Chanson
A fresh approach to soulful songs and French flair – the Music Festival presents three exceptional chansonniers.
The French chanson tradition encompasses names such as Édith Piaf, Barbara, Léo Ferré and Georges Brassens, to name but a few of the very best. It is one of France’s most treasured cultural assets – one that is revered with almost sacred awe. In countless songs – hovering freely between lightness and melancholy, charm, wisdom and the spirit of revolt – the art expresses a love of life, of Eros, of the everyday existence of the so-called little people, most often in Paris, which is known for good reason as the city of love. But to the French, tradition is not about worshipping the dead, and the chanson is subject to a continuous process of change and realignment.
Artists such as Albin de la Simone and Pomme, who are both performing at the Music Festival, are updating and refreshing the genre in their own unique ways. In the spirit of the Anglo-American singer-songwriting tradition, they are opening the chanson to more universal themes, while also striking their own paths in terms of music and arrangement. And, together with a string quartet, the French-speaking cosmopolite Keren Ann presents gems from her catalogue reaching back 20 years. But don’t worry, her electric guitar will remain plugged in.