For the past few weeks, it's been impossible to walk down the streets of Paris or open a glossy magazine without seeing Omar Harfouch, with his short brown hair, ultra-bright smile and crow's feet at the corner of his eyes. The wealthy 55-year-old Lebanese businessman has bought ads everywhere – from the press to billboards and radio spots – to sell his "Concerto for Peace," which will take place on September 18 at the Théâtre des Champs-Elysées. The "original creation by Omar Harfouch" is celebrated in big yellow letters, as if the name of this amateur pianist and composer were familiar to music lovers. In reality, this mysteriously wealthy media man, whose career has taken him from Moscow to Kyiv, from Paris to Dubai, is more accustomed to political and celebrity news than cultural programs.

The Théâtre des Champs-Elysées makes no mention of the event on its website. For one simple reason: The venue has been privatized for the occasion. None of its 1,900 seats are for sale. Harfouch is inviting everyone at his own expense, including sending chauffeur-driven cars, to hear him play an original composition with the Orchestre Symphonique de Béziers. His "friend" Robert Ménard, the town's mayor, who has long been close to the Rassemblement National (RN, far-right), put the musicians at his disposal.

"There will be people who count, famous people, people from politics: They will listen to my message," said the performer, passing on a long list of "confirmed guests," which also includes its fair share of singers, actors and TV starlets. The problem is that former president François Hollande, for example, is one of several listed guests who have no plans to attend. President of the Paris region Valérie Pécresse, MP Karl Olive – "nothing on the agenda on the subject, no invitation," he said – and former prime minister Manuel Valls arre others. "I don't know what it's all about," said Valls, before finding an e-mail sent by the writer Marek Halter, which he did not intend to follow up on.

'Harfouch is investing in his brand'

Why publicize an event for which tickets are not for sale? To hear him tell it, Harfouch was planning to sell tickets but gave up for security reasons. The Paris Police Prefecture was concerned about the presence of a large number of "significant figures," he claimed – the Prefecture did not respond to Le Monde's request for comment. The Théâtre des Champs-Elysées' management, on the other hand, asserted that there was never any question of selling any tickets. "Harfouch is investing in his brand, to appear richer and more connected than he really is and to open up other business opportunities for himself behind the scenes," said an insider. "It's a Donald Trump type of operation."

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