Barbara
See also: Barbara (homonymy)
Monique Andrée Serf , known as Barbara is a Chanteuse, author, compositrice and interprets French born with Paris, the June 9th 1930 and died with Neuilly-sur-Seine, the November 24th 1997. Its lyric poetry and the depth of the emotion which its voice released ensured him a public which followed it during thirty years.
Biography
Monique Serf spends the first years of her life surrounded by her father, Jacques, of Alsatian origin, her mother, Esther, of her Russian grandmother and Jean, her 2 year old older brother. Well before the war is declared, its youth is marked by successive removals. They will redouble under the occupation Nazi to flee the hunting made with the Juifs under the Vichy government. Separations will be added to thwart the denunciations. At the end of the conflict, they are found with the Vésinet. The family increased: a second girl, Régine, were born with Roanne in 1938, a second boy, Claude, with Tarbes in 1942.
First singing exercises
Monique is 16 years old. Little attracted by the studies, it ambitionne for a long time to become pianist and singer. His/her parents promise to him to pay him courses of song. She is registered with those of Mrs Dusséqué. Its life is changed it. At the end of some lessons, its professor presents it to Maître Paulet, teaching with the Conservatoire of Paris which takes it as raises. In 1946, the Serf settle with 50, rue de Vitruve, in the 20 {{E}} district. The summer is obscured by the death of the grandmother. In the new apartment, a piano rented by his/her father is installed. She plays about it of instinct without taking lessons. The young girl enters to the Academy as listener but with the traditional repertory of song she prefers that of the popular song. She stops the courses. In 1948, after having passed a hearing with the Theater Mogador, it is committed as chorus-singer in the Opérette imperial Violettes . One day, his/her father suddenly gives up the hearth not to return more. Soon, the hiring of the piano cannot be honoured any more. Forced to separate some, it is for it a tearing.
The Belgian period
Wanting at all costs to concretize its dream: to be “a singing pianist”, it leaves Paris, in 1950. Thanks to the money lent by a friend, it goes in a cousin to Brussels. It leaves it at the end of two months. Without resources nor knowledge, the life is difficult. Randomly of a meeting it joined a community of artists with Charleroi. There it finds of the assistance and starts to sing in cabarets under the name of Barbara Brodi (inspired of the name of his/her grandmother, Varvara Brodsky). Its repertory: songs of Edith Piaf, German Juliette Gréco and Montéro. End 1951 it goes back to Paris for hearings without a future. Returns to Brussels where a friend of the group of Charleroi gives the opportunity to him to sing. It is comparison with Ethery Rouchadze, a pianist who accepts to accompany it and near which it will improve with the piano. The latter introduces to him Claude Sluys, young apprentice lawyer. Accustomed places of spectacles, it is pricked to write some songs. End 1952, it unearths the “Theater of the white Horse” and uses of its relations to open a cabaret there so that it occurs there under the name of Barbara. The “word of mount” helping, success is not made wait, the marriage either (October 31st 1953) nor opportunity of being able to record two songs at Decca in 1954.In 1955, the husbands separate. At the end of this year, Barbara goes back to Paris where it gives recitals in small cabarets: “The Red rose”, in 1956, “In Sparrow”, in 1957 then with “the Lock” where it upon already sung for short engagements. The revoilà thus, in 1958 where it succeeds in being essential, under the nickname of “the Singer of midnight”. So that its notoriety grows and attracts a public of faithful, in particular among the students of the Latin Quarter. It is at that time that it starts to write. Noticed and engaged by Pathé Marconi, it records its first disc 45 turns 4 titles with 2 of its own songs: I exchanged and I killed the love and in spring 1959, his first 33 turns. The December 21st 1959, it learns death from his/her father with Nantes. The shortly after the burial she writes: Nantes . It will be one of its greater songs.
She changes recording company to sign at Odéon in 1960. Barbara sings Brassens and Barbara sings Jacques Brel are recorded. First is crowned by the Académie Charles-Cross-country race in Better category the “interprets”.
“A woman who sings”
In 1961 it takes down a song recital of the 9 with the February 20th, in first part of Felix Marten with Bobino, in the Quartier of Montparnasse. Its performance was appreciated little, its presentation considered to be austere, obviously not yet lends for the large scenes. Far from discouraging itself, it takes again its recitals with “the Lock”.Deux years later, Tuesday of November and December 1963, with the Theater of the Nasturtiums, it holds and captive the attention with a new repertory including/understanding two of its creations: , when will you return Say? and Nantes . Success is such as the house Philips signs a contract to him. Allured, Georges Brassens proposes to him the first part of its next spectacle with Bobino.
