Celebrations have already started for the 21st of June, the European and World Music Day.
"Fête de la Musique" was initiated in France in 1982, with the title playing with both meanings, to celebrate and to make music. In 1985, Greece was the first country outside France to celebrate the Music Day. It was introduced in Athens as the first European Capital of Culture and in coincidence with the European Year of Music. More countries joined in and the charter of the “European Music Day” was signed in Budapest 1995. The Day continued growing and became a World Music Day, with more than 120 countries and 2000 cities participating.
The European Music Day aims at offering music as a shared, accessible and inclusive experience for the citizens. Music events are organised in public spaces and local landmarks. Professionals and amateur musicians play out on streets and crowds may enjoy diverse musical genres, admission free.
In France, the Ministry of Culture has prepared a programme of various vibrant performances across the country. In Paris, the Louvre gardens host a full Music Week with a highlight concert on the evening of 21 of June including popoular artists such as Camille, Christine and the Queens, Keren Ann, Bernard Lavilliers, Jeanne Added, La Femme, Solann, Major Lazer Soundsystem and Malik Djoudi.
There is a long go-to list for Paris citizens including jazz jams in the Sunset Sunside, street parties with DJ sets, gospel music at the Place Vendôme or an Offenbach opéra-bouffe on Place Colette. This year, the Bourse de Commerce, the city's stock exchange, also participates in the Music Day. The organisers offer a musical encounter with Vincent Bessières exploring african-american artists. 2025 also marks the coming back of the 36h Saint Eustache Festival. For 36 hours - including one all-nighter - sacred music is performed through an unusual angle, as riffs, keyboards, beats and samples mix with lyrical choirs and organ in the majestic vault of Paris's Les Halles cathedral.
In Athens, the concert “Sounds of the World” will take place at the Odeon of Herodes Atticus, right beneath Acropolis. The concert will be performed by the ERT - National Symphony Orchestra and conductor Michalis Economou. It is introduced as a musical voyage to ten different magical worlds of the global symphonic repertoire, including Ravel’s "Boléro", Smetana’s symphonic poem "The Moldau" and Elgar’s triumphant "Pomp and Circumstance March".
Athenians may go to the Gardens of the city's Concert Hall (Megaron) to enjoy the State Orchestra of Athens dedicating the "Zorba" concert to composer Mikis Theodorakis, at the 100th anniversary of his birth. The Gardens will also host a tribute to Greek folk traditions with guests from Taiwan’s Yu Percussion ensemble by the Domna Samiou Association for Folk Music. Various free concerts in different locations of the city are organised by the municipality, such as a jazz concert by the Athens Big Band, under the artistic direction of Sami Amiris.
The municipality of Chania, on Crete island, is also organising a European Music Day 2025. Festivities include among others the “Notes in the Streets” by the Philharmonic of the Municipality of Chania and a “Musical Walk” with the musicians of the Chania Street Group Kath’ Odon walking together the streets of the city.
In Madrid, the Matadero Music Festival celebrates the European Music Day with ten concerts and a film series focused on visual music.
The organiserd have planned for family-friendly morning concerts by Remate & Wild Honey and the Creativa Junior Big Band at Nave Una.
The audience is also invited to screenings of films dedicated to avant-garde visual music, offered by Cineteca Madrid, during 18 - 22 June. DJ sets and concerts are offered at Plaza Matadero including electronic, techno, afro house and rock music and international artists such as Emilia Grima, Moxie, Hot Chip, Error 97 and La Paloma.
In Brussels, party lovers are invited to the Cinquantenaire Park to enjoy a variety of artists including Tukan, Peet, Irène Drésel, Souffrance, Oootoko, Ferdi, Krisy, Vaague. Two outdoor concerts are also offered at Bruegel, Marolles, featuring GanGan - The New Style on african drum rhythms and White Corbeau on organic music.
The Music Day is celebrated further than the centre of Brussels, since citizens in Liege, Brabant Wallon, Hainaut and Namur are invited to various music events across different genres including classical, contemporary, electro, raggae-ska, metal, pop-folk, jazz, rap and rnb, among others.
In Croatia, citizens of Dubrovnik are invited to enjoy the Music Day with concerts, ballet and international ensembles. Croatian soprano Marija Vidović and renowned Mexican tenor Francisco Araiza will collaborate with the Dubrovnik Symphony Orchestra (DSO) and conductor Ivan Hut to present at the Rector’s Palace a performance titled “100 Years of the Orchestra and 200 Years Since the Birth of Johann Strauss II”. The ballet performance “Othello” will be performed by the Croatian National Theatre Varaždin, at the Marin Držić Theatre and a concert by the Polish national ensemble Mazowsze at the Franciscan Church.
In the city of Vis, tourists and citizens are invited to a Concert of Popular Croatian and International Music, organised by the municipality. The City Choir and local soloists will perform popular music pieces, from traditional songs and pop arrangements to famous film music.
Image 1 @ Pietro Soldi for Fine Acts under a Creative Commons 3.0 License
Image 2 @ Courtesy of France Music Week
Image 3 @ Courtesy of Athens Epidaurus Festival - Thomas Daskalakis
Image 4 @ Courtesy of DEMM25 - European Music Day at Matadero
Image 5 @ Bernard Babette. Courtesy of fetedelamusique.be
Image 6 @ Courtesy of vis-touris.com
