Le Carnaval Des Animaux - Alex Vizorek, Karo Pauwels - Tournée

At Radiant-Bellevue: Le Carnaval des Animaux with Alex Vizorek & Karo Pauwels

Radiant-Bellevue is delighted to open its stage to Le Carnaval des Animaux, a festive encounter between Camille Saint-Saëns’s irresistible score and the sparkling wit of Alex Vizorek, guided with musical finesse by Karo Pauwels. From our vantage point as a house devoted to live performance, this rendezvous is everything we cherish: world-class music, cheeky storytelling, and an invitation for audiences of all ages to hear a beloved masterpiece anew. Within our hall’s intimate acoustics, the chamber ensemble’s textures—two pianos, nimble strings, and colorful winds—find a luminous balance, while Vizorek’s narration slips between movements with the deft timing of a seasoned comic. Pauwels, whose baton thrives on clarity and charisma, sculpts the pacing so that every creature in this musical menagerie—lions, swans, and fossils alike—steps forward in vivid relief. It is a spirited, intelligent evening crafted for families, curious first-timers, and lifelong concertgoers who want to rediscover Saint-Saëns through laughter and wonder.

Current artistic buzz: a comedian at the crossroads of music and stage

Alex Vizorek arrives at Radiant-Bellevue amid a vibrant artistic period. After the acclaimed tours of Ad Vitam, which extended across francophone stages through recent seasons, he continues to stand out as a comedian with a refined taste for the arts, having earlier made a splash with Alex Vizorek est une oeuvre d’art. His stage presence is shaped by sharp writing and a cultivated ease with high and popular culture—qualities that have also fueled his appearances in beloved shows such as Par Jupiter ! and satirical television like Le Grand Cactus. That blend of brainy irreverence and generous humor is precisely what animates his take on Le Carnaval des Animaux: he doesn’t simply introduce the animals, he interrogates the music, pokes at our listening habits, and finds sly bridges between today’s world and Saint-Saëns’s tongue-in-cheek zoology. Alongside him, Karo Pauwels has built an enviable reputation for spirited, clear-sighted leadership of chamber orchestras and educational symphonic projects, often turning canonical works into lively conversations with the audience. Their alliance on this tournée showcases a rare chemistry: Vizorek’s quicksilver commentary meets Pauwels’s rhythmic lift, letting each musical joke land and each melodic image breathe.

For this Radiant-Bellevue date, we have shaped the evening so that the sparkle of Saint-Saëns meets the warmth and clarity our stage is known for. Expect the ensemble seated close to the audience to highlight the playful interplay between the pianos and the strings, and lighting that traces the suite’s shifting moods—from the regal hush of the “lion” to the crystalline poise that makes the “swan” glide. Vizorek’s narration, delivered with his signature deadpan and agile phrasing, acts as a mischievous tour guide; yet he always leaves space for the music’s punchlines to ring. Pauwels embraces tempo as dramaturgy, cueing the ensemble with an energy that keeps the carousel spinning while giving each soloist a moment in the spotlight. As a venue deeply rooted in the Lyon area, Radiant-Bellevue treasures evenings that bring families together and invite seasoned listeners to bring along newcomers. With Le Carnaval des Animaux, we welcome you to a performance that celebrates the living, breathing theater of sound—humor, virtuosity, and collective listening coming together under our roof.

Le Carnaval Des Animaux - Alex Vizorek, Karo Pauwels - Tournée dans d'autres salles à Lyon