During the opening of the Olympic Games orchestrated by Thomas Jolly, Félicien Brut was the virtuoso accordionist angel at the top of the Austerlitz Bridge. He looks back on this experience, as crazy as it is unusual, before his concert on October 5, 2024 at Rok in Panazol.
Céline Dion closed the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games Félicien Brut launched it, as an accordion angel at the top of the Austerlitz bridge in Paris, playing in the first sequence The Crowd d’Edith Piaf.
The strap piano virtuoso looks back on this crazy experience. He also presents the concert he will give in Panazol, between musette and classical music, this crossover being his great specialty.
What do you remember about your role in the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games?
It was very strong, very moving. We prepared this sequence for months. In addition, it had to be kept secret. This added to the tension of waiting, to the excitement.
How did you work on this sequence?
I loved working with Thomas Jolly and his team, because of their inventiveness, their immense talent, coupled with their great kindness.
With Thomas Jolly, we wrote to each other, we spoke to each other, a year before. He wanted the accordion as a symbol of Paris. Obviously, I knew that we would avoid any clichés. I worked with the musical director, Victor Le Masne, in the studio and in Paris. This took time because incredible technical constraints had to be taken into account.
An accordion is heavy. How did you handle it at the top of the bridge?
I cheated! I didn’t use my concert accordion but that of my sister who plays as an amateur. It is lighter.
Were you afraid?
Yes and, what’s more, I’m afraid of heights! But it was very secure. I was harnessed and accompanied by a rope access technician.
Félicien Brut, the child of Sancy, lit up the opening ceremony of the Paris Games
I felt very alone up there with my rope access technician. We watched the blue-white-red fireworks, with the feeling of being alone in the world. There were no cameras. The cameramen were in helicopters or on rooftops. So it felt like we had these fireworks all to ourselves. A crazy moment!
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What are your links with Limousin, land of the accordion.
First of all, neighborhood ties since I was born in Auvergne in the Massif du Sancy, near Bourboule, therefore next to Corrèze. I started playing the accordion and the musette at six years old. So my parents took me to buy my instrument at Maugein in Tulle. Unfortunately, this manufacturer has just closed.
The Maugein accordion factory placed in liquidation in Tulle
Placed in fact in compulsory liquidation.
What a loss! How sad! What a regret! It was a legendary brand. But many other manufacturers of this instrument have closed. Accordion manufacturing has become globalized. It was very difficult for these artisanal companies to be able to follow the demands of this market.
I am also sad for the workers. They are passionate. At one point, they even went undercover to save the company. I hope that this heritage will continue to exist in another way. I still have Maugein accordions myself.
You don’t play with an accordion of this brand?
Maugein is for the bag. I play with a concert accordion. The particularity of this instrument is to have two keyboards, one for the pre-imposed chords, the other for the melody. Mine was made in Italy for mechanics. The musical part is the work of my luthier, Stéphanie Simon, based near Bourges (Cher).
What do you like about the musette that you defend, while being a classical virtuoso?
I started there. I like the atmosphere, ball, party, meeting. It also has a wonderful repertoire, especially the musette from the first half of the 20th century, with composers like Tony Murena, Gus Viseur, Jo Privat, among others… After the Second World War, the musette became, let’s say, more commercial, less neat.
He can be very virtuoso.
Sometimes.
Other links with Limousin?
I often played at the Nuits de Nacre in Tulles. Last year, I performed for the first time at the Limoges Opera. I have already come to play at Panazol.
Have you visited the recently opened Cité de l’accordéon in Tulle?
Not yet, unfortunately. But I saw pictures. I’m sure it’s a great place.
We visited the City of the Accordion and Heritage of Tulle for you
What will you play in Panazol?
I offer a solo recital on the theme of Paris, with transcriptions of classical music and original pieces for accordion.
Panazol. Le Rok, Saturday October 5, 7 p.m., 15 and 10 euros, free up to 11 years old – reservations 05.55.06.47.91.
After the Félicien Brut concert, a ball is hosted by Mathieu Martinie and his four musicians. An exhibition on Maugein accordions is associated with the evening.
Muriel Porridge
