Place des Arts — Attraction in Montreal

Place des Arts is Canada's largest performing arts complex, situated in the heart of Montreal's Quartier des Spectacles. Since its inauguration in 1963, it has been a cornerstone of the city's cultural landscape, hosting a diverse array of performances and events.

🎭 Overview

Established: 1963, with the opening of La Grande Salle (now Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier) .

Significance: A central hub for music, dance, theatre, opera, and visual arts, attracting nearly a million visitors annually .

🏛️ Facilities

Place des Arts comprises six performance halls, each catering to different artistic disciplines:

Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier: The largest multipurpose stage in Canada, seating 2,996 patrons. It hosts operas, ballets, and large-scale concerts .

Théâtre Maisonneuve: A 1,453-seat venue named after Montreal's founder, accommodating a variety of performances including dance, music, and theatre .

Maison Symphonique: Home to the Montreal Symphony Orchestra, designed specifically for orchestral performances .

Cinquième Salle, Théâtre Jean-Duceppe, and Salle Claude-Léveillée: Smaller venues that host contemporary theatre, intimate concerts, and experimental performances.

Additionally, the complex houses the Musée d’art contemporain de Montréal, Canada's first museum dedicated to contemporary art, established in 1964 .

🌟 Cultural Impact

Place des Arts serves as the home for several prestigious arts organizations:

Montreal Symphony Orchestra

Orchestre Métropolitain

Les Grands Ballets Canadiens

Opéra de Montréal

The complex also plays a pivotal role in major cultural events, such as the Montreal International Jazz Festival, and contributes significantly to the city's economy, supporting approximately 2,000 jobs and generating $122...

🎭 Overview & History Place des Arts officially opened in 1963 to transform Montreal into a cultural capital—the initiative of Mayor Jean Drapeau. Its flagship venue, Salle Wilfrid‑Pelletier, inaugurated that year, marked the beginning of this iconic complex

🎟️ Venues & Programming Place des Arts includes six performance halls with varied capacities and purposes:

Salle Wilfrid‑Pelletier (~2,996 seats): Canada’s largest multipurpose stage, home to large-scale opera, ballet, jazz, and musicals

Maison symphonique (~2,100 seats): Acclaimed for its acoustics, home to the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal.

Théâtre Maisonneuve (~1,453 seats): Hosts dance, theatre, comedy, and chamber performances

Smaller venues include Théâtre Jean‑Duceppe (765 seats), Cinquième Salle (300–421 seats), and Salle Claude‑Léveillée (~128 seats) for more intimate or experimental shows

The programming is diverse—ranging from internationally renowned musicians and dance companies to comedy, musicals, opera, and experimental works. Place des Arts is a frequent host for high-profile festivals like the Montréal Jazz Festival, FrancoFolies, Just for Laughs, and Montreal en lumière

🌟 Esplanade & Public Space The Esplanade de la Place des Arts is a vibrant elevated plaza connecting the building’s theatres—it’s a magnet for festivals, performances, and public art installations year‑round—including live fountains in summer and winter events during Montréal en lumière and Jazz Fest

The Espace culturel Georges‑Émile‑Lapalme, at ground level and attached to Sainte-Catherine Street, features free performances, exhibits, and gatherings in a dynamic...

I was very disappointed to pay an exorbitant price for a family group of 6 people, sitting in row F and I was not able to have a full view of the stage. The woman in front of me was so tall that her head was in my way and I had to keep on moving from left to right, right to left to be able grasp the whole performance. The management of the Theatre Maisonneuve needs to consider that after 60 year since the opening of the venue, that the population of Montreal have become considerably taller and the little short seats for the petit Quebecois people are no longer viable. People do not look like Louis Cyr anymore. The seats in the Parterre needs to be adjusted so that everyone coming to enjoy the show, should be able to enjoy the show. The seats after the first row needs to be adjusted in height and so on and so forth until the end. It is not correct to pay that much and to have such a hard time. My sister who is 2 inches shorter than I am, had it even worse, as the person in front of her was even taller. I will really have to think very hard before buying any tickets to go to that venue. Modern auditoriums are much better constructed in planning and layout for seating. However, Theatre Maisonneuve only needs some cash outlay to adjust the seats. Enough $$$ are raked in to be able to accomplish...