, this event combines music, lighting design, and scent to create a singular experience. Sessions are limited to 300 people to ensure acoustic quality. Practical tip: the venue is fully wheelchair accessible, with tickets starting at 19 euros.
Located in the Prairie du Cercle Nord of the Parc de La Villette, Alcôv is a pioneering temporary venue dedicated to spatialized sound. Each 40-minute session provides an immersive auditory journey with original compositions created specifically for the space. The programming includes a special re-orchestration of the The Virgin Suicides soundtrack by AIR, Vivaldi's The Four Seasons performed by Théotime Langlois de Swarte and Le Consort, and a version of Vivaldi for children, narrated by Élodie Fondacci with illustrations by Magali Le Huche.
Before entering the main auditorium, visitors explore the Galerie, an exhibition curated by Laurent Massaloux and Jean-Yves Leloup that examines the history of audio equipment. Featuring iconic items from the 20th and 21st centuries—such as the Weltron 2007 turntable and Naoto Fukasawa's Muji CD player—the gallery highlights the intersection of sound engineering and design. Once inside the main space, the sound is complemented by Jean-Christophe Aubrée’s light installations, panoramic video screens, and a custom olfactory atmosphere designed by Agence Grace and perfumer Emmanuelle Grin.
To ensure complete focus during the 40-minute performances, mobile phones must be left at the reception area, though photo opportunities are provided beforehand. The event runs from 19:00 on December 19, 2026, through February 21, 2027, with a maximum capacity of 300 guests per session.
