Gay Paris! Olympic Music from the City of Light - June 15, 2024

The countdown to the 2024 Olympic games has begun! Atlanta Freedom Bands takes you on a musical journey to the City of Light. We will take in the sights and sounds of this summer's Olympic Games in Paris. Our Olympic celebration includes music by French composers for band and orchestra along with pieces celebrating sport and competition.

The program features several pieces never before heard in Atlanta along with some favorites you are sure to recognize. As a special treat, our guest vocalist Rachelle Barr will transport you to the romantic days of French cabaret with songs made popular by Edith Piaf.

Francophiles and fans of great music will enjoy this unique program that connects this summer's games to our city's Olympic legacy.

The program features:

"La Marseillaise" by Rouget de Lisle
"Ave Maria" by Jacques Arcadelt
"Andante and Allegro" for Oboe and Band by Charles Lefebvre
"Cinquantieme" (Ouverture) by Serge Lancen
"Meditation" from Thaïs by Jules Massenet
"Danse des Sauvages" from Les Indes galantes by Jean-Phillipe Rameau
Three Cabaret Pieces as sung by Edith Piaf by Olivier Fourgeres -
1. Milord
2. La Vie en Rose
3. Padam Padam
"European Opening" by Mickey Nicolas
"The Olympics: A Centennial Celebration" by Leo Arnaud and John Williams
"Theme from Moulin Rouge" by Georges Auric
"Semper Incendendo" by Matthew Cline (Resident Student Composer)
"Les Patineurs" (The Skaters' Waltz) by Emile Waldteufel
"Rise" by Rossano Galante
"Overture to Orpheus in the Underworld" by Jacques Offenbach

“Gay Paris!” is supported in part by the City of Atlanta – Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs. Funding for this program is also provided by the Fulton County Board of Commissioners under the guidance of Fulton County Arts & Culture. This program is supported in part by Georgia Council for the Arts through the appropriations of the Georgia General Assembly. Georgia Council for the Arts also receives support from its partner agency – the National Endowment for the Arts.