While waiting, the July 4th 1964, it goes without enthusiasm in Germany in answer to the invitation of Hans-Gunther Klein, director of the Junges Theater of the university town of Göttingen. Agreeably surprised and touched by warm welcome which it receives, it prolongs its stay. One week is passed. The last evening it offers the song Göttingen . (In May 1967, it will be with Hamburg to record it, with nine other titles, translated into German, for the 33 turns Barbara Singt Barbara and will turn over to sing in Göttingen the October 4th. In 1988, Barbara will receive the Medal of honor of the city.
As been appropriate, she sings in Bobino with Georges Brassens in “the high-speed motorboat” of the October 21st to the November 9th 1964. The public is conquered and criticisms are unanimous to greet its service. Paris-press-L' Intransigent written: “It almost makes forget Brassens”, Humanity : “A false step of Brassens, a prowess of Barbara. ”
The March 14th 1965, its first album Philips Barbara sings Barbara is distributed. It obtains the price of the Académie Charles-Cross-country race and proves to be a true business success.
La even year, it triumphs in Bobino, with first exceptional September 15th, which will mark it forever and which it immortalise shortly after in one of its greater songs: My more beautiful story of love, it is you.
As of this time, Barbara distributes her money and uses of her celebrity to carry help to the children needy.
The November 6th 1967, then in round in Italy, it learns death from his/her mother.
In February 1969, Barbara is with the Olympia. At the end of the last representation, with general stupor, she announces that she stops the song. However, it respects its engagements passed until in 1971.
On finds it, beginning 1970, the Théâtre of the Rebirth in Madam , of Albert Willemetz, it plays the part “of a tenancière of brothel in Africa”. This sung play is a failure in spite of songs with the neat texts and the musics. In February 1971, Franz , the first film carried out by his/her friend Jacques Brel, leaves on the screens. Both share the main roles but the film does not attract crowd. Two years later, it appears in the rare Bird , film carried out by Jean-Claude Brialy. The dancer, choreographer and large admiror of Barbara, Maurice Béjart, make it turn in his turn in I was born in Venice . Barbara holds two roles to with it: that of singer (with three songs: the Love magician , the Man out of red dress and Death), and that of the Lady of the night. It will be diffused only on television.
Its musical career remains active in the Années 1970. It appears in a variety programme on television with Johnny Hallyday and made rounds with the Japan, with the Canada, in Belgium, Israel, with the Netherlands and in Suisse. Its album Seule is one of the best sales of 1981. Its greater success on scene is that which it presents the same year to the hippodrome of Pantin (current site of the Zenith of Paris). It offers there much more than in simple concerts, its representations are true masses whose uninterrupted recalls are prolonged until late in the night. It is at the time of this spectacle headlight that the voice of the singer appears for the first time, and irremediably, broken. She will not seek to hide it but will be able on the contrary to make use of it to reinforce the dramatic and authentic aspect of her interpretation.
Renewing itself unceasingly, the singer continues to attract a very young public. The following year, one allots to him the National Grand Prix of the Song in recognition of his contribution to the French Culture. In addition, it develops an employment relationship and of friendship with the rising cinematographic high-speed motorboat Gerard Depardieu and his Elisabeth wife, collaborating on the musical screen of films. In 1982, it goes to the Metropolitan Opera New York for a Gala Performance , given the July 8th. On scene, it accompanies with the piano the principal dancer Mikhail Baryshnikov who dances on two of his songs ( Pierre and Evil of living ).
In the middle of the years 1980, it coécrit music and the text of the part Lily Passion with Luc Plamondon, in which it plays and sings with Gerard Depardieu. History of a singer who dedicated all her life with her public (kind of fictionalized autobiography). The first representation takes place with the Zenith of Paris in 1986.
Always at the same period, it becomes participating active in the collection of financing for the treatment of the AIDS. It gives its support by visiting patients in the hospitals and the prisons. At the time of its concerts, it places condoms at the disposal of the people come to listen to it to sing.
In 1988, the Légion of honor is allotted to him.
In November /décembre 1993 Barbara is again on the Parisian scene of the Théâtre of Châtelet. At this point in time health issues force it to stop the representations. After a few days of rest it finds its public, time to record the spectacle, then gives up continuing and cancels the following dates. A round follows. Its last appearance on scene will take place the evening of the March 26th 1994 with the Vinci theater of the town of Tours.
