Jarre in China - Forbidden City 2004

Jarre in China – CD + DVD Set

Jarre in China is a live album by Jean-Michel Jarre, released in 2004. Recorded during two monumental concerts in Beijing’s Forbidden City and on Tiananmen Square, the album captures a historic moment in music history. More than twenty years after his pioneering 1981 tour in China, Jarre returned as the first Western artist to stage such large-scale electronic performances in these iconic locations.

Background

Jean-Michel Jarre first performed in China in 1981, introducing electronic music to a new audience with a groundbreaking series of concerts in Shanghai. His return in 2004 symbolized not only a continuation of this cultural exchange but also a celebration of China’s evolving openness to international music. The shows combined modern electronic soundscapes with traditional Chinese elements, creating a unique blend of East and West.

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Jarre in China Album Cover

The Music of Jarre in China

Classic Works and New Compositions

The album presents a carefully curated selection of Jarre’s most beloved compositions alongside newer material. Timeless tracks such as Oxygène 4, Équinoxe 4, and Chronologie 6 are reinterpreted with fresh arrangements, while more recent pieces like Aero add a contemporary edge. Several compositions were adapted exclusively for the concerts, making the release a distinctive entry in Jarre’s discography.

Style and Soundscape

As with much of Jarre’s work, the music is characterized by sweeping synthesizer layers, hypnotic rhythms, and atmospheric sound design. In Jarre in China, this electronic foundation is enriched by subtle influences from Chinese musical traditions, underlining the cultural dialogue at the heart of the event.

The Complete CD + DVD Set

The Jarre in China set is a collector’s edition capturing the historic 2004 concerts in Beijing. It contains:

• Audio CD – Featuring live recordings of selected tracks from the concerts, including classics like Oxygène 2, Oxygène 4, Équinoxe 4, and newer compositions such as Aero. The CD runs approximately 56 minutes and showcases the reinterpretation of Jarre’s music for the Beijing audience.
• DVD 1 – Forbidden City: The Complete Concert – This DVD presents the full Forbidden City performance with 19 tracks and a total duration of about 105 minutes. The visuals include Jarre’s signature lasers, projections, and lighting designs, fully capturing the immersive experience of the concert.
• DVD 2 – Tian’anmen Square: The Complete Concert – Covers the Tian’anmen Square performance, a shorter set of 5 tracks with a total duration of around 22 minutes. This DVD shows Jarre performing in front of one of the world’s most iconic public spaces, with carefully arranged live versions of his compositions.

Experience of the concert

The set offers a comprehensive audiovisual experience of the concerts, combining high-quality live audio, full concert footage, and stunning visuals. It is the official release of the Beijing concerts, giving fans and collectors an authentic record of these historic performances.

Curious about the iconic instruments Jarre has used?
Visit the Instruments page now!

Jarre in China Live Set

Visual Spectacle of Jarre in China

Lights, Lasers, and Architecture

The concerts were as much a visual experience as a musical one. Jarre transformed the Forbidden City and Tian’anmen Square into vast multimedia stages with spectacular laser shows, giant projections, and intricate lighting designs. Ancient architecture became a backdrop for futuristic visuals, turning the performances into an immersive experience that fused history with modernity.

Symbolism

This interplay between past and present underscores Jarre’s vision of music as a universal language. By performing electronic concerts in such culturally significant locations, he emphasized the power of art to bridge eras and nations.

Jarre in China Album Set Tracklist

Here is the tracklist and playing time for the complete CD/DVD set:

Discover the Album on Spotify and YouTube

A historic live performance by Jean-Michel Jarre in Beijing

Instruments Used on the Album Set Jarre in China Live

Jean-Michel Jarre’s ‘Jarre in China – Forbidden City’ captured the full spectacle of his 2004 Beijing concerts, combining iconic analog synthesizers, cutting-edge digital technology, and live orchestral and traditional Chinese instrumentation. This set highlights the key instruments and equipment that brought these historic performances to life.

Instruments and Equipment

• Moog Synthesizers (including the Minimoog): Renowned for their warm, analog sound, Moog synths are a staple of Jarre’s signature style.
• Laser Harp: Both visually striking and musically functional, featured on tracks like Oxygène 2 and Équinoxe 4.
• Theremin: One of Jarre’s visual and musical icons, used for live effects and its distinctive gliding melodies.
• ARP 2600: A semi-modular synthesizer used for experimental textures and unique sound effects.
• Yamaha CS-80: Famous for its expressive polyphonic sounds, the CS-80 is a cornerstone of Jarre’s live performances.
• Roland JP-8000: Known for its powerful supersaw sounds and rich analog modeling, frequently used for thick pads and leads.
• Korg MS-20: Iconic for its flexible filters and gritty analog tones, often used for basslines and effects.
• Samplers and Digital Effects: Used for live soundscapes, dynamic transitions, and layering complex textures.
• Sequencers and MIDI Controllers: Essential for driving rhythmic patterns and melodic sequences in real time.

Forbidden City Concert

Supporting Musicians

• Francis Rimbert (Keyboards/Synths) – Ondersteunde met diverse synthesizers en live sequencing.
• Patrick Rondat (Guitar) – Speelde elektrische gitaar op geselecteerde nummers, waaronder Chronologie 6 en Rendez-Vous 4.
• Claude Samard (Guitar/Arrangement) – Bijzondere arrangementen en live gitaarpartijen.

Orchestral and Traditional Elements

• Beijing Symphony Orchestra (~85 musici) – Strings, winds, brass; zorgden voor een symfonisch geluid bovenop Jarre’s elektronische lagen.
• Chinese National Orchestra (~65 musici) – Traditionele Chinese instrumenten, waaronder Chinese percussion, gongs, flutes, erhu; deze gaven het concert een unieke Oost-West mix.
• National Opera House Choir (~60 zangers) – Koorarrangementen versterkten tracks zoals Fishing Junks at Sunset en Souvenir of China.

Other Key Instruments & Equipment

• Samplers & MIDI Controllers – Voor live triggering van backing tracks en orchestrale samples.
• Percussion – Elektronisch en akoestisch, inclusief Chinese drums en traditionele percussie.

Curious about the iconic instruments Jarre has used?
Visit the Instruments page now!

Reception of Jarre in China

The album and DVD set were widely praised for their ambitious scale and innovative blend of East and West. Fans and critics recognized it as a milestone that reaffirmed Jarre’s role as a pioneer of electronic music on the global stage.

Historical Impact of This Concert

Jarre in China stands as a landmark in Jean-Michel Jarre’s career. Beyond a live recording, it is a cultural statement that reflects his lifelong mission to unite music, technology, and visual art. By returning to China after more than twenty years, Jarre not only celebrated his legacy but also demonstrated the enduring universality of electronic music.

Want to explore all of Jean-Michel Jarre’s albums?
Visit the discography page.

Discover more on the Jean-Michel Jarre Homepage or:

• Jean-Michel Jarre Music Page
• JMJ Instruments Page
• Biography of Jean-Michel Jarre

Jarre in China – Forbidden City