Alan Stivell

Alan Stivell is a Breton singer, harpist and composer, an iconic figure of modern Celtic music. Born in Riom and raised in Paris in a family from Morbihan, he discovered the Celtic harp at a very young age and helped bring it back into fashion from the 1960s onward. A true pioneer of the Breton cultural revival, he fused Celtic traditions with contemporary influences, blending folk, rock, electronic and symphonic music. His albums Renaissance de la harpe celtique (1971) and Chemins de Terre (1973) marked a major turning point, introducing Breton music to audiences worldwide. A multilingual singer — in Breton, French, English and Gaelic — Alan Stivell has performed on the biggest stages and inspired generations of artists across Europe. His rich, innovative work embodies both the memory of a people and an openness to the world, making him a living legend of Breton culture and an ambassador for dialogue between tradition and modernity.