In an innovative holiday event, French composer and performer Jean-Michel Jarre is poised to captivate audiences with a performance that blends the physical and virtual realms.
Dubbed “Versailles 400,” the spectacle is a collaborative effort between UNESCO and the French Ministry of Culture. It serves as both a Christmas celebration and a commemoration of the 400th anniversary of the Château de Versailles. The grand Baroque-style Hall of Mirrors — a UNESCO world heritage site — will host the event on December 25.
During the hour-long live performance, Jean-Michel Jarre will don a virtual reality (VR) headset, enabling him to simultaneously perform in the metaverse. The digital replica of the Hall of Mirrors will serve as the virtual venue, with the artist taking center stage as an avatar.
This metaverse performance opens up an opportunity for fans to participate in the show remotely, connecting through their smartphones or tablets.
This marks Jarre’s second foray into integrating Web3 technology into his performances. In 2021, amidst the Covid-19 pandemic, he leveraged this technology for a New Year’s Eve performance at the historic Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, attracting an online audience of over 75 million.
Jarre’s embrace of Web3 aligns with a broader trend in the music industry. Recently, iconic rock band Kiss hinted at a metaverse breakthrough, transforming into avatars using Industrial Light & Magic’s technology. The revelation also introduced a digital pass, offering exclusive perks for devoted fans, exemplifying the evolving and immersive ways artists connect with their audience.
