On This Day | Jean-Michel Jarre spectacular fizzles but does not bang during 1994 reopening of Hong Kong Stadium – from the SCMP archive
- On the 30th anniversary of Jean-Michel Jarre’s performance during the reopening night of the Hong Kong Stadium, we look at how the Post covered the event on March 11, 1994
French musician Jean-Michel Jarre performed at the opening ceremony of the Hong Kong Stadium in So Kon Po. We look at the Post’s coverage of the performance, its reception and the aftermath in the days that followed.
Razzle, dazzle: what a fizzle
Thousands of disappointed people voted Jean-Michel Jarre’s promised laser, light, firework and musical spectacular a fizzler and many walked out on the French star.
While those who stayed until the end gave him a warm round of applause, others thought the HK$11 million cost of flying Jarre and his vast technical crew and laser and light show to Hong Kong was money ill-spent.
And the no-show of Canto-pop star Anita Mui was another blow for fans and organisers.
According to an Urban Council spokesman, TVB announced at the last minute that Mui would not be performing because of the contractual restrictions laid down by Jarre.
Instead she will be part of the TVB event to be held at the stadium the next day.
The three-hour show on opening night included marching bands, scantily-clad Brazilian dancers, dragon dancers and 2,000 school students who put on a flash-card display.
