Cristian Măcelaru, music director of the Orchestre National de France, led the orchestra in a rain-drenched performance at the July 26 Olympic opening ceremony in Paris.
Dressed in his usual concert tuxedo, Măcelaru conducted the orchestra without any indication he was bothered by the rain dripping from his hair. Many of the musicians wore clear ponchos to protect their clothes from the downpour — but with instruments still exposed.
The orchestra has yet to confirm if the musicians used their actual instruments, many of which are undoubtedly worth tens of thousands of dollars, or if lesser instruments were swapped in given the inclement weather. It is common for orchestras at televised live events such as the Olympics to mime performing to pre-recorded music.
In addition to Măcelaru and the Orchestre National de France, the ceremony began with Klaus Mäkelä conducting the Orchestre de Paris at the Conciergerie Palace on the Île de la Cité in the River Seine.
