A salon is an intimate, intellectually vibrant gathering where people come together to exchange bold ideas, challenge conventions, and revel in culture. Unlike formal lectures or academic panels, salons are conversational by nature — blending performance, discussion, and debate in an atmosphere that’s both stimulating and social. Born in the living rooms of infamous women, salons thrive on curiosity, wit, and the joy of shared discovery. Whether sparked by a piece of music, a provocative question, or a historical scandal, the heart of the salon is dialogue — and the freedom to follow wherever it leads.
From Forbidden Affairs to Fistfights in the Pit — The truth behind classical music. Only at Salon BRAVISSIMO!
Salons were hosted by prominent, educated women in their private homes. It was a rare chance for a woman to be both in control and have some freedom of expression in the male-dominated world and to be at the epicenter of the exchange of important ideas.
The most well-known French salonista pioneer was Madeleine de Scudéry. Known for creating her own ideal of a feminist utopia within her salon, she strictly forbade romantic and sexual love, as she herself was devoutly celibate.
What was extraordinary about the earlier 18th Century salons in France is that they brought people from different economic classes together (unlike, say, the court at Versailles which was just the very fanciest people, the nobility) and let them exchange ideas openly in a safe.
Salon BRAVISSIMO!, is dedicated to uncovering the untold, dramatic, and often outrageous stories behind classical music’s most iconic figures — bringing history to life through curiosity, conversation, and a touch of irreverence.
Tickets: Suggested donation $15 at the door, cash or card accepted
BRAVISSIMO! Members get 10% off drinks at A21, just flash your card!
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