For the first time, electronic music filled the Cour d’honneur courtyard of the Elysée presidential palace in Paris, on Monday night, June 21; Jean-Michel Jarre brought together an inter-generational stage, performing to an audience of young Culture Pass holders, as part of the Fête de la Musique festival.
Irène Dresel, Glitter, Cerrone and NSDOS followed one another on stage before Jarre closed the evening. Strict sanitary measures did not prevent an electrifying atmosphere as live music returned to the city. The event was streamed live across social networks, attracting a global audience.
View Jean-Michel Jarre’s performance here: https://youtu.be/cvVnEcXx54A
Earlier in the day, Jean-Michel Jarre was awarded the insignia of Commander to the Legion of Honour by the President of the Republic; The Legion of Honour is the highest French order of merit, both military and civil.
Jean-Michel Jarre said: “After so long apart, it was wonderful to spend a special evening with a real-life audience. We shared these good vibes with everyone around the world via the livestream, and I know we will all be together again soon. Thank you to all the artists who performed, it was a night I will never forget.”
The French composer, performer, producer, visionary, innovator, cultural ambassador Jean-Michel Jarre is recognized 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 (Pete Townshend, Moby, Air, Armin van Buuren, 3D/ Massive Attack, Hans Zimmer, Edward Snowden, Lang Lang…). The highly acclaimed album project turned into a spectacular global live tour, ending in his performance at 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”.
