Jean-Michel André Jarre (born 24 August 1948) is a French composer, performer and record producer. He is a pioneer in the electronic, ambient and new-age genres, and is known for organising outdoor spectacles featuring his music, accompanied by vast laser displays, large projections and fireworks.
Jarre was raised in Lyon by his mother and grandparents and trained on the piano. From an early age, he was introduced to a variety of art forms, including street performers, jazz musicians and the artist Pierre Soulages. But his musical style was perhaps most heavily influenced by Pierre Schaeffer, a pioneer of musique concrète at the Groupe de Recherches Musicales.
His first mainstream success was the 1976 album Oxygène. Recorded in a makeshift studio at his home, the album sold an estimated 18 million copies. Oxygène was followed in 1978 by Équinoxe, and in 1979, Jarre performed to a record-breaking audience of more than a million people at the Place de la Concorde, a record he has since broken three times. More albums were to follow, but his 1979 concert served as a blueprint for his future performances around the world. Several of his albums have been released to coincide with large-scale outdoor events.
He was the first Western musician officially invited to perform in the People's Republic of China and holds the world record for the largest-ever audience at an outdoor event for his Moscow concert on 6 September 1997, which was attended by 3.5 million people.
| Date | Audience | Place | Event | Note | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AOR Opera | |||||
| 21 October 1971 | 2,000 | Palais Garnier, France | First Jarre concert | ||
| Place de la Concorde | |||||
| 14 July 1979 | 1 million | Place de la Concorde, France | Celebrate the Bastille Day | First entry in the Guinness Book Of Records. | |
| Date | Audience | Place | Event | Note | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Concerts in China | |||||
| 21 October 1981 | 120,000 | China: Beijing | First western musician to be invited to a concert after Mao's China. | ||
| 22 October 1981 | |||||
| 26 October 1981 | China: Shanghai | ||||
| 27 October 1981 | |||||
| 29 October 1981 | |||||
| Rendez-vous Houston[1] | |||||
| 5 April 1986 | 1.5 million | US: Houston | Celebrate the 150th anniversary of Houston, Texas and the NASA 25th anniversary. | Second entry in the Guinness Book Of Records. | |
| Rendez-vous Lyon[2] | |||||
| 5 October 1986 | 800,000 | France: Lyon | The visit of Pope John Paul II to Jarre's hometown of Lyon | ||
| Destination Docklands | |||||
| 8 October 1988 | 100,000 | UK: England London Docklands | |||
| 9 October 1988 | |||||
| Destination Trocadero[3] | |||||
| 13 May 1989 | 15,000 | France: Place Du Trocadero | Celebrate the 100th anniversary of the La dame de fer local term to refer to the tower (Iron Lady). | Performance of "London Kid" from his album Revolutions with the guitarist of The Shadows, Hank Marvin under Eiffel Tower. | |
| Date | Audience | Place | Event | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paris la Defense | ||||
| 14 July 1990 | 2.5 million | France: La Défense | Celebrate the Bastille Day | Third entry in the Guinness Book Of Records. |
| Swatch the World | ||||
| 25 September 1992 | 100,000 | Switzerland: Zermatt | ||
| 26 September 1992 | ||||
| Legends of the Lost City | ||||
| 1 December 1992 | 15,000 | South Africa: Sun City | Inaugural celebration of the Palace of the Lost City, a hotel located within the Sun City resort in South Africa. | |
| 2 December 1992 | ||||
| 3 December 1992 | ||||
| Europe in Concert | ||||
| 28 July 1993 | 650,000 | France: Mont Saint-Michel | ||
| 1 August 1993 | Switzerland: Lausanne | |||
| 19 August 1993 | Hungary: Puskás Ferenc Stadion | |||
| 24 August 1993 | Belgium: Atomium | |||
| 28 August 1993 | UK: England: Wembley Stadium | |||
| 1 September 1993 | UK: England: Maine Road Stadium | |||
| 5 September 1993 | France: Marseille | |||