After 16 last years far from the studios, it records twelve new songs in summer 1996. For this disc, Jean-Louis Aubert sign the text Alive poem and Guillaume Depardieu the text moving by the song Through . Left the November 6th, this album sobrement entitled Barbara , will be her song of the swan.
Patient, it devotes his time to the drafting of his memories. Memories stopped by a Food poisoning striking down the November 24th 1997. She dies in the American hospital of Neuilly at the 67 years age. She is buried three days later in the presence of an innumerable crowd, with the cemetery of Bagneux, whose entry is located at Montrouge in the south of Paris.
In its posthumous memories, which appear in 1998, it reveals a painful share of its childhood while speaking about inceste without the word itself being written. What gives another lighting to some of its songs. More particularly: Nantes , the black Eagle and In the middle of the night .
Its songs became the traditional ones and remain largely diffused. Among his titles impossible to circumvent, one can quote: Say, when you return , Nantes , With the wood of Saint-Amand , Göttingen , loneliness , a small cantata , the brown lady , the black Eagle , Marienbad , My more beautiful story of love , Pierre …
Its musicians
It always chose carefully its musical partners, often resulting from the jazz and this, as of the Années 1960. One of its first accordionists was Joss Baselli. By its discrete play, it knew to give to the musics of Barbara a characteristic environment. Many years later, Barbara will explain that the play of Joss enormously brought to him. She will be always grateful to him. One can also quote Eddy Louis, Maurice Vander, and more recently Michel Portal, then Richard Galliano, Didier Lockwood, but also of other musician-singers of talent like Catherine Lara, which carried out the music of a whole album, or William Sheller, which collaborated in the same way the following year. Barbara was besides that which suggested with this last making scene. One of its more outstanding and durable collaborations was that of the accordionist Roland Romanelli who was joined, for the Récital Puppet 1981 , by the pianist Gerard Daguerre (who will accompany it until the end). Collaboration with Roland Romanelli is completed at the time of the creation of Lily Passion with Gerard Depardieu, and Gerard Daguerre then becomes the musician of predilection of Barbara.For the spectacle of the Châtelet 1987 , Barbara is surrounded by three new musicians: Marcel Azzola, which was the accordionist of Jacques Brel (celebrates it “Marcel Heating! ” of Vesoul ), Michel Gaudry, double bass player of jazz having collaborated with Barbara of the years before, and small new, Jean-Louis Hennequin (called familiarly P' tit Louis by Barbara) which will be from now on in load, with the keyboards, of the sound creation of these universes so particular that Barbara affectionnait since always. The year 1990 - 1991 see the percussionnist Mahut, the pianist Marc Lerchs and the accordionist Sergio Tomassi to join the small group of the musicians of elite being likely to divide the scene with Barbara, while Jean-Louis Hennequin moves away for a time.
1993 sees the last appearance of Barbara on the Parisian scene with the Châtelet, Gerard Daguerre, Mahut, Jean-Louis Hennequin and Sergio Tomassi are joined together for this spectacle and the round which will follow. Its last appearance on scene will take place one evening of 1994 with the Théâtre Vinci of Tours.
1996 will be the year of the last recording studio of Barbara (after sixteen years of scene out of the studios), with the album Barbara which will see finding the majority of its musicians of predilection, of Eddy Louis in Maurice Vander, while passing by Richard Galliano, Didier Lockwood but also Jean-Louis Aubert (which signs the text Vivant poem ), and of course faithful the Gerard Daguerre, Jean-Louis Hennequin and Mahut. On this occasion, Guillaume Depardieu will offer also the text to him moving by the song Through .
Discography
Warnings:Lists of the discs published in France with the dates of first édition.
De many compilations were and will be still published. They are not retained ici.
Abbreviations:
Long-playing record 33 tours/30cm: Length playing = LP
Compact disk: Compact Disc = CD
Recordings in studio
- Barbara with the Lock
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Barbara sings Brassens
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Barbara sings Jacques Brel
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Dis when will you return?
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Barbara sings Barbara
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Evil of living
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Barbara singt Barbara - Zum ersten badly in deutscher sprache.
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My more beautiful story of love
-
Madam
-
Only
Posthumous editions
- Barbara, the black eagle
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Concerts Musicorama (Diffused on the radio station, Europe 1.)
