Barbara—From Paris to Göttingen—Chansons and a Reading

Catherine Le Ray “Barbara—From Paris to Göttingen”

A chanson recital based on Barbara’s autobiography and repertoire, 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, featuring Barbara’s own chansons and songs she performed (including works by Piaf, Brel, and 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 because of her childhood experiences, was 10 years old during World War II and had to endure watching her Jewish family—along with her—repeatedly flee 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 particularly revered in Göttingen for her tribute to the city. In 1964, Barbara wrote the song “Göttingen” to promote reconciliation between France and Germany, for which she was even awarded the Federal Cross of Merit in 1988. Like Barbara did back then, Catherine Le Ray performs several chansons in German, brilliantly translated by Walter Brandin in 1967.

Catherine Le Ray spent her childhood in an artistic family at the foot of the Moulin Rouge and her youth in the heart of Saint-Germain-des-Prés. Catherine Le Ray has performed several times at “L’Ecluse” in Paris—mentioned in the book—where Barbara’s career began, as well as at the theater in Göttingen cited in the book, accompanied by Barbara’s musicians.

Frédéric Langlais (accordion, saxophone, bandoneon) became the youngest accordion world champion in 1994 at just 16 years old. He has received numerous awards for his work, including the Prix Sacem (1993) and the Prix Francis Baxter (2002).
“Coquettish, melancholic, and deeply intense, Le Ray sang Barbara’s most beautiful songs and offered a glimpse into the chanteuse’s eventful life …and it was almost as if you could see Barbara sitting in the garden on Geismarlandstraße that summer of 1964, working on her chanson “Göttingen”» (Göttinger Tageblatt)
“Frédéric Langlais, world champion accordionist, accompanied Catherine Le Ray with great sensitivity and virtuosity; his accordion was more than just an accompanying instrument: At times, it seemed as though the singer and musician were engaged in an intimate dialogue that deeply moved the audience“ (Augsburger Allgemeine)
“During the chanson ‘Les Feuilles Mortes’ (Autumn Leaves) by Jacques Prévert and Joseph Kosma, Frédéric Langlais conjured up a fantastic jazz solo on his button accordion” (Allgäuer Zeitung)