Les Frivolités Parisiennes

What Les Frivolités Parisiennes does

Les Frivolités Parisiennes is a French non-profit opera company (Association loi 1901) founded in 2012 by musicians Benjamin El Arbi and Mathieu Franot, headquartered at 11 Rue Saint-Luc in Paris's 18th arrondissement. The company specializes in the revival and performance of French light lyric repertoire from the 19th and 20th centuries — specifically opéra-comique, opéra bouffe, opérette, and musical comedy — a niche it positions as structurally underserved since the disappearance of the resident Opéra-Comique troupe in the 1960s. It operates the Orchestre des Frivolit\u00e9s Parisiennes, a permanent professional ensemble scaling from 14 to 40 musicians depending on production requirements, and has produced approximately fifteen works since inception, with selected recordings released on the Naxos, Alpha, and B.Records labels.

The company's core product is full-scale staged opera productions distributed through co-productions and touring across an extensive French institutional network. It holds associate artist status at the Fondation Singer-Polignac, multi-year residencies at the Théâtre Impérial – Opéra de Compiègne and Opéra de Reims, and recurring access to Opéra Comique, Théâtre du Châtelet, Olympia, Théâtre de l'Athénée Louis-Jouvet, Théâtre des Champs-Élysées, and the Philharmonie de Paris. The Season 2024-25 lineup includes Tosca, Ubu Roi, Gosse de Riche, Cole Porter In Paris, Le Lac des Cygnes, Ô Mon Bel Inconnu, Gypsy, and Les Contes de Perrault, alongside cross-border activity in Belgium and a ballet-opera crossover with Ballet Preljocaj.

Revenue is assembled from four streams: performance and box office income at partner venues, co-production contributions from institutional partners, French public subsidies (DRAC Île-de-France, Région Île-de-France, Ville de Paris, CNM, Adami, Spedidam), and private mécénat (the "La Bande des Frivos" patron circle, with tax-deductible donations). The company also operates three educational and cultural mediation programs — Les Paris Frivoles (young singers academy), De Mômes et d'Opérette (~150 schoolchildren in Paris 18e), and Frivo'Lycée (80 high school students in Creutzwald) — which double as audience development pipelines and serve as a distinct sub-product line. The staff of approximately 15 oversees seasonal paid orchestral personnel, supported by a small permanent team covering direction, production, and communications.

Name

Les Frivolités Parisiennes

Legal name

Les Frivolités Parisiennes

Website

https://lesfrivolitesparisiennes.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Les Frivolités Parisiennes is a French non-profit opera company (founded 2012) that revives 19th-20th century French light lyric repertoire with a permanent professional orchestra, distributed through co-productions with major French opera houses and complemented by educational programs for young singers and students.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Performing Arts (Opera and Operetta)

NAICS

Performing Arts Companies (7111), Musical Groups and Artists (71113)

akta.pro primary industry

Opera & Operetta (MPAGABAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Performing Arts Organizations (Theater, Dance, Opera, Music) (BPAGAHAB), Theater & Performing Arts Venue Operations (Playhouses, Opera Houses) (MPAGALAB), Arranging & Orchestration (MPAIAHAG)

Keywords

• Opera productions
• Chamber orchestra
• Performing arts
• Cultural education
• Musical theater

Headquarters

HQ city

Paris

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Performance Revenue: Ticket sales from performances at partnered theaters and venues across France, including Opéra Comique, Opéra de Reims, Opéra de Compiègne, Théâtre du Châtelet, Olympia, and numerous regional theaters.
2. Mécénat (Private Patronage): Private patronage from individuals (La Bande des Frivos) and companies, offering benefits such as invitations to performances, access to rehearsals, theater privatizations, and communication opportunities. Patrons receive tax deductions under French law (66% for individuals, 60% for companies).
3. Public Subsidies and Cultural Funding: Support from public institutions including DRAC Île-de-France, Région Île-de-France, Ville de Paris, CNM (Centre national de la musique), Adami, and Spedidam for production and cultural action projects.
4. Discographic Recordings: Recordings produced under prestigious labels including Naxos, Alpha, and B.Records for certain creations and recreations.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels8 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Les Frivolités Parisiennes is a professional opera company that produces and performs French light lyrical repertoire from the 19th and 20th centuries (opéra-comique, opéra bouffe, opérette, musical comedy) using a permanent professional chamber orchestra of 14 to 40 musicians. Its offerings include seasonal opera productions presented at partner venues across France, educational and cultural mediation programs for young singers, schoolchildren, and high school students, plus discographic recordings released on labels such as Naxos, Alpha, and B.Records.