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Alhambra of Bordeaux 28-11-1969 “special Campus”
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Barbara on scene - Recordings Europe 1
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the Time of the lilac
Videotex
- 2000 : Barbara with Puppet , carried out in October - November 1981 by Guy Job, DVD Universal. Diffused on TF1, the November 5th 1982.
- 2000 : In Châtelet , carried out in September - October 1987 by Guy Job, DVD Universal.
- 2004 : a long brown lady , double DVD Mercury/Universal.
- 2006 : Brel, Barbara, a choreography of Maurice Béjart , DVD editions Jacques Brel. Realized by Serge Hannecart, in April 2005 with the Theater Metropolis of Lausanne.
Catalog of films
- 1971 : As far as the love , realized by Frederic Rossif. Barbara holds the role of a singer of cabaret (she sings Loneliness ). Exit: October 20th 1971.
- 1972 : Franz , realized by Jacques Brel. Barbara plays the part of Léonie. Exit: February 4th 1972.
- 1973 : the rare Bird , film with sketches realized by Jean-Claude Brialy. Barbara is the singer Alexandra Blitz-Balfour in one of the five stories.
Distinctions
- 1960 : Grand Prix of the disc of the Academy Charles Cros, category: better interpretation for the album Barbara sings Brassens .
- 1965 : Grand Prix of the disc of the Academy Charles Cros for the album Barbara sings Barbara .
- 1982 : National Grand Prix of the song given by the Minister for the culture, Jack Lang the December 22nd.
- 1988 : handing-over of the Legion of honor by the president of the Republic François Mitterrand, the September 15th.
- 1988 : quoted with the German federal Order of Merit in the name of the friendship enters the people.
- 1988 : Medal of honor of the town of Göttingen.
- 1993 : Victoire of the music, category: Artist interprets female year for the album Châtelet 93 .
- 1997 : Victoire of the music, category: Artist interprets female year for the album Barbara .
Homages to Barbara
- the March 22nd 1986, the shortly after the representation of the spectacle, Lily Passion with Nantes, Barbara, accompanied by her partner, Gerard Depardieu, inaugurates the street of the Barn-with-Wolf in the district of Saint-Joseph de Porterie (Libre commune). Hitherto, the street of the Barn-with-Wolf existed only in the song where Barbara evoked the appointment missed with her father the day when, the December 20th 1959, it died in the hospital of Nantes:
- In 1998, the municipal council of the town of Saint-Marcellin, where Barbara and her family took refuge during the Occupation in 1943/1945, decides to give the name of the famous singer to a public garden of the city. Since, the municipality organizes demonstrations around Barbara.
- the June 2nd 2000, at the time of the auction of the files of the singer, with Cheverny, the handwritten partition of the song, Nantes was preempted by the Ministère of the culture on behalf of the town of Nantes.
- the December 9th 2000, three years after the death of the singer, an alley perpendicular to the street of the Barn-with-Wolf is baptized name of Barbara. For this inauguration, a fresco painted by Philippe Béranger and a bronze statue carried out by Jeanne Merlet are revealed in this new place of memory.
- the November 22nd 2002, the Franco-German religious organization, association Barbara Perlimpinpin, the cinema Light and the municipality of Göttingen, affixed a commemorative plaque on the frontage of old the Junges Theater where Barbara gave a recital in 1964 (Since, the theater moved and the building shelters from now on the cinema Lumière ). On this plate, it is recalled that she wrote the song Göttingen in the close garden. Touched by the heat of the public come to applaud it, the singer desired to thank it by writing a song. With this intention it selected the peace of the garden contiguous to the theater. In addition, in the south of the city, it is inaugurated a Barbarastrasse .
- a pink of an intense red to the black velvet reflections, was created by the Delbard nursery gardener at the request of association Barbara Perlimpinpin and the rose tree was baptized the June 6th 2004 with the Roseraie of the Valley-of-Marne of the Haÿ-the-Pinks.
Sur the scenes of all the theaters where she sang, the pinks, very present in its words, accompanied and surrounded Barbara.
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Of the French survivors of the camp of Mittelbau-Gilded planted the rose tree the April 11th 2007, day of the 62e birthday of the release of the camp, in sign of the Franco-German reconciliation.
- the June 9th 2007 with Göttingen, in the presence of a delegation of the Embassy of France in Germany, a rose tree was planted in the garden of old the Junges Theater (become the cinema Lumière ) where Barbara sang in 1964.
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