Lillies in a pond in the Vallée des Fleurs, near the Delta Espace outdoor amphitheatre in the Parc Floral

In France, the rentrée makes a clear-cut entry: summer ends the last week of August and the official school and work year begins the first week of September.  If you’re new to Paris, you will be utterly amazed at the speed with which French people can go from luxuriously relaxing on the beach in the South to diving head-first into their work, even if they are three shades darker than they were in June.

The rentrée, which doesn’t exactly have a good translation in English since we, uh, never actually pause our work, literally means the “re-entry.”  It’s when schools start back, new hires begin new jobs, and everyone returns from vacation rejuvenated.  French people are at their most serious in September; they planned for the rentrée last May and many of them are, at least at first, truly excited and happy to be back at work or school. 

Espace Delta stage seen through flowers in the Vallée des Fleurs

But is there a way to make summer last?  Especially since we had such dark and wet weather all summer and just last week it only started to feel like summer? 

In an odd twist to the usually rigid French calendar, the captivating and spacious Parc Floral has decided to let your summer spill over this year.  Thankfully.  Every weekend until (and including) September 23, you can enjoy the flowers and see a concert in the outdoor amphitheatre as part of a concert series known as the Classique au Vert.  Perhaps you’ve seen the posters for it in other parks around the city.

Classique au Vert, which started in early August, is a summer musical program sponsored by the Mairie de Paris that brings talented musicians from all over France to perform in this venue that lies in what is aptly named the Vallée des Fleurs.  You can certainly take a seat near the stage, or lay your picnic blanket on one of the grassy areas surrounding the lake and enjoy some wine and cheese while listening to the music.

Flowers in the Vallée des Fleurs

In mid-August, we took the kids to see “Le Mythe D’Orphée” performed by a small group from Lyon.  Although there couldn’t have been more than 20 performers (including a choir, string quartet, wind ensemble, and harpist), they filled the amphitheatre with some stunning sound.  And since it was outside, it was a good opportunity to take young children and expose them to Berlioz without worrying about them making too much noise themselves.   

Concerts are grouped around themes—the one that we saw was opera, but was a selection of three opera pieces whose common theme was Orpheus.  This included pieces by Berlioz, Gluck, and Girard.  Upcoming concert themes to be performed between now and September 23 are Romantic Melodramas, the Glory of the Trumpet, and the Follies of Offenbach. 

Bees in the Parc Floral

The concerts are free with entry to the park (which is only 5 euros per person and kids under 7 are free).  If you have kids, you may already be aware that the Parc Floral has perhaps the largest playground in the entire free world, so you can go early in the day and let them wear themselves out so they’ll be nice and quiet for the concert.  The concerts start at 4:00 pm on Saturdays and Sundays (until September 23) and on most concert days, there is a little pre-concert master class or conference about the works at 2:00 pm in the pavilion just behind the concert hall. 

The Parc Floral is located in the Bois des Vincennes, tucked behind the Chateau de Vincennes.  To get there, take the metro line 1 to Chateau de Vincennes or RER line A to Vincennes (bus lines 46 and 112).  You’ll have a pleasant five-minute walk from the Chateau to the entrance of the Parc Floral.  For detailed information about the upcoming performances, check out www.classiqueauvert2007.com.