Piano Is Not Dead

The piano in all its states

Piano Is Not Dead was born in 2013 from a bold idea: to prove that the piano is very much alive, that it continues to reinvent itself and surprise. Far from the dusty image of the drawing-room piano, the festival celebrates an instrument that is both historic and futuristic, classical and avant-garde, intimate and spectacular. Each edition invites the public on a musical journey where genre boundaries blur in favor of creativity and emotion.

A touring festival in the city

The uniqueness of Piano Is Not Dead lies in its touring nature. The festival takes over multiple venues in Le Havre, creating a musical trail through the city:

• Le Tetris: a contemporary music venue at Fort de Tourneville, the beating heart of the festival
• Conservatoire Arthur Honegger: a temple of classical music and jazz, at 70 cours de la République
• Le Volcan: Le Havre's national stage designed by Oscar Niemeyer, place Oscar Niemeyer
• Le Studio: an art-house cinema, for film-concerts and screenings
• Magic Mirrors: a performance tent on Quai Frissard
• Maison de l'étudiant: for student concerts and participatory formats
• Le Havre tramway: surprise concerts on the trams, for an unexpected encounter between music and urban mobility

An eclectic and demanding program

Piano Is Not Dead champions a broad and open-minded vision of the piano. The program mixes:

• Classical and contemporary concerts: virtuoso pianists, recitals, chamber music
• Jazz and improvisation: trios, quartets, and solo performances
• Contemporary music: piano mixed with rap, electro, rock, blues, reggae, and pop
• Film-concerts: film screenings accompanied live on the piano
• Interactive installations: the Pianographe and other devices allowing the public to play and experiment
• Shows for young audiences: educational and participatory concerts for children
• Pianos for free access: about fifteen pianos installed throughout the city, accessible to all

Over the years, the festival has hosted artists as diverse as Chilly Gonzales, Mezerg (the "boumboum piano"), Chassol, Murcof & Vanessa Wagner, Mami Chan, David Bismuth, Sophie Agnel, Camille Bazbaz, Florent Marchet, Bonnie Banane, and Isaiah Collier.

A network of cultural partners

Piano Is Not Dead is the result of collaboration between several major cultural institutions in Le Havre: Le Tetris (contemporary music venue), the Conservatoire Arthur Honegger, Le Volcan (national stage), Le Sirius (cinema), the Jeunesses Musicales de France (JMF), PiedNu (performance venue), and Transports LIA (public transport network). This synergy between cultural, educational, and transport stakeholders makes Piano Is Not Dead an original model for a networked festival.