"Chansons françaises" – music from France's soul

Working-class ballads, poets' texts

: Americans (Friends of the Mount Vernon Chamber Orchestra), PEF members and artist (who appears again below)

Traditional bistros with excellent cuisine suit these convivial soirées, but may request about 40 participants to reserve space.

0ur local members can make up the numbers, for an evening via which Parisians and visitors cross paths – in another departure from classic tourism.

"Chansons françaises" are urban ballads...

that are loved as they are or that poets, like Cohen or Dylan, have turned into music that the whole nation knows. Our artists are as different as the music is. Here are those whom we follow.

• Charismatic performer, varied repertoire

: "La Parisienne", one of her incarnations, 2004

: Second part of the program

Childhood in Baghdad, adolescence in Berlin, training at the Paris Conservatory, stays in the United States... That itinerary explains the ease with which this Parisienne performs Middle Eastern chants, Berlin cabaret and Broadway, as well as chansons. She adapts her performances to extremely varied audiences.

Selima attended clown school as well. That may have encouraged her exceptional sense of communication, as when she talks to her audience, bringing it into the show.

This video of an evening for German adults who were learning French is an example. You may be as surprised as the public was!

http://www.youtube.com

• "Piaf's style was intense. Mine sparkles!"

•Recording

: Artist, 2003

: Bistro

: "Patronne"

We first heard "Isabeau" in a smoke-filled Pigalle café. We've changed the venue to a Bastille bistro where la patronne adds to the ambiance...

: Epoch

Some songs come from the singer's grandmother, others everyone knows.

• Great popular music, celebrated poetry

•Recordings

: Performance series, 2009-2010 (music of Léo Ferré, major songwriter and singer of the 1950's and '60's)

Léo Férré, Jacques Brel, Barbara... are songwriters and performers with whom the have grown up. Annick Cisaruk translates some verses into English, to help anglophone visitors discover beloved chansons.

She has regularly performed in Parisian theaters and at the Festival of Avignon, and sang the role of the Directress in Paris's 2009 and 2010 productions of "Fame".