| 11 September 1993 | Germany: Waldbühne | |||
| 12 September 1993 | ||||
| 21 September 1993 | France: Montauban | |||
| 24 September 1993 | France: Versailles | |||
| 29 September 1993 | Spain: Santiago de Compostela | |||
| 2 October 1993 | Spain: Seville | |||
| 6 October 1993 | Spain: Barcelona | |||
| 16 October 1993 | France: Tours | |||
| Hong Kong | ||||
| 11 March 1994 | 50,000 | China: Hong Kong | Opening of a Hong Kong Stadium | A live album called Hong Kong was released later in the year, even though most of the tracks were taken from the Europe in Concert tour. |
| Concert pour la Tolérance | ||||
| 14 July 1995 | 1.25 million | France: Eiffel Tower | Celebrate the Bastille Day and UNESCO's Year for Tolerance | |
| Festa Italiana | ||||
| 10 September 1995 | 300,000 | Italy: Piazza Vittorio Veneto | Jarre performed Chronologie 4 and Rendez-Vous 4 at a show for the launch of the Brava & Bravo cars from FIAT. | |
| Wetten, dass | ||||
| 22 March 1997 | Austria: Rathausplatz, Vienna | Jarre performed Oxygène 8 as pre-launch of the Oxygène 7–13 album in the TV-show Wetten, dass..? (Wanna Bet..?) | ||
| Oxygene in Moscow | ||||
| 6 September 1997 | 3.5 million | Russia: Moscow | Jarre was invited for a concert celebrating the 850th birthday of Moscow. His largest concert to date and a VHS tape was released in the US in 1998 and NTSC DVDs were released in Brazil, Chile and USA in 2000 and Europe version in 2007. | Fourth and last entry in the Guinness Book Of Records. |
| The Twelve Dreams of the Sun | ||||
| 31 December 1999 | 120,000 | Egypt: Giza | Celebrate the then new millennium | |
| 1 January 2000 | ||||
| Date | Audience | Place | Event | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Metamorphoses Showcase | ||||
| 31 January 2000 | 400 | France: Man Ray | Promote his then new album, Métamorphoses | |
| Rendez-Vous in Space | ||||
| 1 January 2001 | 20,000 | Japan: Ginowan Seaside Park | Celebrate the beginning of the 21st century | Jarre teamed up with Tetsuya Komuro and writer Arthur C. Clarke |
| Hymn to the Akropolis | ||||
| 19 June 2001 | 15,000 | Greece: Odeon of Herodes Atticus | Raise money for the Greek organization Elpida | |
| 20 June 2001 | ||||
| Le Printemps de Bourges | ||||
| 12 April 2002 | 1,000 | France: Bourges | Printemps de Bourges | |
| AERO – Tribute to the Wind | ||||
| 7 September 2002 | 40,000 | Denmark: | ||
| Live in Beijing | ||||
| October 2004 | 15,000 | China: Forbidden City | "Year of France" cultural exchange | |
| China: Tiananmen Square | ||||
| Once Upon a Time | ||||
| 2 April 2005 | 28,000 | Denmark: Parken Stadium | Jarre performed Rendez-Vous 2 for celebration of the bicentenary of Hans Christian Andersen. | |
| Salle des Étoiles | ||||
| 6 August 2005 | 1,500 | Monaco: Sporting Monte-Carlo Casino | Casino's Summer Festival | |
| 7 August 2005 | 1,000 | |||
| Space of Freedom (Solidarnosc) | ||||
| 26 August 2005 | 170,000 | Poland: Gdańsk Shipyard | Celebrate the 25th anniversary of Lech Wałęsa's Solidarity movement | |
| LinX Live Event | ||||
| 10 September 2005 | 1,000 | Belgium: Lint | Concert for opening ceremony of Eurocam Media Centre. | Jarre performed together with: Francis Rimbert, Claude Samard, and the Symphonic Factory Orchestra and Choir. |
| Water for Life | ||||
| 16 December 2006 | 15,000 | Morocco: Merzouga | ||
| Téo & Téa showcases | ||||
| 28 March 2007 | Belgium" Lint | Showcase performance for the album Téo & Téa. | ||
| 15 April 2007 | France: Queen Club, Paris | |||
| 20 May 2007 | France: VIP Room, Cannes | |||
| Oxygene 30th Anniversary Tour | ||||
| March 2008 | ||||
| 1 March 2008 | Italy: Palazzo Del Ghiaccio | |||
| 16 March 2008 | UK: Scotland: Glasgow Royal Concert Hall | |||
| 18 March 2008 | Ireland: National Concert Hall | |||
| 19 March 2008 | ||||
| 22 March 2008 | Germany: Philharmonie | |||
| 24 March 2008 | Belgium: Royal Theatre | |||
| 25 March 2008 | Netherlands | |||
