Air France welcomes the Radio France Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Daniel Harding in its maintenance hangars

On 1 October 2022, Arte Concert and France Musique will broadcast a special film by Andrew Staples and Daniel Harding featuring Igor Stravinsky’s ballet "The Firebird" in a dreamlike setting. Performed by the Radio France Philharmonic Orchestra, the film was made as close as possible to an Air France Airbus A350, in the company’s maintenance hangars.

For the filming in July 2021, Air France opened the doors of its hangars at Paris-Charles de Gaulle to capture some extraordinary images. 80 musicians from the Radio France Philharmonic Orchestra took their places around one of the most modern aircraft in the Air France long-haul fleet. Under the direction of Daniel Harding, a renowned conductor and Air France pilot on the Airbus A320, they performed the Orchestral Suite from The Firebird, Igor Stravinsky’s timeless masterpiece. 

The excellence and expertise of the worlds of music and travel came together to make this elegant and majestic film.

The project was the idea of Daniel Harding and tenor Andrew Staples, who wanted to bring music to atypical places for as many people as possible to enjoy. As an ambassador of the French travel experience and a promoter of culture since its creation, Air France immediately supported this initiative alongside Radio France, Arte, France Musique and the Camera Lucida production company.

Air France customers will also soon be able to discover this original film on board the airline’s long-haul flights.

Click here to download the visuals.