Quintessentially French music is on the program for the opening ceremony, along with more modern styles from across the French-speaking diaspora. Cabaret, chanson and classical Impressionism will have their moments; tributes will be paid to the cherished French singers Edith Piaf and Charles Aznavour.
The lineup also includes disco, French hip-hop, zouk from the French Caribbean, and heavy metal mashed up with opera. The ceremony will provide a worldwide showcase for Aya Nakamura, who was born in Mali, grew up in France, and is a superstar in Europe, with 25 Top 10 singles in France, including the smash “Djadja,” which denounces a man who claims he had sex with her; it has been streamed more than a billion times.