Beijing

Jarre was invited to return to China in October 2004 to launch The Year of France, a cultural exchange between both States. Jarre’s history with China over the years, made him the most obvious ambassador to introduce French culture. For the concert setting, Jarre was offered the historic Forbidden City for the main part, and Tian’Anmen Square for the encore, and for those who could not see him within the walls of the Forbidden City which has limited space.

The concerts major breakthrough was the fact that the music was played live in 5.1 surround, which allowed for some impressive effects and the audience to be totally immersed in the music. Jarre deployed his entire range of artistic effects, excluding fireworks due to the invaluable wooden architecture of the magnificent ancient City. Jarre thrilled the Chinese audience with Laser Harp, Theremin, HD video and two ensembles comprised of a symphonic orchestra and a traditional Chinese orchestra accompanied Jarre who presented some spectacular arrangements of his compositions to include the particularities of traditional Chinese instruments.

Chinese national television’s broadcast went live around the country and across the globe to a record audience of over a billion.

The last part of the concert was outside the walls of the Forbidden City at the Tian-Anmen Square in front of the non-VIP audience. The concert was broadcast live on Chinese TV to more than one billion viewers, and the dvd release of the show was the first ever THX-certified concert.