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THE FORMIDABLE NOUVEAUTES OF FALL
By LENNOX MORRISON
Wall Street Journal
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424053111904836104576560232224214592.html
Sept 15 2011
Summer in France saw too much rain in many parts and incessant
politicking throughout as parties warmed up for next year's
presidential race. But now the hour has sounded to return to work
and school, and to enjoy the cultural nouveautes of autumn.
Nouveautes, or new events, is perhaps not the appropriate word. Two
of the first big events involve artists whose hold on the affections
of the French public dates back many decades.
At the age of 68, the nation's favorite pop star, Johnny Hallyday, who
among other things rendered "Let's Twist Again" in a French accent in
the 1960s, made his theatrical debut last week at the Theātre Edouard
VII in Paris.
Although Mr. Hallyday-known here simply as Johnny-has lent his
arresting lupine presence to dozens of films, this is the first time
he's trod the boards.
In keeping with the rebel rocker image he's radiated since he first
cut a record at 16, Mr. Hallyday reportedly spurned the safety net of
a prompter. Swapping his customary black leather garb for jeans and
a lumberjack shirt he plays the lead in Tennessee Williams' "Kingdom
of Earth," a psychological drama about two warring half-brothers in
rural Mississippi in the 1960s.
Mr. Hallyday's performance as a Southern bumpkin called "Chicken"
didn't wildly impress the critics but was-predictably-rapturously
received by his fans.
There is already talk of extending the run of the play, known in
French as "Le paradis sur terre."
The other main event-or rather series of events-is staged by Charles
Aznavour, the balladeer who brought the world the lyric, "You are
the one for me, for me, for me, for-mi-dable." At 87 years old, Mr.
Aznavour does indeed appear to be in formidable form. The singer,
who back in the 1940s was a support act to Edith Piaf, is currently
playing at the Olympia in Paris before embarking on a tour of 31 other
cities in France and Switzerland. For his latest album, fittingly
titled "Toujours" (always), he penned 12 new songs, adding to the
1,000 or so he has written in his career.
Although seen as the ultimate living exponent of la chanson francaise,
Mr. Aznavour's roots are Armenian. Born in Paris to poor Armenian
parents, he was originally named Chahnourh Varinag Aznavourian.
Ever since the terrible earthquake that hit Armenia in 1988, he has
been a tireless campaigner for his parents' homeland. Today, he is
its ambassador in Switzerland and at Unesco.
In a stage career that began at the tender age of 9, the multilingual
crooner has duetted with everyone from today's rap artists to Frank
Sinatra and, of course, Johnny Hallyday.
An additional point of commonality between these two enduring icons
to the French is that they both now live abroad-in Switzerland.
From: Baghdasarian
By LENNOX MORRISON
Wall Street Journal
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424053111904836104576560232224214592.html
Sept 15 2011
Summer in France saw too much rain in many parts and incessant
politicking throughout as parties warmed up for next year's
presidential race. But now the hour has sounded to return to work
and school, and to enjoy the cultural nouveautes of autumn.
Nouveautes, or new events, is perhaps not the appropriate word. Two
of the first big events involve artists whose hold on the affections
of the French public dates back many decades.
At the age of 68, the nation's favorite pop star, Johnny Hallyday, who
among other things rendered "Let's Twist Again" in a French accent in
the 1960s, made his theatrical debut last week at the Theātre Edouard
VII in Paris.
Although Mr. Hallyday-known here simply as Johnny-has lent his
arresting lupine presence to dozens of films, this is the first time
he's trod the boards.
In keeping with the rebel rocker image he's radiated since he first
cut a record at 16, Mr. Hallyday reportedly spurned the safety net of
a prompter. Swapping his customary black leather garb for jeans and
a lumberjack shirt he plays the lead in Tennessee Williams' "Kingdom
of Earth," a psychological drama about two warring half-brothers in
rural Mississippi in the 1960s.
Mr. Hallyday's performance as a Southern bumpkin called "Chicken"
didn't wildly impress the critics but was-predictably-rapturously
received by his fans.
There is already talk of extending the run of the play, known in
French as "Le paradis sur terre."
The other main event-or rather series of events-is staged by Charles
Aznavour, the balladeer who brought the world the lyric, "You are
the one for me, for me, for me, for-mi-dable." At 87 years old, Mr.
Aznavour does indeed appear to be in formidable form. The singer,
who back in the 1940s was a support act to Edith Piaf, is currently
playing at the Olympia in Paris before embarking on a tour of 31 other
cities in France and Switzerland. For his latest album, fittingly
titled "Toujours" (always), he penned 12 new songs, adding to the
1,000 or so he has written in his career.
Although seen as the ultimate living exponent of la chanson francaise,
Mr. Aznavour's roots are Armenian. Born in Paris to poor Armenian
parents, he was originally named Chahnourh Varinag Aznavourian.
Ever since the terrible earthquake that hit Armenia in 1988, he has
been a tireless campaigner for his parents' homeland. Today, he is
its ambassador in Switzerland and at Unesco.
In a stage career that began at the tender age of 9, the multilingual
crooner has duetted with everyone from today's rap artists to Frank
Sinatra and, of course, Johnny Hallyday.
An additional point of commonality between these two enduring icons
to the French is that they both now live abroad-in Switzerland.
From: Baghdasarian