Every self-respecting Frenchman is a master of the art of criticism. Parisians even have the reputation of being champions in this field, as it is well known that “J’aime rien, je suis parisien” (‘I don’t like anything, I’m Parisian’). The famous opening ceremony was therefore awaited with posed detachment before arousing enthusiasm and joy, the last note of music heard. Céline Dion brought an emotional close to an event where diversity and celebration seemed to be the watchwords.

It came as no surprise that Thomas Jolly, a well-known theatre and opera director, had not forgotten classical music, though his strong presence was a surprise. Throughout the parade, music lovers recognised the familiar tunes of Saint-Saëns, Ravel and Offenbach in a surprising and explosive mix of genres. Everyone will remember Gojira‘s hard rock accompaniment to a revolutionary Carmen sung by Swiss mezzo Marina Viotti. Jakub Józef Orliński, break dancer and superb countertenor, created a surprise by performing ‘Viens Hymen’, from Rameau’s Indes Galantes usually sung by a soprano.

The Orchestre National de France conducted by Cristian Măcelaru was also in the spotlight, as were the star dancers of the Paris Opera Ballet, Germain Louvet and Guillaume Diop, who performed an unforgettable solo over the rooftops of Paris. Alexandre Kantorow, a super-talented young pianist, played Maurice Ravel’s Jeux d’eau in the pouring rain, looking like nothing!

But the image that the whole world will remember forever is that of French mezzo Axelle Saint-Cirel draped in the blue-white-red flag, proudly posed at the very top of the Grand Palais. The 2023 winner of the Concours des Voix des Outre-mer performed Rouget de Lisle’s La Marseillaise in a gentle version arranged by Victor Le Masne (the evening’s music coordinator), in a moment of appeasement and universalism where the communion of peoples was also based on music. 

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Axelle Saint Cirel © AFP

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