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Du bout des yeux
Various composers

Café des Chansons feat. Charlotte Haesen

Du bout des yeux

Price: € 19.95
Format: CD
Label: Challenge Classics
UPC: 0608917278026
Catnr: CC 72780
Release date: 27 September 2018
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Label
Challenge Classics
UPC
0608917278026
Catalogue number
CC 72780
Release date
27 September 2018

"Price CD week 46: Du bout des yeux. Charlotte Haesen sings beautifully and also in fine French."

Radio 4, 12-11-2018
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Artist(s)
Composer(s)
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NL
DE
FR

About the album

Charlotte Haesen, born in Amsterdam in 1987 and raised in the French-speaking part of Belgium, studied jazz singing at the Amsterdam University of the Arts. On a sunny Saturday afternoon, she sang French chansons at Amsterdam’s Noordermarkt, where she was discovered by viola player Odile Torenbeek.

Odile and Charlotte decided to put together a chanson programme anchored in a string quartet ensemble. Leading arrangers then ‘arrayed’ the chansons around Charlotte’s own, particular sound. The next step was the founding of Café des Chansons: Charlotte
Haesen plus four musicians from the Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra.

They perform gems of the repertoire, including the great French classics by artists such as Barbara, Gainsbourg and Piaf.
Een zonnige zaterdagmiddag in Amsterdam. Een meisje, met heimwee naar de Franse taal, zingt wondermooi, melancholische chansons op de Noordermarkt. Altvioliste Odile Torenbeek, op weg naar appeltaart, krijgt dat meisje, Charlotte Haesen, in het vizier en denkt hier moet ik wat mee. En zo begon het: Café des Chansons.

En nu is er dan Du bout des yeux! Een album met nostalgische en eigenzinnige interpretaties van het Franse chanson, fraai uitgevoerd door de groepering Café des Chansons bestaande uit jazz zangeres Charlotte Haesen en het Tobalita strijkkwartet, dat bestaat uit leden van het Nederlands Philharmonisch Orkest. De titel van dit tweede album van de zangeres komt voort uit de tekst van het chanson Les Vieux van Jacques Brel. Poëtisch vertaald betekent het 'spreken zonder woorden', ’spreken met het puntje van je ogen’. Ook als je de Franse taal niet beheerst zorgt de melancholische manier waarop de musici deze chansons uitvoeren voor kippenvel. Het is een ongebruikelijke benadering van de muziek, door de vrije geest van de jazz zangeres en het, normaal gesproken geregisseerde, klassieke strijkkwartet; een samensmelting van twee muzikale culturen.

Een greep uit de chansons

Het album opent met het overbekende Paris Canaille (Parijs de 'deugniet') van Léo Ferré. Dit chanson gooit de deur wijd open naar het bruisende Parijs. De stad die door zijn wervelende dynamiek zoveel schrijvers, musici, schilders en andere artiesten altijd weer opnieuw intrigeert. In het lied Je me suis fait tout petit (Ik maak mezelf klein) beschrijft Georges Brassens, met humor en een knipoog, zijn totale onderwerping aan zijn partner Joha Heiman, die hij ook wel liefkozend 'Püppchen' noemde omdat ze zo klein was. Qui protège les marins? is het lied van Charlotte Haesen zelf: Wie beschermt de zeelui tegen de angst voor de storm? In het oog van de storm verdwijnt de angst.

Lovende recensies

Na het uitkomen van hun eerste album en een optreden op tv bij Podium Witteman kreeg Café des Chansons een vloedgolf aan lovende reacties. Mooier kan haast niet. Neem deze van Erik Voermans van Het Parool, hij had er vijf sterren voor over: “Wie de cd Café des Chansons hoort, staat meteen van drie dingen versteld. Een fascinerende stem. Het glasheldere Frans. En de fluwelen strijkers eromheen.” Of Mischa Spel, NRC die het album beschreef als “prachtig intiem en authentiek" met "precies de juiste mix onzware ernst en vlinderachtige humor.” Dat belooft dus wat voor dit tweede album met de buitengewoon afwisselende selectie Franse liederen. Aardig is dat er naast die chansons ook een lied van Charlotte Haesen zèlf opgenomen is.

Charlotte Haesen

Charlotte Haesen (1987) in Amsterdam geboren, maar in Franstalig België opgegroeid, heeft roots in Nederland, Frankrijk en Burundi. De veelzijdige zangeres beheerst een breed scala aan muziekgenres, waarmee ze het publiek betovert met haar unieke timbre en onmiskenbare muzikaliteit. Charlotte studeerde jazz-zang op het Conservatorium van Amsterdam en won onder andere de EuJazz Award, de publieksprijs bij het 28e Concours de la Chanson Alliance Française. Ze trad wereldwijd op met verschillende formaties op festivals en podia in meer dan 15 landen.

