Press (TRAD CLEMENCE)
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Press Release 30 May 2013 For immediate release Je ne sais quoi A music show by Nathalie Joly Institut français d’Ecosse Fringe 2013 8 – 26 August 2013, 6.15 pm (75 mins) Episode 1: Even days / Episode 2: Odd days Singer and actress Nathalie Joly presents Je ne sais quoi, a diptych show mixing music and theatre tribute to Yvette Guilbert, undisputed Queen of the Parisian café concert and friend of Freud. Accompanied by her pianist Jean-Pierre Gesbert, Nathalie Joly gives her voice to French cabaret singer Yvette Guilbert in this original production mixing music and theatre. Recalling the two most significant episodes of Guilbert’s life, Joly invites us to discover the witty and mischievous repertoire of the undisputed star of the Moulin Rouge in Montmartre who mesmerized and befriended Sigmund Freud before flying to New York to open a school of performing arts for deprived girls and invent the “Rythme Fondu”, precursor of poetry slam. Episode 1: 1890, in a Parisian cabaret, Freud hears Yvette Guilbert for the first time and literally succumbs to the charm of her interpretation and the profoundness of her songs. A lifelong friendship followed. Based on the original letters of their unpublished correspondence, Je ne sais quoi, episode 1 shows the 50-years long friendship between the French cabaret star and the Father of Psychoanalysis. The latter was fascinated by Guilbert and her songs, not only because they reminded him of the Paris of his youth, but by all that these songs expressed of profound sentiment, desire, conflict and humour in distress, accompanying his reflection on the relationship between the unconscious and sexuality. Through extracts of their letters and a selection of 17 colourful songs, including her biggest hits Madame Arthur and La Glu, this first part navigates between humour and drama, mischief and cruelty, compassion and tenderness. Je ne sais quoi, episode 1 was created at the request of the Psychoanalytical Society of Paris (SPP) in 2008 to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the birth of Sigmund Freud and the 80 years of the creation of the SPP. Freud and Guilbert’s letters were kindly made available by the Freud Museum in London. CD and book set JE NE SAIS QUOI including all corresondance between Freud and Yvette Guilbert, (part 1) Episode 2: circa 1900. At the height of her fame, Guilbert terminates her contracts and flies to New York where she opens a singing and elocution school for deprived girls and composes a new repertoire of songs, influenced by poetry and medieval songs. In this episode 2 of Yvette Guilbert’s destiny, Nathalie Joly explores her new repertoire composed to perfect her art of “rythme fondu”, a new language between speech and song that will become the Sprechgesang that will be so popular in Europe before the war and until today with poetry slams. Taking roots in the popular tradition, between fairy tales and pieces of news, these songs reflect Guilbert’s commitment to feminist values and explore stronger themes like infanticide, misfortune, social decay and rejection. Through Joly’s voice, Guilbert questions the process of creation and transmission and the role of the artist in society. CD ENV’LÀ UNE DRÔLE D’AFFAIRE (part 2) Initially conceived as individual shows, the two episodes will be presented as a diptych show for its UK premiere at the 2013 Edinburgh Fringe. Since its creation in 2008, Joly gave over 250 performances of Je ne sais quoi in France and around the world, including at the famous Théâtre de la Tempête- Cartoucherie in Paris, thanks to the support of its director Ariane Mouchkine (Les Naufragés du Fol Espoir, Edinburgh International Festival 2012). Actress and singer, Nathalie Joly received the first prize in singing at the Boulogne National Conservatoire. She has worked in association with talented directors (including Philippe Adrien, Alain Françon, Thierry Roisin, Michel Rostain, Maurice Durozier, Lisa Wumser….) and composers (including Maurice Ohana, Christian Sebille, and Philippe Legoff). International artist, Nathalie Joly is fascinated by all the spoken - sung forms, at the origin of all his shows. She had directed and sung Je sais que tu es dans la salle about Sacha Guitry and Yvonne Printemps, Cabaret ambulant about itinerant theater’s repertoire, Cafés Cantantes songs of superstition, Paris Bukarest about the Romanian singer Maria Tanase J’attends un navire – Cabaret de l’Exil adapted from Kurt Weill at the Theatre de la Tempête. She has recently created "Diseuses" (Marseille 2013), a history of spoken sung, with rappers of Marseille. Nathalie Joly and the director of Je ne sais quoi Jacques Verzier met during the creation of Rêves de Kafka and Ké voi both directed by Philippe Adrien. They regularly work together on several creations both as directors and performers. In Afghanistan, she also realized the documentary movie Tashakor about Music and women in Kaboul. She also realized an exhibition about Yvette Guilbert, Diseuse fin de