How the Clayderman sound began
Born Philippe Pagès, Clayderman trained in classical piano before playing in a rock group and working as an accompanist and session musician. His defining break came in 1976, when producers Olivier Toussaint and Paul de Senneville selected him to record Ballade pour Adeline. De Senneville had written the piece for his daughter.
That background helps explain the style: classical training serving a direct, accessible melody, rather than the formal demands of a traditional recital programme. His wider repertoire has come to include original pieces, classical arrangements and pop standards. A Comme Amour and Souvenirs d’Enfance belong to the familiar Clayderman world named in the Shanghai announcement.
A programme that crosses generations
The film selections widen the range of recognition in the room. Star Wars and Pirates of the Caribbean bring the language of large-screen adventure; The Chorus and Léon connect the programme to French cinema. These are announced selections rather than a published running order.
I would suggest this concert to visitors who want a piano evening built around recognisable tunes. Clayderman’s appeal is the melody carried clearly through the arrangement. The distinction is useful when Shanghai’s concert calendar also offers conventional solo recitals and large symphonic programmes.
.jpg){kind=link}
The July concert
The performance is on 17 July 2026 at 7.30pm in the Concert Hall at Shanghai Oriental Art Center, 425 Dingxiang Road, Pudong (浦东新区丁香路425号). Announced prices run from RMB380 to RMB1,580. The official event notice carries the venue’s ticketing QR code; select the July date and Concert Hall when checking a booking.