Product overview

Les Frivolités Parisiennes is a professional opera company founded in 2012 specializing in the French light lyric repertoire of the 19th and 20th centuries, including opéra-comique, opéra bouffe, and opérette. The company operates a permanent orchestra (Orchestre des Frivolités Parisiennes) with 14 to 40 musicians depending on productions. Its core offerings center on producing and performing full-scale opera productions across various venues in France and internationally. The portfolio also includes educational programs: Les Paris Frivoles (a young singers academy), De Mômes et d'Opérette (children's cultural action project), Frivo'Lycée (high school program), and Hélène ou la Voix Disparue (participatory middle school opera). Additional offerings include Frivol's Club (chanson-jazz performances), Kinorama (Weimar-era repertoire), and podcasts. The company produces approximately one to two new productions annually alongside revivals of their existing repertoire.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Opéra-Comique Performances Full-scale opera productions featuring the company's permanent orchestra, including opéra-comique, opéra bouffe, and opérette works from the 19th and 20th century French repertoire, presented for general audiences at partner venues across France.
• Saison 2024-2025 The company's 2024-2025 season featuring multiple productions including Gosse de Riche, Cole Porter In Paris, Le Lac des Cygnes, Ô Mon Bel Inconnu, Tosca, Ubu Roi, Gypsy, and Les Contes de Perrault, presented across partner venues in France.
• Orchestre des Frivolités Parisiennes The company's resident professional chamber orchestra, comprising 14 to 40 instrumentalists depending on production requirements, performing alongside singers in various configurations from pit orchestra to staged performances.
• Les Paris Frivoles An operatic academy training young singers in the interpretation of French opéra-comique repertoire through intensive workshops, masterclasses, and concerts at the Athénée Théâtre Louis-Jouvet.
• De Mômes et d'Opérette A cultural action project for children combining opera, theater, dance, and storytelling, engaging approximately 150 participants including students, teachers, and educators in Paris's 18th arrondissement, culminating in a June 2025 performance at Halle Pajol.
• Frivo'Lycée A high school pedagogical program where students from Lycée Félix Mayer collaborate with Les Frivolités Parisiennes and local artists to create original performances exploring themes of their choosing, culminating in performances at Salle Baltus le Lorrain in May 2025.
• Hélène ou la Voix Disparue A participatory opera project engaging middle school students in musical creation, theater, dance, video, and writing, co-produced with Théâtre Impérial Opéra de Compiègne and Opéra de Reims.
• Frivol's Club A musical program featuring arrangements combining French chanson repertoire with jazz influences, performed in various formations at venues including Château d'Attilly.
• Kinorama A musical performance program celebrating Weimar Republic-era film songs and Berlin revues from the UFA film studio, featuring arrangements for a jazz sextet.

Quantifiable outcome

• Approximately 15 works produced since 2012, with discographic recordings released on Naxos, Alpha, and B.Records labels

Named customers10 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

41 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major, regional and minor.

