Photo : Grégoire Alexandre
"Köln Variations": a concert by Édouard Ferlet
Some works continue to speak to us long after their creation. Fifty years after the recording of the mythical Köln Concert, Édouard Ferlet pays tribute to it through a musical creation that explores what great works transmit, inspire, and transform over time. During a month dedicated to the art of debate, this concert invites us to think about the dialogue between heritage and creation, fidelity and reinvention.
Théâtre de la Concorde (Paris 8th)
About
Fifty years after the release of the legendary Köln Concert by Keith Jarrett, Édouard Ferlet offers a personal and sensitive reinterpretation of this major work in jazz history. A renowned pianist, improviser, and composer, he revisits the spirit of the original concert not to reproduce it, but to extend its creative momentum.
Nurtured by half a century of listening, musical practice, and artistic exploration, Köln Variations is as much a tribute to Keith Jarrett as it is an intimate journey into a musician's path. Between memory and improvisation, Édouard Ferlet dialogues with a work that has marked generations of listeners and shaped his own imagination.
Through this release party celebrating the album launch of Köln Variations, the audience is invited to rediscover the legacy of the Köln Concert in a new light. A sensitive musical journey where gratitude, transmission, and the freedom of invention intersect.
Cast
Music Keith Jarrett – Cavelight Music
Piano, improvisation, and arrangement Édouard Ferlet
Sound Pierre-Emmanuel Meriaud
Staging Thierry Teston
Lighting Robin Besrour
Co-improvisation technology Cyran Aouameur (Sony CSL – Paris)
Artificial intelligence development IRCAM, Benoît Carré
Köln Variations is a creation initiated by Le Printemps de Bourges Crédit Mutuel.
Yamaha artist, Édouard Ferlet plays on the PIANOïD device he invented and developed using the Yamaha Disklavier™ Enspire.
Our take on this event
Forget everything you thought you knew about the legendary Köln Concert, as Édouard Ferlet reimagines this masterpiece with a modern, daring twist. Blending acoustic mastery with innovative technology, this performance invites you into the very heart of the instrument. It is a deeply personal and spellbinding exploration that pushes the boundaries of jazz improvisation.
On Tuesday, December 15, 2026, the Théâtre de la Concorde presents Köln Variations, an original performance by pianist and composer Édouard Ferlet. Fifty years after Keith Jarrett’s legendary release, Ferlet offers a sensitive reinterpretation of the masterpiece through improvisation and his innovative PIANOïD system. The concert runs from 20:00 to 21:10 and is a release party for his new album. Tickets are priced between 8€ and 25€. Located in the 8th arrondissement, this event invites listeners to experience a unique fusion of jazz heritage and contemporary technological exploration.
Fifty years after the debut of Keith Jarrett’s historic Köln Concert, Édouard Ferlet provides a deeply personal perspective on this major work. Rather than simply reproducing the original, the pianist uses his decades of practice and artistry to extend its creative spirit, creating a dialogue between the past and his own musical imagination.
The performance takes place on December 15, 2026, at the Théâtre de la Concorde. Lasting from 20:00 to 21:10, the show features spatial design by Thierry Teston, lighting by Robin Besrour, and sound engineering by Pierre-Emmanuel Meriaud. Central to the performance is the PIANOïD technology, developed alongside IRCAM, Benoît Carré, and Cyran Aouameur, which utilizes the Yamaha Disklavier Enspire to facilitate a unique form of human-machine co-improvisation.
Serving as the official release party for the album Köln Variations, a creation commissioned by Printemps de Bourges Crédit Mutuel, the evening offers an intimate look at transmission and innovation. Tickets for this performance are available from 8€ to 25€.
