Jane Birkin @ Théatre du Chatelet, Paris Dec 09 2013

Jane Birkin @ Théatre du Chatelet, Paris Dec 09 2013

We had a very busy day but we could secure some time off to see Jane Birkin playing a one-off concert @ the beautiful Théatre du Chatelet.
Not sold-out so we have a great seat on the left, French actress Isabelle Huppert is not too far from us.

The show started very slowly with Jane, all dressed in black, singing a few songs with just a piano player, then the musicians came in for a 90 min set of mainly re-orchestrated Serge Gainsbourg songs. As she's playing the "Arabesques" show we have the Arabic musical arrangements to go with.
She left the stage one moment, the band played an instrumental, to come back with this beautiful red dress.
Music was good but between songs there were too much talking: she explained us how the "Arabesques" shows came out (ok) but she took several minutes to introduce the musicians which is a good thing but who cares about knowing who is the manager, the lightman, the soundman and so on...also had a bit of a chat about Amnesty International for a petition... would have prefer less talking and two more songs...Anyway ...
We had songs from "Melody Nelson" and songs Serge Gainsbourg wrote for her or some other singers. the set ended with "la Javanaise".
Overall good show. Could have been better.

Pop'Pea @ Théatre du Chatelet, Paris May 31 2012

Pop'Pea @ Théatre du Chatelet, Paris May 31 2012
featuring Carl Barât, Marc Almond, Benjamin Biolay, Valerie Gabail, Fredrika Stahl, Anna Madison.

Marc Almond just saw the play ! (far right)

Pop-Rock version of the Monterverdi opera @ Théatre du Chatelet , one of the most beautiful théatre in Paris where we've been many times. We saw Marianne Faithfull with Wayne Kramer, Yoko Ono, Muse, Woody Allen and a few others...

The play began with the most awful way : some rappers saying a lot of "Fuck this... Fuck That..." Ridiculous ! and French singer-actor on a motorcycle "singing" in English...even more ridiculous !
Specially when you know that even when he's speaking or singing in French , he's hard to understand, so imagine in English ! And he's speaking English as good as I would be speaking Chinese after two months classes.
What the hell is he doing here ? They couldn't get an English actor ?

Carl Barât as Néron & Marc Almond as Sénèque

There is a band with 3 musicians on each side of the stage down the front that is playing live musical parts.

They do have some nice costumes and some videos effects done live that are quite good.
Carl Barât & Marc Almond are not actors and you can see/feel it but they're doing OK.
The girls are the best: the acting and the singing are perfect.

After such a ridiculous start, Monteverdi might be turning into his grave, it's hard to really get into the play and not feeling uncomfortable for the actors probably wondering what the hell they are doing here!
For the most of the time we have the feeling that we're attending a School end of year party.
First part is lasting an hour and after a 20 minute intermission the cast is back for the second part (30 minutes long) that is much better.

Benjamin Biolay as Othon & Anna Madison as Drusilla

Valerie Gabail as Poppée with Carl Barât trying to strangle her (or fuck her , we still haven't figure it out)

We have mixed feelings, I never understood why people wanna do rock versions of Opéra, most of the time its a failure.
This one is average, too bad that the beginning of the play is so awful as the play is getting better in the end.

They're playing until June 07 and if you get your ticket at the box office you can get cheap tickets starting at 10 euros, so it's probably worth it but paying 80 euros for that : no way !

Fredrika Stahl as Ottavia (center) Nice Costume !!!

Musicians (far left) Main Cast (far right)

Juliette Gréco @ Théatre du Chatelet, Paris Feb 08 2012

Juliette Gréco @ Théatre du Chatelet, Paris Feb 08 2012

Last of her three shows @ Théatre du Chatelet for this French legend of St Germain des Pres.
Serge Gainsbourg wrote "La Javanaise" for her and she had a love affair with Miles Davis.
She's 85 years old and she's still active, maybe her voice is not as strong and melodic as it used to be and she can still deliver but most of all the passion is still there.
She played her most famous songs including songs by Jacques Brel ("Bruxelles, " Mathilde"..) , Serge Gainsbourg ("L'accordéon", "La chanson de Prévert" &" La Javanaise") or Léo Ferré.
She ended her 90 min set with "Le Temps des Cerises"
Nice

It's not very rock but she's a legend of St Germain des Pres