Barbara - from Paris to Göttingen - Songs and Reading

Description

Catherine Le Ray "Barbara - from Paris to Göttingen" song reading based on the autobiography and repertoire of Barbara, accompanied by accordion world champion Frédéric Langlais. "From Paris to Göttingen" is the moving biography of the French singer Barbara (born Monique Cerf, 1930-1997). A musical journey from Paris via Brussels to Göttingen, with Barbara's own chansons and songs sung by her (including Piaf, Brel, Moustaki) from the second half of the 20th century. Directed by Catherine Le Ray, based on Barbara's extraordinary autobiography. Barbara, who did not want to come to Germany due to her childhood experiences, was ten years old during World War II and had to witness her Jewish family fleeing repeatedly from the French Gestapo. Barbara is largely unknown in Germany, although in France she is regarded as a cult singer on par with Piaf and Gréco. Barbara is the chanson singer especially revered in Göttingen, for her homage to the city. In 1964, Barbara wrote the song "Göttingen" to reconcile France and Germany, and in 1988 she even received the Federal Cross of Merit for it. Like Barbara at that time, Catherine Le Ray interprets some chansons in German, brilliantly translated by Walter Brandin in 1967. Catherine Le Ray spent her childhood in an artist family at the foot of the Moulin Rouge, and her youth in the heart of Saint-Germain-des-Prés. She has performed several times at the "L´ Ecluse" in Paris, where Barbara's career began, and at the theater in Göttingen mentioned in the book, accompanied by musicians of Barbara. Frédéric Langlais (accordion, saxophone, bandoneon) became the youngest accordion world champion in 1994 at just 16 years old. He received numerous awards for his work, including the Prix Sacem (1993) and the Prix Francis Baxter (2002). "Kokett, melancholic and very intense, Le Ray sang the most beautiful songs of Barbara and gave insight into the eventful life of the chanteuse... and it almost seemed as if one saw Barbara sitting in the garden on Geismarlandstraße in the summer of 1964 working on her chanson "Göttingen"" (Göttinger Tageblatt). "Frédéric Langlais, world champion in accordion playing, accompanied Catherine Le Ray with great sensitivity and virtuosity; his accordion was more than just an accompanying instrument: sometimes it seemed as if the singer and musician were engaged in an intimate dialogue that deeply touched the audience" (Augsburger Allgemeine). "During the chanson 'Les Feuilles Mortes' ('Autumn Leaves') by Jacques Prévert and Joseph Kosma, Frédéric Langlais conjured a fantastic jazz solo on his button accordion" (Allgäuer Zeitung).

Highlights

• Song reading with Catherine Le Ray
• Accompaniment by accordion world champion Frédéric Langlais
• Homage to the French singer Barbara

General Information

The event "Barbara - from Paris to Göttingen" offers a musical reading based on the autobiography and repertoire of the cult singer Barbara. Catherine Le Ray interprets Barbara's chansons and tells of her eventful life, accompanied by impressive accordion music.

Location

Münsterplatz 11 / Im Kornhaus, 79098 Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany

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