The Sainte-Chapelle (Sainte

Text and photos by Chen Chi-Hsiang. Last night, I was honored to attend a classical ensemble concert at Paris’s most exquisite and beautiful venue, the Sainte-Chapelle. The group consisted of six musicians—four violinists, one viola, and one violist—who are all members of the Paris Symphony Orchestra, the Paris Opera Ballet Orchestra, and the Radio France Philharmonic Orchestra.

The repertoire included Brahms’ Hungarian Dances, Bartók’s Romanian Dances, Shostakovich’s Waltz No. 2, Strauss’ Roses from the South, as well as famous works by Tchaikovsky, Monti, and Dvorák. This was my first time attending a concert at the Sainte-Chapelle in thirty years. Listening to music in this historic site, nearly nine hundred years old and a World Heritage landmark, within the space of France’s most beautiful building featuring its largest stained-glass rose window, offered an exceptional acoustic experience—a true delight.

I was immersed in the harmonious and uplifting rhythms of the dance pieces, my heart dancing along with the light, fast-paced melodies, making it a wonderful evening. On the way back, I strolled along the Seine River in the cool, comfortable breeze toward the subway station. It was an unforgettable concert; I drifted into dreams still carried by these beautiful melodies.