Jean-Michel Jarre has curated an intergenerational concert, taking place in the courtyard of The Elysée Palace in Paris, as part of the Fête de la Musique Festival on Monday, June 21. It comes on the same day he will be awarded the insignia of Commander to the Legion of Honour by the President of the Republic Emmanuel Macron; The Legion of Honour is the highest French order of merit, both military and civil.
The concert will feature Irène Dresel, NSDOS, Cerrone, Glitter and Jean-Michel Jarre himself. Starting at 19:45 CET, the event will offer 200 young Culture Pass holders the chance to share a collective (COVID-secure) experience celebrating the diversity and heritage of French electronic music. Fans from around the world will be able to join the action live as it streams across social platforms including TikTok and YouTube.
Fête de la Musique was created by the French Ministry of Culture in 1982 and always falls on a significant date – June 21, marking the summer solstice. The event is made up of a series of free concerts that fill the streets of Paris with music. Since its creation, it has become an international phenomenon with 120 cities worldwide celebrating the day of music. The 2021 edition is more poignant than ever, as we welcome live music back into spaces which have been quiet for so long.
Jean-Michel Jarre said: “I am incredibly excited and honoured to be playing in such a unique and revered location. As we celebrate an international day of music together, it is my hope that we are seeing light at the end of this tunnel.”
The French composer, performer, producer, visionary, innovator, cultural ambassador Jean-Michel Jarre is recognised worldwide as one of the pioneers of electronic music. His innovative approach to the visual and highly technological staging of electronic music has paved the way for this culture to flourish worldwide through renowned festivals.
His current catalogue, which includes 21 studio albums, has generated sales of more than 85 million albums worldwide. Jarre has also set records in the Guinness Book of Records through the exceptional participation of the public at his concerts in several emblematic sites around the world: 1m Place de la Concorde (1979), 1.3m Houston, Texas (1986), 2.5m Paris-La Défense (1990), 3.5m Moscow (1997). Throughout his career Jarre played some of the most exciting landmarks around the globe: He was the first western musician ever to be invited to perform in post-Mao China, and has also played the likes of the Great Pyramids in Egypt, The Sahara Desert, The Eiffel Tower and the Dead Sea. At the start of 2021, he live-streamed a performance from a virtual reality Notre Dame, which drew a record-smashing global audience of over 75 million viewers.
In 2017 Jarre was nominated for a prestigious GRAMMY Award for his album project Electronica featuring collaborations with Pete Townshend, Moby, Air, Armin van Buuren, 3D/ Massive Attack, Hans Zimmer, Edward Snowden and Lang Lang. The highly acclaimed album project turned into a spectacular global live tour, ending in his performance at the U.S.’s Coachella festival.
Jarre has long been UNESCO’s ambassador for education, science and culture, an unconditional defender of the environment and winner of the Stephen Hawking Medal for scientific communication.
JEAN-MICHEL JARRE is synonymous with the legendary as he continues to break new ground with each piece of music and live performance. With technology at the forefront of everything we do, Jarre quotes today as “the most exciting time to make music.”
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