The Musée de la Musique (Tues–Sat noon–6pm, Sun 10am–6pm; €6.10; M° Porte-de-Pantin) presents the history of music from the end of the Renaissance to the present day, both visually, exhibiting some 4500 instruments, and aurally, via headsets (available in English; free) and interactive displays. Glass case after glass case hold gleaming, beautiful instruments – jewel-inlaid, crystal flutes and a fabulous lyre-guitar, all made in Paris in the early 1800s, are some impressive examples. The instruments are presented in the context of a key work in the history of Western music: as you step past each case, the headphones are programmed to emit a short scholarly narration, followed by a delightful concert. It's a truly transporting – and educational – experience to gaze at the grouping of harps, made in Paris between 1760 and 1900, and hear an excerpt of music as heavenly as the instruments you're looking at.The museum also includes an auditorium, where regular concerts are held, in addition to a huge archive of documents and sound recordings, and spaces for workshops, films and audiovisuals.
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