Royal Theater Carré|-|27 March 2008|UK: England: Symphony Hall, Birmingham|-|28 March 2008|UK: England: Manchester Opera House|-|30 March 2008|UK: England: Royal Albert Hall|-!colspan="5" style="background-color:#F1F3EE;"|April-May 2008|-|1 April 2008|rowspan="17"||rowspan="2"|Denmark: Falconer Salen|rowspan="17"||rowspan="17"||-|2 April 2008|-|4 April 2008|Sweden: Stockholm|-|6 April 2008|Germany: Hamburg|-|7 April 2008|Germany: Friedrichstadt-Palast|-|9 April 2008|Denmark: Musikhuset|-|10 April 2008|Denmark: Kulturcenter Limfjord|-|12 April 2008|Norway: Konserthus|-|15 April 2008|Germany: Alte Oper|-|17 April 2008|Luxembourg: Rockhal|-|21 April 2008|Spain: Liceu|-|22 April 2008|Spain: Auditorio Palacio Municipal de Congresos|-|23 April 2008|Spain: Auditorio Miguel Delibes|-|25 April 2008|Portugal: Coliseu dos Recreios|-|27 April 2008|Portugal: Coliseu do Porto|-|29 April 2008|Spain: Salamanca|-|3 May 2008|Switzerland: Hallenstadion|-!colspan="5" style="background-color:#F1F3EE;"|November-December 2008|-|5 November 2008|rowspan="15"||Italy: Gran Teatro|rowspan="15"||rowspan="15"||-|6 November 2008|Italy: Teatro Arcimboldi|-|7 November 2008|Slovenia: Hala Tivoli|-|8 November 2008|Serbia: Belgrade Arena|-|10 November 2008|Romania: Sala Polivalenta Hall|-|12 November 2008|Hungary: László Papp Budapest Sports Arena|-|13 November 2008|Czech Republic: O2 Arena|-|17 November 2008|Russia: State Kremlin Palace|-|19 November 2008|Russia: BKZ Oktyabrsky|-|21 November 2008|Russia: Grand Kremlin Palace|-|23 November 2008|Latvia: Arena Riga|-|25 November 2008|Lithuania: Seimens Arena|-|28 November 2008|Slovakia: Pasienky Sports Hall|-|29 November 2008|Slovakia: Steel Aréna|-|1 December 2008|Poland: Torwar Hall|-! colspan=5|Indoors Arena Tour |-!colspan="5" style="background-color:#F1F3EE;"|May 2009|-|4 May 2009|rowspan=18||Hungary: Főnix Hall|rowspan=18||rowspan=18||-|5 May 2009|Czech Republic: CEZ Arena|-|6 May 2009|Poland: Hala Stulecia|-|8 May 2009|Denmark: Atletion NRGi Arena|-|9 May 2009|Denmark: Hall M|-|11 May 2009|Sweden: Malmö Arena|-|12 May 2009|Sweden: Scandinavium|-|13 May 2009|Norway: Oslo Spektrum|-|14 May 2009|Sweden: Hovet|-|16 May 2009|Finland: Hartwall Arena|-|20 May 2009|UK: Scotland: Clyde Auditorium|-|22 May 2009|UK: England: Wembley Arena|-|23 May 2009|UK: England: Evening News Arena|-|24 May 2009|UK: England: National Indoor Arena|-|26 May 2009|Netherlands: Heineken Music Hall|-|27 May 2009|Belgium: Forest National|-|28 May 2009|Germany: Sporthalle Oberwerth|-|30 May 2009|Switzerland: AG Hallenstadion|-!colspan="5" style="background-color:#F1F3EE;"|March 2010|-|1 March 2010|rowspan=19||Poland: Spodek|rowspan=19||rowspan=19||-|3 March 2010|Germany: Volkswagen Halle|-|4 March 2010|Germany: Color Line Arena|-|5 March 2010|Germany: Max-Schmeling-Halle|-|6 March 2010|Germany: König-Pilsener Arena|-|9 March 2010|Germany: Porsche-Arena|-|11 March 2010|Germany: Arena Leipzig|-|12 March 2010|Germany: JAKO Arena|-|13 March 2010|Germany: Olympiahalle|-|14 March 2010|Germany: SAP Arena|-|17 March 2010|France: Patinoire Mériadeck|-|18 March 2010|France: Zenith|-|20 March 2010|France: Le Dôme|-|21 March 2010|France: Palais Nikaïa|-|23 March 2010|France: Zenith|-|24 March 2010|France: Halle Tony Garnier|-|25 March 2010|France: Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy|-|26 March 2010|France: Zenith|-|28 March 2010|Belgium: Country Hall Ethias|-!colspan="5" style="background-color:#F1F3EE;"|September 2010|-|24 May 2010|rowspan=11||Hungary: Sports Arena|rowspan=11||rowspan=11||-|26 May 2010|Czech Republic: Tipsport Arena|-|27 May 2010|Slovakia: Sibamac Arena|-|30 May 2010|Greece: The Earth Theater|-|1 June 2010|Greece: Faliro Pavilion|-|3 June 2010|Romania: Sala Polivalenta|-|15 June 2010|Turkey: Turkcell Kurucesme Arena|-|31 July 2010|Spain: Plaza del Obradoiro|-|28 August 2010|Norway: Akershus Fortress (as closing artist of the Festningen 2010 Festival, included fireworks)|-|18 September 2010|Lebanon: Beirut Souks|-|30 September 2010|France: Le Grand