MBA in Performing Arts Management and Entertainment students discover the Philharmonie de Paris with Hugues de Saint Simon
Our MBA Performing Arts Management & Entertainment students met Hugues de Saint Simon, secretary general of the Philharmonie de Paris, for an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the concert hall and a discussion of their missions and organization.
The Philharmonie de Paris, or Paris Philharmonic Hall, is a complex of concert halls located in Paris, France. The venue includes exhibition spaces and rehearsal rooms, located in the Parc de la Villette, in northeast Paris, in the 19th arrondissement.
At the center of the complex is a 2,400-seat symphonic concert hall, designed by Jean Nouvel and inaugurated in January 2015.
The construction of this hall was delayed by some twenty years in order to complete the existing musical institution, La Cité de la Musique, designed by Christian de Portzamparc and inaugurated in 1995. While mainly hosting symphonic concerts, the Philharmonie de Paris also offers jazz performances and world music.
Our students gained direct knowledge of the management and operation of a world-class cultural institution. Understanding the logistics behind planning, event management, and day-to-day operations provides valuable hands-on experience. They also gained insight into how the Philharmonie de Paris carries out its strategic objectives, manages a large team, and adapts to challenges, which can offer lessons in leadership and strategic planning. This is crucial for students who aspire to lead similar institutions. Finally, the Philharmonie de Paris is an excellent case study of best practices in the performing arts sector. Analyzing its successes and challenges was a valuable lesson for aspiring young professionals in the field of performing arts and entertainment management.
The meeting was followed by a guided tour of the exhibition METAL - diabolus in musica with a unique installation made in-house. Contrary to the stereotypes to which metal is often reduced, the exhibition presents, for the first time in France, a documented panorama of this movement, where music, popular culture, anthropological vision and contemporary art engage in dialogue.