Jean-Michel Jarre - Live In Bratislava Jean-Michel Jarre

On 12 May 2024, Jean-Michel Jarre and special guest Sir Brian May electrified the Bratislava skies with ‘Bridge from the Future, ’the opening concert of the seventh edition of the Startmus Festival. The live performance of 22 tracks took place against the breathtaking backdrop of the SNP Bridge (UFO Bridge).

During the afternoon, as the audience were congregating around the Danube from throughout the city, they were welcomed by a brand new composition titled 'Bridge from the future- Live in Bratislava'. The music was specially created by Jarre specifically for this event, where real sounds of the stars were weaved into the soundscape, inviting the audience to consider our position on Earth within the cosmos, and the future of our home planet, reflecting the theme of this year’s edition of STARMUS Festival. The track is exclusively available on the blue 10" vinyl as part of the deluxe box set.

The staggering production featured exquisitely choreographed architectural light and laser displays which were visible from three different countries including Austria and Hungary. A mesmerising 400-drone ballet painted the night sky with a supernova-like display, while fireworks punctuated the musical score. The stage included two towering turrets at over 30 metres tall, perfectly framing the UFO bridge behind it, which itself was adorned with lights and lasers. Jarre designed the entire visual element himself, conceiving it as a score to the music.

The concert in Bratislava represented the culmination of Jarre’s artistic vision, honed meticulously since he pioneered the concept of large-scale open-air events spanning entire cities, from Houston to Moscow and beyond. With this show in Bratislava, he continues to surpass himself, showcasing how he adeptly harnesses the latest technology to push the boundaries of live performance and entertainment.

Among the concert’s repertoire of 22 musical works spanning Jean-Michel Jarre’s career was a remarkable new arrangement of Antonín Dvořák’s ‘New World Symphony’. Rearranged by Jean-Michel Jarre and Brian May, this rendition marked an historic first-time collaboration between the iconic musicians. Each brought their individual musical backgrounds and histories to the table, converging to create a singularly distinctive performance, firmly focused on the future. Brian May also performed with Jarre on newly adapted works ‘Bratislava Time’ and ‘Rendez-vous Bratislava’. Jarre was also accompanied on stage by his backing band featuring longstanding accomplice Claude Samard and newcomer British musician Adiescar Chase who played among other instruments the violin, bass guitar and didgeridoo. They were also joined by members of the Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra and a 19- piece chorus from the Slovak Philharmonic Choir.

The mammoth set, designed by Jarre, was constructed over a period of a month by a team of over 100 people working day and night, including hundreds of kilometres of cables, 21 screens, 150 lighting projectors and over 170 tonnes of staging equipment. It was the largest stage ever constructed in Slovakia. In an environmentally responsible approach and to offset its carbon impact, the production has also committed to the preservation and sustainable management of over 150 years of pan-European forests, notably in Slovakia.