Barbara – From Paris to Göttingen

Musical storytelling and song by Catherine Le Ray, accompanied by Frédéric Langlais on accordion

“From Paris to Göttingen” tells the moving story of French singer-songwriter Barbara (Monique Cerf, 1930–1997). Through Barbara’s own songs, her autobiography and songs associated with Piaf, Brel and Moustaki, Catherine Le Ray takes audiences on a musical journey from Paris through Brussels to Göttingen.

As a Jewish child during the Second World War, Barbara and her family were forced to flee persecution. She later became one of France’s most celebrated chanson singers. Her 1964 song “Göttingen” became a symbol of Franco-German reconciliation, and she was awarded the German Federal Cross of Merit in 1988. Catherine Le Ray performs some of Barbara’s chansons in German as well as French.

Catherine Le Ray grew up in an artistic family near the Moulin Rouge and spent her youth in Saint-Germain-des-Prés. She performed at the Parisian cabaret L’Écluse, where Barbara’s career began, and at the theatre in Göttingen associated with Barbara’s story.

Frédéric Langlais, who plays accordion, saxophone and bandoneon, became the youngest accordion world champion in 1994, aged 16, and has received numerous musical awards.

Press reviews

“Flirtatious, melancholy and very intense … it was almost as if one could see Barbara sitting in the garden on Geismarlandstraße in the summer of 1964, working on her chanson ‘Göttingen’.” (Göttinger Tageblatt; translated from German)

“She has class. Catherine Le Ray performs like a grande dame of French chanson.” (Badische Zeitung; translated from German)

“Frédéric Langlais accompanied Catherine Le Ray with great sensitivity and virtuosity.” (Augsburger Allgemeine; translated from German)

“A phenomenal evening of chansons, a vibrant Parisian firework display.” (Westfälische Zeitung; translated from German)

Rendez-vous avec Gréco

Musical storytelling and song by Catherine Le Ray, accompanied by Frédéric Langlais on accordion

Juliette Gréco (1927–2020) was one of the great voices of French chanson and a muse of Saint-Germain-des-Prés. Catherine Le Ray celebrates her extraordinary life and songs, recalling the writers, poets and composers who shaped her repertoire, including Jean-Paul Sartre, Jacques Prévert, Raymond Queneau, Jacques Brel, Léo Ferré, Serge Gainsbourg, Charles Aznavour, Charles Trenet and Georges Brassens.

Like Gréco, Catherine Le Ray places particular importance on lyrics and their interpretation. She met Juliette Gréco personally and has performed with musicians who also accompanied her. Frédéric Langlais brings his virtuoso accordion playing to the programme.

“She has class. Catherine Le Ray performs like a grande dame of French chanson.” (Badische Zeitung; translated from German)

“For ‘Les Feuilles Mortes’ (‘Autumn Leaves’), Frédéric Langlais conjured up a fantastic jazz solo on his button accordion.” (Allgäuer Zeitung; translated from German)

Piaf – Au Bal des Amours

Musical storytelling and song by Catherine Le Ray, accompanied by Frédéric Langlais on accordion

This programme pays tribute to Édith Piaf, the enduring icon of French love songs. Combining French chansons with biographical stories, Catherine Le Ray evokes Piaf’s life of hardship, passion and triumph. Alongside lesser-known songs, audiences hear classics such as “Milord”, “Je ne regrette rien” and “L’Hymne à l’amour”.

“A magnificent tribute to the Sparrow of Paris. The singer has the presence and voice to do justice to her model, Édith Piaf.” (Süddeutsche Zeitung; translated from German)