Alan Stivell, famous Breton Harpist, will be playing in Galway tomorrow Tuesday May 26 in St Nicholas Church and tickets are now on sale.
Tickets and information at https://tix.to/AlanStivell_IrishTour
Alan Stivell was born on January 6, 1944, in Riom, Auvergne, France during World War II. His father, Georges Cochevelou, of Breton Cornwall (Gourin ) and Breton Vannetais (Pontivy ) descent, had lived in Paris after World War I. His mother, Fanny, whose parents had diverse roots (including Russian and French ), embraced her husband’s Breton identity. Because of the war, the family moved frequently: one brother was born in Paris, another in Épinal in the East of France and Alan himself in Riom. Alan therefore held no particular ties to Auvergne.
After the war, instead of returning to Brittany, Alan's family settled in Paris within the Breton diaspora. A visit to relatives in La Trinité-sur-Mer (Southern Brittany ) proved decisive: at the age of five, the discovery of his father’s homeland deeply moved Alan. Around the same time, he began studying piano and met a Breton composer Paul Le Flem.
In 1952, his two brothers joined the Breton scouting movement Bleimor (Seawolf ), while his father built the first modern Breton harp. Immersed in a strongly Breton cultural atmosphere, Alan took his first harp lessons in April 1953, marking the beginning of a prestigious artistic path. In November of that year, at the Maison de la Bretagne in Paris, the public rediscovered the Celtic harp after centuries of neglect and was captivated by the nine-year-old performing 'Pedenn evit Breizh' (Prayer for Brittany ).
From the early 1950s (from age nine ), his recitals stirred audiences at the UNESCO, the Vannes Cathedral, and the Olympia in Paris, helping revive the Celtic harp. Deeply passionate about Celtic civilisation in all its aspects, he would conceptualise, modernise, and popularise its music.
As early as 1958, he designed the first electric harp and began composing a symphony (though he chose not to attend the Conservatoire ). He made his first recordings—'Musique gaélique' and 'Telenn geltiek' (Gaelic Music and Celtic Harp ) - and soon developed the idea of Celtic rock. As a member of the Bleimor scouts, he learned the Breton language (passing the Trec’h kentañ exam ), immersed himself in traditional music and dance, and graduated from the College of Piping in Scotland. He led the Bleimor bagad to the title of Champion of Brittany in 1966 and twice more, also winning duo championships at Gourin (1966, 1968 and 1969 ).
In 1966, he began singing publicly at the American Center in Paris, Chez Michou in Quimper, and in Italy—marking the true start of his professional career. In 1967, he signed his first international contract with Philips-Fontana (now Universal ). In 1968, he was invited by the Moody Blues to perform at London’s Queen Elizabeth Hall. That same year, he met Marie-José, his lifelong companion.
After releasing the single 'Brocéliande' – 'Son ar chistr' (Cider song ) in July 1970, a song widely covered worldwide, his album 'Reflets' launched his conquest of a broader audience. A manifesto of musical fusion, it anticipated what would later be called “world music.” His third album, 'Renaissance de la harpe celtique' (1971 ), inspired thousands of harpists worldwide and was nominated for a Grammy Award; it also received the Grand Prix Charles Cros (and in 2019, the In Honorem award for his lifetime achievement ).
His Breton rock-fusion piece 'Pop-Plinn', followed by the legendary February 1972 concert and live album 'À l’Olympia' (two million copies sold ), sparked the “Stivell phenomenon,” transforming Brittany’s image. From 1973 onward, his international career expanded across Europe, America, and Australia, performing in major venues and rock festivals.
Alan Stivell later produced his own records, including Keltia III and 'Live à Dublin'. Notable works followed: 'Trema’n Inis' (To the Island ) dedicated to Breton poets, 'Before Landing', 'Une journée à la maison', and his 'Symphonie celtique' (1979–80 ) often performed at the Lorient Interceltic Festival and prestigious venues such as London’s Royal Festival Hall and Dublin’s Olympia.
Though uncomfortable with “star” status, Alan Stivell continued to innovate throughout the 1980s and beyond. His album 'Harpes du Nouvel Âge' received an Indie Award in the United States. In 1993, 'Again' (featuring Kate Bush ) and its music tour were major successes. He was awarded the Collar of the Order of the Ermine (the Highest Breton distinction ) in 1994.
Alan Stivell continued collaborating internationally ('Brian Boru', '1 Douar' with Youssou N’Dour, Jim Kerr, Paddy Moloney, John Cale ). In 2000, an asteroid was named after him by Czech astronomer Miloš Tichý.
The 21st century brought anniversary releases such as 'Au-delà des mots', books ('Telenn, la harpe bretonne' ), the avant-garde album 'Explore', and 'Emerald' (2009 ). He became honorary president of the Cultural Council of Brittany and was promoted to Commander of Arts and Letters in 2012. Later works include 'Amzer' (2015 ), 'Human-Kelt' (2018, featuring Andrea Corr, Francis Cabrel, Bob Geldof, Yann Tiersen, and others ), his autobiography 'Stivell par Alan', and the symphonic live double album 'Liberté-Roazhon' (2024 ).
His concerts—whether electro-world-rock, symphonic (notably with the Orchestre National de Bretagne ), or intimate performances in churches—reveal his multiple artistic facets. Recent tours include 'Cœur & Âme / Kalon hag Ene / Heart and Soul' and the 'Liberté Tour', following the unveiling of a statue in his honor in Carhaix (Centre Brittany ).
Throughout his life, Alan Stivell has been driven by curiosity, innovation, and cultural cross-fertilisation while remaining deeply rooted in Breton and Celtic heritage. A pioneer of folk-rock, ambient, and especially world music (which he theorised as early as 1970 ), he has consistently advocated a global music that preserves human diversity.
To date, he remains the only Breton artist whose entire body of work, centered on Breton culture, has achieved such significant international impact.