• Fondation Singer-PolignaccoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2012Les Frivolités Parisiennes is associate artist of the Fondation Singer-Polignac, providing prestigious institutional backing and artistic support.
• Bru Zane FrancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDelegated production partner for Ô Mon Bel Inconnu (Reynaldo Hahn/Sacha Guitry), with co-production through Palazzetto Bru Zane France, Opéra de Tours, Opéra Grand Avignon, Opéra de Rouen, and Opéra de Massy.
• Ballet PreljocajcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-production partner for Le Lac des Cygnes, with choreography by renowned choreographer Angelin Preljocaj and musical direction by Alice Farnham at Opéra de Reims.
• Opéra de Compiègne (Théâtre Impérial)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResidence partner and major co-production partner for numerous productions including Ubu Roi, Coups de Roulis, Hélène ou la voix disparue, Le Chat du Rabbi, and many others.
• Opéra de ReimscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResidence partner and co-production partner for multiple productions including Le Lac des Cygnes, Ubu Roi, Un Élixir d'Amour, Coups de Roulis, Les Contes de Perrault.
• Opéra ComiquecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegular venue partner and co-production partner for productions including Archipel(s) (with Maîtrise Populaire), Le Voyage dans la Lune (with Maîtrise Populaire), Au Loin Ma Ville, and Robert le Cochon et les Kidnappeurs.
• Philharmonie de PariscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-production partner for Movie in My Mind (with Laurent Pelly direction) and Récital Pretty Yende/Nadine Sierra.
• Théâtre de l'Athénée Louis-JouvetcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssociate venue partner for Les Paris Frivoles academy and co-production partner for numerous productions including Ubu Roi, Les Contes de Perrault, and Ô Mon Bel Inconnu. Partner in Hélène ou la voix disparue project.
• Festival de ParismajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for Olympia Symphonique concert at L'Olympia venue, bringing together classical and pop music with the Orchestre des Frivolités Parisiennes.
• Opéra de MassymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-production partner for Ô Mon Bel Inconnu.
• Opéra de NancymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-production partner for GYPSY musical comedy.
• Grand Théâtre du LuxembourgmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-production partner for GYPSY musical comedy performances.
• Opéra de RouenmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-production partner for Ô Mon Bel Inconnu and Un Élixir d'Amour (Donizetti).
• Opéra de ToursmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-production partner for Ô Mon Bel Inconnu.
• Opéra Grand AvignonmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-production partner for Ô Mon Bel Inconnu.
• Opéra de VichyregionalStrategic or Co-development PartnerVenue and co-production partner for Normandie musical comedy.
• Opéra de DijonregionalStrategic or Co-development PartnerVenue partner for Le Chat du Rabbi performances.
• Palazzetto Bru Zane FrancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMain production partner for Ô Mon Bel Inconnu, with joint co-production across multiple French opera houses.
• Scène Nationale du Carreau (Forbach)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partner since 2021-2022 for Frivo'Lycée project with Lycée Félix Mayer de Creutzwald, involving 80 students from second to terminale.
• Lycée Félix Mayer (Creutzwald)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for Frivo'Lycée educational project involving 80 students from second to terminale in music and theater options, culminating in performances at Salle Baltus le Lorrain in May 2025.
• École Françoise Dorléac B (Paris 18ème)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner school for De Mômes et d'Opérette project, involving 9 classes and approximately 150 students, culminating in a June 2025 performance at Halle Pajol.
• DRAC Île-de-FrancemajorOthersRegional directorate of the French Ministry of Culture providing financial support for productions and cultural projects.
• Région Île-de-FrancemajorOthersRegional council providing financial support for productions and cultural projects.
• Ville de Paris (Mairie de Paris)majorOthersCity of Paris providing financial support for productions and cultural projects, with additional support from Mairie du 18ème arrondissement.
• CNM (Centre national de la musique)majorOthersNational French music center providing funding support for Gosse de Riche and other productions.
• AdamimajorOthersFrench society for collective management of performing arts artists' rights, providing funding and support for numerous productions.
• SpedidammajorOthersFrench organization managing rights and royalties for performing arts creators, supporting productions including Gosse de Riche.
• Opéra de RouenmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-production partner for Un Élixir d'Amour (Donizetti) alongside Théâtre des Champs-Élysées, Opéra de Bordeaux, and Opera Domani.
• Opéra de ToulonregionalStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-production partner for Archipel(s) alongside Opéra Comique.
• Opéra de Lorraine (Opéra national de Lorraine)regionalStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-production partner for Movie in My Mind musical comedy.
• Théâtres de la Ville de LuxembourgregionalStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-production partner for Movie in My Mind musical comedy.
• Théâtre de CaenregionalStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-production partner for Movie in My Mind musical comedy.
• Théâtre Impérial – Opéra de CompiègnecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor co-production and residence partner for Hélène ou la voix disparue participatory opera project.
• Opéra de MassyregionalStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-production partner for Ô Mon Bel Inconnu.
• Opéra de CompiègnecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor residence and co-production partner (Théâtre Impérial) for numerous productions including Là-Haut, Gosse de Riche, Coups de Roulis, and Ubu Roi.
• Maison de la Culture – AmiensregionalStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-production partner for Coups de Roulis (André Messager) with performances scheduled for May 2025.
• Opéra de Clermont-FerrandregionalStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-production partner for Coups de Roulis (André Messager) with performances scheduled for May 2025.
• Opéra de Bordeaux (Opéra National de Bordeaux)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-production partner for Un Élixir d'Amour (Donizetti) alongside Théâtre des Champs-Élysées, Opéra de Rouen, and Opera Domani.
• Opera Domani / AsLiComajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-production partner for Un Élixir d'Amour (Donizetti) as part of participatory opera cycle for young audiences.
• Fond de création lyriqueminorOthersFunding body supporting Le Chat du Rabbi creation.
• France MusiqueminorOthersNational public radio station for classical music, shown as partner/supporter on website.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Opéra National de Paris: France's largest opera institution, presenting a broad repertory including French works. It is a broader incumbent operating at significantly larger scale than Les Frivolités Parisiennes but partially overlapping in audience and repertoire space.
• Opéra Comique: Historic Parisian opera house and the spiritual parent of the opéra-comique repertoire. While it is a venue partner and co-producer with Les Frivolités Parisiennes, it is also a broader incumbent whose full-scale productions partially overlap with the niche the Frivolités occupy.
• Festival d'Aix-en-Provence: Major international opera festival with a strong track record of producing French and other rare repertoire. Comparable as an institutional peer in reviving lesser-performed works, though at much larger scale and seasonal rather than year-round.
• Opéra de Lyon: Major French regional opera house with its own orchestra, chorus, and opera studio. Comparable to Les Frivolités Parisiennes as a French lyric opera producer but operating across a much broader repertoire.
• Théâtre du Châtelet: Major Parisian theater hosting opera, operetta, and musicals. A regular venue partner of Les Frivolités Parisiennes and broadly comparable as a producer of French lyric and operetta repertoire at larger scale.