Hall|-!colspan="5" style="background-color:#F1F3EE;"|October-November 2010|-|3 October 2010|rowspan=18||UK: Scotland: Braehead Arena|rowspan=18||rowspan=18||-|4 October 2010|Ireland: 3Arena|-|6 October 2010|UK: Wales: Cardiff International Arena|-|8 October 2010|UK: England: NIA Academy|-|9 October 2010|UK: England: Manchester Arena|-|10 October 2010|UK: England: The O2 Arena|-|13 October 2010|France: Zénith d'Auvergne|-|14 October 2010|France: Zénith|-|15 October 2010|France: Zénith Grand Quevilly|-|16 October 2010|France: Zénith de Lille|-|4 November 2010|France: Halle Tony Garnier|-|5 November 2010|Switzerland: Geneva Arena|-|6 November 2010|France: Amphitheatre Le Galaxie|-|7 November 2010|France: Zénith|-|11 November 2010|Poland: Ergo Arena|-|13 November 2010|Poland: Orlen Arena|-|14 November 2010|Poland: Hala Stulecia|-|15 November 2010|Poland: Hala Podpromie|-!colspan="5" style="background-color:#F1F3EE;"|November-December 2010|-|24 November 2010|rowspan=11||France: Parc De Penfeld|rowspan=11||rowspan=11||-|25 November 2010|France: Zenith|-|26 November 2010|France: Zenith|-|27 November 2010|Netherlands: Rotterdam Ahoy|-|1 December 2010|France: Millesium|-|2 December 2010|France: Zenith|-|3 December 2010|Belgium: Sportpaleis|-|8 December 2010|France: Zenith|-|9 December 2010|France: Zenith|-|10 December 2010|France: Zenith|-|11 December 2010|France: Zenith|-!colspan="5" style="background-color:#F1F3EE;"|May-October 2011|-|29 May 2011|rowspan=13||Denmark: Jelling|rowspan=13||rowspan=13||-|9 October 2011|Bulgaria: Arena Sofia sports hall|-|10 October 2011|Serbia: Arena Beograd|-|11 October 2011|Croatia: Zagrebačka Arena|-|14 October 2011|Ukraine: Palace of Sports|-|16 October 2011|Lithuania: Zalgirio Arena|-|18 October 2011|Russia: Crocus City Hall|-|20 October 2011|Russia: Ice Palace|-|22 October 2011|Finland: HK Areena|-|25 October 2011|Sweden: Hovet|-|26 October 2011|Norway: Spectrum|-|28 October 2011|Norway: Vestlandshallen|-|31 October 2011|Germany: Festhalle Frankfurt|-!colspan="5" style="background-color:#F1F3EE;"|November 2011|-|1 November 2011|rowspan=16||Germany: TUI Arena|rowspan=16||rowspan=16||-|3 November 2011|Germany: O2 World|-|4 November 2011|Germany: Westfalenhalle|-|5 November 2011|Germany: Lanxessarena|-|7 November 2011|Germany: Messehalle|-|8 November 2011|Germany: O2 World|-|9 November 2011|Germany: Messehalle|-|10 November 2011|Germany: Arena|-|12 November 2011|Czech Republic: Hala Rondo|-|13 November 2011|Poland: Spodek|-|14 November 2011|Poland: Torwar|-|15 November 2011|Poland: Hala Łuczniczka|-|17 November 2011|Austria: Stadthalle|-|18 November 2011|Austria: Stadthalle|-|19 November 2011|Germany: Olympiahalle|-|20 November 2011|Switzerland: AG Hallenstadion|}
| Date | Audience | Place | Event | Note | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Live in Monaco[4] | |||||
| 1 July 2011 | 85.000 | Port Hercules, Monaco | Celebrate the Wedding of Albert II and Charlene Wittstock | ||
| Warsaw[5] | |||||
| 9 October 2012 | Warsaw, Poland | ||||
| Festival International de Carthage[6] | |||||
| 12 August 2013 | Carthage, Tunisia | ||||
| Galactica Opening[7] | |||||
| 20 December 2013 | Sochi, Russia | Invite-only event for the opening of the "Galactica" center. | |||
| The Green Concert[8] | |||||
| 23 September 2018 | Riyadh, Saudi Arabia | Celebrate the Saudi National Day | |||
| Date | Audience | Place | Event | Note | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Azimuth Festival | |||||
| 6 March 2020 | Saudi Arabia, Al-'Ula | ||||
| VRChat | |||||
| 21 June 2020 | France: Paris | ||||
| Welcome to the Other Side (VR concert) | |||||
| 31 December 2020 | France: Notre-Dame | ||||
| Versailles 400 (Mixed Reality concert) | |||||
| 25 December 2023 | France: Hall of Mirrors, Palace of Versailles | 400th anniversary of the Château de Versailles | |||
| Bridge from the Future | |||||
| 12 May 2024 | 100.000 | Slovakia: Incheba Expo, Bratislava | Opening the Starmus Festival | Guest: Brian May | |