siècle (MP13) Distribution Author and Singer: Nathalie Joly Piano: Jean-Pierre Gesbert Director: Jacques Verzier Lighting designer: Arnaud Sauer Costumes: Claire Risterruci Producer: Marche la Route A performance produced in association with the Société Psychanalytique de Paris, the Théâtre de la Tempête Cartoucherie, Gallimard, the Société des Gens de Lettres de France and with the permission of the Sigmund Freud Copyrights. A show supported by Radio France, Sofia, Spedidam and CNV. For further information, interviews, production images and reviewing enquiries, please contact Vanessa Bismuth, Communications & PR Officer, Institut français d’Ecosse – 0131 225 5366 / [email protected] Institut français d’Ecosse/ Venue 134 – 13 Randolph Crescent, Edinburgh EH3 7TT. Box Office: 0131 225 53 66 Mon - Sun 9.30 am – 9.00 pm. Listings information Title: Je ne sais quoi Company: Nathalie Joly Category: Music (PG) Sung in French, English supertitles Date: August 8-11, 13-18, 20-26, 6.15 pm (75 mins) Even days: Episode 1 / Odd days: Episode 2 Tickets: £10 (£8) Box Office: 0131 225 5366 or www.edfringe.com About the Institut français d’Ecosse The Institut français is the agency of the French Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs with responsibility for cultural activity outside France. In Scotland, the agency is represented by the Institut français d’Ecosse (Edinburgh) which promotes French language and culture by providing French courses and organising events (film screenings, talks, exhibitions, concerts, etc.). It also aims to encourage cross- cultural exchange between France and Scotland, in cooperation with Scottish Francophile institutions. Additional information is available on www.ifecosse.org.uk or follow us on Twitter @ifecosse. More information about Fringe Festival 2013 at the Institut français: http://vivelefringe.org/je-ne-sais- quoi/ Twitter: @vivelefringe More information about Nathalie Joly: http://marchelaroute.free.fr/ Contact Production Marche La Route 49 avenue Foch 75116 PARIS FRANCE +33 6 80 85 75 39 [email protected] 2 artists on tour, 1 technician for lights / very light data shee Press extracts Je ne sais quoi / Part 1: Le Monde - A fascinating, funny, simple, and very light-hearted show,… Nathalie Joly is loyal to Madam Yvette’s singing ". Véronique Mortaigne Libération The show effortlessly links songs, extracts from letters and dialogue… A show bursting with humor and intelligence … Dynamic and funny, ‘Je ne sais quoi’ is a breath of fresh air. François-Xavier Gomez FRANCE CULTURE "A delicious and very beautiful show on Freud's admiration for Yvette Guilbert's music". David Jisse Le Point The Paris which the psychoanalyst loved, handed on a tray . Valérie Marin La Meslée Télérama *** - This show is a must-see of pure delight, a gem. Sylviane Bernard-Gresh Europe 1 - Nathalie Joly masters the art of ‘spoken and sung’ and wonderfully interprets the nuances of this very Parisian repertoire. She acts and sings Love in all its forms with derision and exceptional precision. Diane Shenouda The Point - The show resembles a dream, it’s a leap into the subconscious and into a Paris of the past. Marie Audran Journal du Dimanche - This show is a true marvel, where humour, elegance and authenticity revive the magical atmosphere of live music cafés. Alexis Campion Le Nouvel Observateur - Nathalie Joly breathes new life into the Parisian live music cafés of the interwar period. Timothée Barrière Fémina JDD - Nathalie Joly's cabaret performance is intellectual and popular at the same time. A delight! Eric Emmanuel Schmitt *** La Provence – Both light-hearted and deep, Nathalie Joly's musical performance is captivating. A show as pleasant as it is successful. Olga Bibiloni Press extracts / En v’là une drôle d’affaire / Part 2 Le Monde - An hour and fifteen minutes of pure delight... Nathalie Joly presents the Guilbert mystery with a liberating sobriety, and portrays the chameleon woman, who was capable of constantly changing registers and characters, therefore helping the Freudian reflection on the essence of art. Véronique Mortaigne Le Figaro - For those who love beautiful songs, for those who love intriguing and extraordinary ‘characters’- and Yvette Guilbert certainly was one - this show is a moment of happiness .... Nathalie Joly, with her charm, grace, musicality and subtle sensitivity, shows us Yvette Guilbert’s world. Armelle Héliot Liberation –A singing and acting performance...Choruses, popular songs of the streets, medieval ballads… their darkness has never been equaled. The song « Morphine» is still as fascinating, and shines bright like a black diamond….FX Gomez Pariscope - Nathalie Joly embodies the many nuances of this exceptional artist. An amazing show! Le Canard enchaîné – Highly pleasing to the eye and to the mind. AlbertAlgoud Télérama - "We love" - The fate of the Queen of the ‘caf 'conc'’, a pioneer of feminism. In a very subtle performance, Nathalie Joly depicts Yvette Guilbert’s contribution to the interpretation and writing of texts full of colorful characters.