À l'Olympia (Also called At the Olympia and Olympia Concert) was Stivell's first live album, recording at L'Olympia. It was released by Fontana in 1972.
This live concert was divided into two parts: the first acoustic folk, the second part being electric folk in a style then known as Celtic rock. The evening is a musical tour around the Celtic fringe, from Brittany northwards. It was broadcast live on one of the three radio stations in France (seven million listeners live on Radio Europe 1)[1] Alan Stivell was accompanied by Dan Ar Braz on guitar, Michel Santangelli (the future drummer for Jacques Higelin) on percussion, Gabriel Yacoub, René Werneer, Pascal Stive, Gérard Levasseur, Serj Parayre and Michaël Klec’h.
Stivell à l'Olympia sold a staggering 1,500,000 copies in just over a year (more than 2 million thereafter) and put both Stivell and Breton music on the cultural map once and for all[2]
Context and impact
1972, the year of its release, was one of radical ferment at home and abroad. The widespread revolt of May 1968 had generated a "back to the earth" movement amongst French students and intelligentsia. The entry of Britain and Ireland into the EEC was seen by radicals in Brittany as the long-awaited opportunity to bring the Celtic nations together and make the ancient dream of Celtic unity a reality. Alan Stivell was closely identified with these trends, even at times hailed as a champion of one or the other cause, but he was himself, as he often later claimed, uneasy about taking on the role of a musical freedom fighter. His deep fascination with cutting edge technology, fuelled by his early love of science fiction put him at odds with any "back to the earth" idealism. Despite the hopes he shared with many of his fellow Breton for a Celtic cultural revival and unity, he always sought to avoid being straight-jacketed by a narrow traditionalist outlook.
The electric ambience of Alan Stivell and his musicians quickly spread like wildfire in France: Stivell had just launched the first "Breton wave". Music from Brittany also became extremely popular and the song Tri Martolod, which is still playing on the radio and in our memories, became the battle flag for an entire generation.[3]
^Jim Chokey: Discography. Alan Stivell (last accessed 15 May 2013)
Sources
Jonathyne Briggs, Sounds French: Globalization, Cultural Communities, and Pop Music in France, 1958–1980, Oxford University Press, 2015, Chapter 4 "Sounds Regional: The World in Breton Folk Music" ISBN9780199377091
January 31, 2023
olympia, alan, stivell, album, olympia, also, called, olympia, olympia, concert, stivell, first, live, album, recording, olympia, released, fontana, 1972, olympialive, album, alan, stivellreleased1972recordedfebruary, 1972venuel, olympia, paris, paul, houdebin. A l Olympia Also called At the Olympia and Olympia Concert was Stivell s first live album recording at L Olympia It was released by Fontana in 1972 A l OlympiaLive album by Alan StivellReleased1972RecordedFebruary 28 1972VenueL Olympia in Paris by Paul Houdebine amp Henri LousteauGenreCeltic musicCeltic fusionCeltic rockmusic of Brittany folk musicLength42 47LabelFontana PhilipsProducerFranck GiboniAlan Stivell chronologyRenaissance of the Celtic Harp 1971 A l Olympia 1972 Chemins de Terre 1973 Contents 1 Background 1 1 Significance 1 2 Context and impact 2 Track listing 3 Personnel 3 1 Musicians 3 2 Recording 4 Discography 5 References 5 1 SourcesBackground EditSignificance Edit This live concert was divided into two parts the first acoustic folk the second part being electric folk in a style then known as Celtic rock The evening is a musical tour around the Celtic fringe from Brittany northwards It was broadcast live on one of the three radio stations in France seven million listeners live on Radio Europe 1 1 Alan Stivell was accompanied by Dan Ar Braz on guitar Michel Santangelli the future drummer for Jacques Higelin on percussion Gabriel Yacoub Rene Werneer Pascal Stive Gerard Levasseur Serj Parayre and Michael Klec h Stivell a l Olympia sold a staggering 1 500 000 copies in just over a year more than 2 million thereafter and put both Stivell and Breton music on the cultural map once and for all 2 Context and impact Edit 1972 the year of its release was one of radical ferment at home and abroad The widespread revolt of May 1968 had generated a back to the earth movement amongst French students and intelligentsia The entry of Britain and Ireland into the EEC was seen by radicals in Brittany as the long awaited opportunity to bring the Celtic nations together and make the ancient dream of Celtic unity a reality Alan Stivell was closely identified with these trends even at times hailed as a champion of one or the other cause but he was himself as he often later claimed uneasy about taking on the role of a musical freedom fighter His deep fascination with cutting edge technology fuelled by his early love of science fiction put him at odds with any back to the earth idealism Despite the hopes he shared with many of his fellow Breton for a Celtic cultural revival and unity he always sought to avoid being straight jacketed by a narrow traditionalist outlook The electric ambience of Alan Stivell and his musicians quickly spread like wildfire in France Stivell had just launched the first Breton wave Music from Brittany also became extremely popular and the song Tri Martolod which is still playing on the radio and in our memories became the battle flag for an entire generation 3 Track listing EditNo TitleLength1 The Wind of Keltia 3 422 An Dro 3 073 The trees they grow high 3 044 An Alarc h The swan 2 255 An Durzhunel The turtle dove 3 236 Telenn Gwad The Foggy Dew 3 577 Pop Plinn 3 378 Tha mi sgith 4 229 The King of the Fairies 3 2010 Tri Martolod 4 2711 Kost ar c hoad 3 5412 Suite Sudarmoricaine 3 29 Lyrics and musics are traditionals arranged by Alan Stivell except The Wind of Keltia written by Alan Stivell and Steve Waring Personnel EditMusicians Edit Alan Stivell lead vocal Celtic harp tin whistle Irish flute bombard Gabriel Yacoub guitars dulcimer banjo backing vocals Rene Werneer fiddle Pascal Stive organ Gerard Levasseur bass Henry Delagarde cello flute bombard Dan Ar Braz electric guitar Michel Santangeli 29 August 1945 30 September 2014 drums Serj Parayre percussions Mikael Klec h flute bombardRecording Edit Producer Frank Giboni for Fontana Records Engineer Paul Houdebine Engineer Assistant Henri LousteauDiscography EditSource 4 Fontana 6399 005 original French release Fontana 6325 321 France Italy Disques Dreyfus 834 289 2 French CD release of 1988 References Edit in French Frederic Jambon Stivell Les 40 ans du concert mythique ce soir a l Olympia Le Telegramme 16 fevrier 2012 CD Olympia Concert on Discovery records com Rate your music Jim Chokey Discography Alan Stivell last accessed 15 May 2013 Sources Edit Jonathyne Briggs Sounds French Globalization Cultural Communities and Pop Music in France 1958 1980 Oxford University Press 2015 Chapter 4 Sounds Regional The World in Breton Folk Music ISBN 9780199377091 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title A l 27Olympia Alan Stivell album amp oldid 1112717946, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
