In 1981 Jean Michel Jarre was invited by the Chinese government to become the first western musician to perform in the People’s Republic of China. Performing 5 concerts in Beijing and Shanghai the tour encountered numerous problems including arriving at an arena to find only one power socket and having to buy back concert tickets from stone-faced VIPs and redistribute them free to the Chinese public. October 2004 and Jarre returns to Beijing with 70 tonnes of equipment to open China’s "Year of France" cultural exchange with an outdoor concert. Choosing a picturesque location at Wumen Gate in the Forbidden City, Jarre performed with both modern and traditional Chinese Orchestras, choir, opera singers, and several guest musicians including Chen Lin, and guitarist Patrick Rondat. Jarre was prevented from performing with China’s Cui Jian whose songs were sung by student demonstrators in 1989. Filmed in high definition and presented in 5.1 DTS and Dolby Digital surround sound (both at the concert and on DVD) the complete concert is presented. It looks and sounds fantastic, in no small part due to the THX mastering, a first for a music DVD. Jarre makes extensive use of new photographic projections on giant 3D inflatable screens, the laser harp, Theremin, and midi flute. The music is varied but would have benefited from band musicians on stage as the music sounds all too similar to the recent "Aero" album apart from some Chinese instrumentation. Jarre looks lonely on stage and recounts a similar track listing from the last 8 years. Highlights include "Voyage to Beijing" as well as the essential "Souvenir of China" and a highly orchestrated "Rendez Vous 2." Straight after the concert in the Forbidden City, Jarre travels by motorbike through the audience to Tian’anmen Sqaure where he played a small number of songs to the expectant Chinese crowd. A great idea to play a second concert, but a missed opportunity to play some better tracks like "Eldorado" or "Chronologie 4." Instead of remaking Edith Piaf’s "La Foule" in Chinese, a better choice might have an adaptation of Jarre’s own "C’est La Vie."
The package includes a photo gallery and commentary from the composer. The making-of documentary is the icing on the cake, showing how hands-on Jarre is with all aspects of production, from trimming some trees to the lighting design. The included live CD album doesn’t add anything for those who have already bought the Aero album. Jarre’s work deserves to be on the DVD format and this is a highly presented premiere from a special event. --Colin Neal
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