One Saturday every month the CMBV runs a series of interactive fun activities for families and friends at the Hôtel des Menus-Plaisirs. On offer are workshops, stage productions, guided tours, treasure hunts and the chance to meet a researcher, all designed to draw you into the fascinating world of Baroque music!
Exceptional opening of the CMBV library !
On the occasion of this Discovery Day, the CMBV library will be exceptionally open to the public from 10am to 4pm. Come and explore its unique collection of books, scores and audio and video documents on French music of the 17th and 18th centuries.
More informations
2 am – 5 pm
NEW! Digital treasure hunt – La saga Papillon à Versailles
Delve into the closely guarded secrets at 22 Avenue de Paris in Versailles. Built under Louis XV it is crammed with over three centuries of history. The trail will uncover a horde of fascinating facts about the splendour of the King’s court, the glory of the French Revolution and the lavish festivities still held there today!
For all ages
Duration: 45 mins
Free admission
2 pm
Treasure hunt – Chasing after lost time
Curiouser and curiouser…! What’s happening at N° 22 Avenue de Paris? A mysterious curse has struck the CMBV! It all started during a choir rehearsal late yesterday evening. A bolt of lightning suddenly lit up the rehearsal room and everything seemed to move back in time! Horses’ hooves can be heard on the courtyard cobbles, the white walls in the rooms flake away to reveal 18th century decoration. This morning the staff appear wearing wigs! You will have to use your powers of observation and ingenuity to dispel the curse on the building. Everyone at the CMBV is relying on you!
For adults & children aged 10+
Duration: 1hr 30 mins
Admission:
- €4 per child (€2 Pass Destination)
- €6 per adult (€4 Pass Destination)
3.15 pm
Discover Baroque: Costumes
Discover Baroque stage costumes and the CMBV’s plays. Make your own period costume!
Age 6+
Duration: 45 mins
Admission:
- Children free of charge
- €5 per adult (€4 Pass Destination)
3.30 pm
Loup XIV et les Comptines stage show
Featuring
Les Comptines de Lutèce
Anaïs Raimbault, narrator
Claire Hamon, piano & harpsichord
Who is this King who keeps doing silly things?! Why, Loup XIV of course!! Dear children, dear adults, welcome to the court of Loup XIV with his musicians and royal ballet troupe. Follow the adventures of our rather simple-minded King via 17th and 18th century nursery rhymes.
Age 2-6
Duration: 40 mins
Admission:
- €20 for 1 child + 1 accompanying adult (€15 Pass Destination)
€10 concession (students & those on minimum income*) - €10 per additional child
€5 concession (students & those on minimum income*) - €5 per additional participant
€2 concession (students & those on minimum income*)
*documentary proof required
4 pm
Guided tour
Guided by members of the CMBV, delve into the history of the Hôtel des Menus-Plaisirs, the iconic nerve centre of the history of France and discover the political, social and artistic role it has played from the 18th century up to the present day.
All ages
Duration: 45 mins
Free admission
5 pm
Screening of the documentary ‘Le troisième monde: rencontre entre musique baroque et électronique’
Set off to discover an unprecedented musical universe where baroque and electronic music intersect and transform! This documentary plunges you into the creative process of Jug Marković, Justina Repečkaitė, Ariadna Alsina Tarrés and Adrien Trybucki, composers at Ircam, who devised new works for the Pages et Chantres choir at the Centre de musique baroque de Versailles. Under the musical direction of Fabien Armengaud and Clément Buonomo, these creations shake up the boundaries between two worlds that might appear to be opposed. An immersive moment to better understand the ‘Janus, heritage and creation’ project between the CMBV and Ircam, supported by the French Ministry of Culture, before discovering Adrien Trybucki's new creation Encre Simulacre at the Chapelle Royale on 19 June.
A documentary directed by Laure Bourru
Produced by Melocoton Films
Meeting after the screening
Extend your experience with an exclusive discussion in the presence of :
Fabien Armengaud, Choir school Artistic and Music Director
Clément Buonomo, Choir school Artistic Assistant Director
Open to all
Duration: 40 minutes (screening) and 20 minutes (discussion)
Free admission
Group bookings
Group bookings may be made for CMBV Open Days, which can also be tailored for schools or outreach publics. For further details, please email actionculturelle@cmbv.com, or phone +33 (0)1 39 20 78 10.
