The Parisian institution is presenting an exhibition about the meteoric rise of disco, a musical genre born in New York in the 1970s. A space of utopia and revolution rooted in Black American history and culture.
Bring out the sequins and bell-bottoms, bend your arms and sway your hips like John Travolta in Saturday Night Fever The Philharmonie de Paris transforms into a dazzling dance floor beneath mirrored balls! 2025 is a year of celebration for the institution, which is not only marking its 30th anniversary but also the 10th anniversary of the Cité de la Musique. This double anniversary is accompanied by a wonderful exhibition about disco, which, from its flamboyant aesthetic, has become a global phenomenon.
As Olivier Mantei, the institution's director general, and Marie-Pauline Martin, director of the Museum of Music, remind us: "The movement emerged at the intersection of different civil rights struggles." and accompanies, or echoes, the struggle of the African-American minority, the LGBTQ+ community, and feminist movements, all united in the same hedonistic impulse.
Let's dance!
This gives way to the divas of disco (Donna Summer, Diana Ross, Gloria Gaynor), to phenomenal groups (Earth, Wind and Fire, The Jackson Five), to pioneering DJs (David Mancuso), to legendary labels (Motown), to the first popular clubs (Paradise Garage, The Saint) and to the rich mix of genres (funk, gospel, Latin and African percussion).
Between music and performance, history and manifesto, art and objects, the exhibition "Disco, I'm coming out" examines all dimensions of this musical style. It offers an in-depth exploration, divided into four segments, propelling us into the downtown New York scene of the 1970s.
Curators Jean-Yves Leloup and Marion Challier explore its musical roots in soul and funk, its social and militant context, its appearance in black and gay clubs, its global repercussions and its imprint left on contemporary art, decoration, graphic design, fashion, architecture and cinema.
At the heart of its space, the Philharmonie presents a myriad of period documents, iconic photographs, contemporary works, and memorabilia. All of this is enhanced by an original soundtrack mixed by Dimitri From Paris, featuring playlists and vintage recordings.
Sociopolitical upheavals
Beyond the flashy style, the disco era primarily reflects the climate of the time as "the last utopia of the 20th century."e century,” a celebration that is festive, political, and activist all at once. The curators closely examine the birth of LGBTQ+ culture, the Stonewall riots in response to police raids on gay bars, and the rise of activist groups. They also highlight the creation of the first rainbow flag, designed by artist and drag queen Gilbert Baker in 1978 at the urging of Harvey Milk, then a San Francisco city councilman and prominent figure in the gay community.
French disco also contributed to popularizing the genre. This began with the Village People, created and produced by two Frenchmen, Jacques Morali and Henri Belolo. Patrick Juvet followed, with his hits. Where are the women? et I Love Americaand Patrick Hernandez, for his only hit Born To Be Alive, dethroning the Americans on their own territory.
The exhibition continues its analysis at the turn of the 1970s and 1980s with the evolution of disco by pop, rock, and variety stars, such as ABBA, Kiss, and Rod Stewart, up to Madonna. And more recently, Dua Lipa and the electro generation, from Daft Punk to Breakbot.
And as usual, the Philharmonie complements this program with concerts and shows. These include performances by disco pioneer Cerrone, DJ and producer Dabeull from the French Touch scene, and waacking dancers (a cousin of voguing) for an intense 100% disco-funk battle.
"DISCO, I'M COMING OUT"
CITY OF MUSIC - PHILARMONIC OF PARIS
221, AVENUE JEAN-JAURÈS, PARIS 19e
FROM FEBRUARY 14 TO AUGUST 17, 2025
