The show that will mark the end of the Olympic sequence in France takes place on Sunday, September 8, at the Stade de France.
Once experimental and marginal, electronic music has “invaded the world” until the Paris Olympic Games, which will dedicate this Sunday, September 8, this French “living heritage” capable of making people dance, at the closing ceremony of the Paralympic Games the crowds.
Stade de France, Saint-Denis. In this city north of Paris, the necropolis of the kings of France, 24 DJs prepare to crown their art on mondovision during a musical and visual finale that lasts about an hour.
As a “ride of the wave” desired by Victor le Masne, the musical director of the ceremonies, these artists from different worlds will form a soundtrack of the French touch – a banner that brings together internationally recognized and exported French electro – and its currents.
“French electronic music is happening in France and in the world and I am happy that it has the place it deserves […] in a wide public event,” Valentin Brunel, stage name Kungs, who is one of those selected, tells AFP.
This musical movement has already made a prominent place during the closing ceremony of the Olympic Games on August 11, marked by performances by the group Air and Kavinsky, accompanied by the singer Angèle for a cover of the song “Nightcall”. Earlier in the evening, several tracks by the duo Justicie blared through the stadium speakers.
This Sunday, Kavinsky will be on stage again, together with a panel of recognized DJs – Martin Solveig, Cassius – or more trusted ones – such as Chloé Caillet or Tatyana Jane. All presented by Jean-Michel Jarre, master of electro at the same time, is his living memory.
1928, Martenot waves
“Electronic music was born in France and in Europe” about a century ago, recalls Jean-Michel Jarre, the heir of the composer Pierre Henry, among the pioneers of electro through concrete music, in which sound materials are subjected to experiments. In the 1920s, Maurice Martenot, musician and musicologist, sought to develop new forms of musical expression: in 1928 the ondes Martenot, one of the earliest electronic musical instruments with the Russian theremin, was born.
The evening, which will start at 20.30, will be marked by the traditional parade of athletes and their staff. Around 5,000 athletes are expected. The setup of the ceremony promises to be a bit like the opening show, more classical in its conduct, especially with the protocol speeches.
“During the first ceremony, we messed with the protocol, but it's not possible all the time,” artistic director Thomas Jolly said in comments reported exclusively by Team. And the latter admits an opening ceremony that “lacked a lot of rhythm” from an artistic point of view, “there were lengths” he admits.
The last part of the show will be dedicated to teaching Los Angeles, which hosts the Paralympic Games in 2028. Several artists and personalities with disabilities will be honored.