Direct peers

• Les Arts Florissants: Renowned French period-instrument ensemble that produces fully staged Baroque and Classical operas with its own orchestra and singers. Comparable to Les Frivolités Parisiennes in combining a resident ensemble, a curated rare-repertoire mission, and a strong educational/outreach agenda.
• Le Concert Spirituel: French period-performance ensemble producing staged Baroque and Classical opera and concert programs. Comparable to Les Frivolités Parisiennes in scale (small permanent core with project-based expanded forces) and mission of reviving lesser-performed French-language repertoire.
• Bru Zane France: French arm of the Fondazione Palazzo Bru Zane, dedicated to research, performance, and recording of French Romantic music. A direct peer and partner of Les Frivolités Parisiennes, sharing the niche of reviving rarely performed French operatic and concert repertoire.
• Palazzetto Bru Zane: Venetian-based Center for French Music dedicated to rediscovering the French Romantic repertoire. It is a direct peer and major production partner of Les Frivolités Parisiennes, sharing a mission of reviving and recording rarely performed French operatic and instrumental works.

Others

• Atelier Lyrique de l'Opéra de Lyon: Young artist training program attached to the Opéra de Lyon. Comparable to Les Frivolités Parisiennes' Les Paris Frivoles academy in mission—training young singers in French lyric repertoire—and therefore a relevant talent-pipeline and educational peer.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/frivolitesparis
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCYpajtlv_Qqxi1tETJX85Hg/featured
• Facebookfacebook.com/frivolitesparisiennes
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/les-frivolit%C3%A9s-parisiennes
• Instagraminstagram.com/les_frivos

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Les Frivolités Parisiennes