The Concerts in China (concert)

The Concerts in China refers primarily to the 1981 tour of the People's Republic of China by the French electronic musician Jean-Michel Jarre. This series of concerts, held in Beijing and Shanghai, was a landmark event, marking one of the first times a Western artist, and especially one involved in electronic music, performed on such a large scale within China after the Cultural Revolution.

The concerts were notable for several reasons:

• Cultural Significance: They represented a significant shift in China's openness to Western culture and artistic expression.
• Logistical Challenges: Organizing and executing the concerts in China at that time presented considerable logistical challenges due to limited infrastructure and resources.
• Music's Impact: Jarre's electronic music, a relatively new genre for the Chinese audience, was generally well-received and introduced many to a new form of artistic expression.
• Album Release: The tour was documented in a double album, also titled The Concerts in China, which features live recordings of the performances. This album further cemented the significance of the event in music history.

The Concerts in China tour and album are often cited as a pivotal moment in both Jean-Michel Jarre's career and in the broader cultural exchange between the West and China. It helped pave the way for other international artists to perform in China and contributed to the country's growing engagement with global culture. The album itself offers a sonic snapshot of the tour, including specific tracks dedicated to locations within China. The album has been re-released in various formats over the years, continuing to reach new audiences.