Café des Chansons

Ooit op een mooie zonnige zaterdagmiddag zong Charlotte Haesen Franse chansons op de Noordermarkt in Amsterdam. Zo ontdekte altvioliste Odile Torenbeek haar: "Daar stond ze dan zingend op straat. Ik werd onmiddellijk gelanceerd naar mijn kinderjaren waar chansons een vertrouwd geluid waren." Odile en Charlotte besloten samen een chansonsprogramma te maken met een strijkkwartet als basis. Hierbij werden gerenommeerde arrangeurs als Paul Prenen en Wijnand van Klaveren betrokken die op bijzondere wijze het chanson om Charlottes stem-timbre wisten te ‘draperen’. Vervolgens ontwikkelde zich de groepering Café des Chansons: Charlotte Haesen plus vier musici uit het Nederlands Philharmonisch Orkest: het Tobalita Strijkkwartet. Zij voeren de juweeltjes uit van Franstalige artiesten als Barbara, Serge Gainsbourg, Edith Piaf, George Brassens, Léo Ferré, Jacques Brel, Charles Trenet en Charles Aznavour.
Charlotte Haesen wurde 1987 in Amsterdam geboren, wuchs im französischsprachigen Teil Belgiens auf und studierte Jazzgesang an der Universität der Künste Amsterdam. Als sie an einem sonnigen Nachmittag am Amsterdamer Noordermarkt französische Chansons sang, wurde sie von Bratschistin Odile Torenbeek entdeckt. Odile und Charlotte entschieden sich, ein Chansonprogramm mit einem Streichquartettensemble zusammenzustellen. Führende Arrangeure haben dann die Chansons um Charlottes ganz individuellen Klang ‚aufgestellt‘. Danach war der nächste Schritt die Gründung des Café des Chansons: Charlotte Haesen und vier Musiker des Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra.

Zusammen spielen sie Juwelen des Repertoires, einschließlich die französischen Klassiker von Größen wie Barbara, Gainsbourg and Piaf.

Née en 1987, la chanteuse Charlotte Haesen est d’origine franco- néerlando- burundaise. Elle grandit entre la Belgique Francophone et les Pays - Bas. Dés ses 17 ans, elle est passionnée par le jazz. Elle étudie la musique aux conservatoires de Maastricht et d’Amsterdam. La musique de Charlotte mixe tantôt la musique du monde et la pop, tantôt le singer-songwriting avec le jazz. Son univers visuel incomparable est soutenu par des musiciens de musique classique et de jazz de haut niveau.
Connue pour être active dans des styles variés, elle gagne le Eujazz Award, le prix du public à la compétition de l’Alliance Française des Pays-Bas et reçoit plusieurs récompense pour ses vidéoclips en collaboration avec les producteurs Ma-ké. Etant une artiste uniquement versatile, Haesen se produit mondialement dans différentes formations sur les scènes de plus de 15 pays.

CAFé DES CHANSONS (2017)
Pendant ses études au conservatoire d’Amsterdam, l’étudiante chante parfois dans les rues du marché au fameux Noordermarkt. C’est là qu’elle est découverte par la violoniste alto Odile Torenbeek. S’en suit la formation de l’ensemble ‘Café des Chansons’.
Odile rassemble un quartet de violons de l’orchestre philharmonique des Pays-Bas, autour du son particulier de la voix de Charlotte. Ceux-ci se marient merveilleusement bien grâce aux les arrangements aujourd’hui réputés de Paul Prenen et de Wijnand van Klaveren.
En 2017, Odile et Charlotte sortent leur premier album. Celui-ci se place nr. 5 du top 10 dans la liste Concerto Plato World et dans le magazine Mania.


Artist(s)

Café des Chansons

On a sunny Saturday afternoon Charlotte sang French chansons at Amsterdam’s Noordermarkt, where she was discovered by viola player Odile Torenbeek. The next step was the founding of the highly acclaimed programm 'Café des Chansons'. Leading arrangers such as Paul Prenen and Wijnand van Klaveren arranged some of the most beautiful French chansons around Charlotte’s own particular sound, anchoring it in a string quartet from the Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra: the Tobalita String Quartet. Singer Charlotte Haesen was born in Amsterdam in 1987. She has origins from France, The Netherlands and Burundi and grows up at the border between French speaking Belgium and The Nederlands. Later she studied jazz vocals at the Conservatory of Amsterdam. Known for being active in various musical genres, she...
more
On a sunny Saturday afternoon Charlotte sang French chansons at Amsterdam’s Noordermarkt, where she was discovered by viola player Odile Torenbeek. The next step was the founding of the highly acclaimed programm 'Café des Chansons'. Leading arrangers such as Paul Prenen and Wijnand van Klaveren arranged some of the most beautiful French chansons around Charlotte’s own particular sound, anchoring it in a string quartet from the Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra: the Tobalita String Quartet.
Singer Charlotte Haesen was born in Amsterdam in 1987. She has origins from France, The Netherlands and Burundi and grows up at the border between French speaking Belgium and The Nederlands. Later she studied jazz vocals at the Conservatory of Amsterdam. Known for being active in various musical genres, she has won the EuJazz Award, the public prize of the Dutch Alliance Française competition and received several awards for her videoclips. Being a uniquely versatile artist, Haesen has performed with different formations at festivals and clubs in over 15 countries worldwide.
Odile and Charlotte release their first album in 2017. It ends up nr. 5 in the Concerto Plato World Top 10 and Mania Magazine.
Promo: Live performance at Podium Witteman Videoclip PRESS ‘Absolutely stunning.’ ★★★★★ - HET PAROOL (2017) ‘Charlotte sings in a beautifully authentic and intimate fashion.’ - NRC ‘A fascinating voice.’ - SENA PERFORMERS MAGAZINE ‘The subtle worldly shades are priceless and give the soulful songs a colorful subtone. Haesen's voice is cristallyne and powerful’ - LIVE XS ‘And what about the singer Charlotte Haesen? She grew up in the Euregion – A future ray of hope for the Jazz from that region.’ - JAZZISM ’You can defenatly say that 'Salomé' was a very meritorious debut of a quirky and willful lady.’- Muziek from NL ‘The songs of Haesen are original, compact, exciting and melodious. - HET PAROOL ‘Charlotte Haesen enchants with her voice, timing and her wonderful performance. (...) she provides for goosebumps and unexpected tears. After the performance on Podium Witteman it is clear from the enthusiastic reviews that she can’t stay a public secret any longer.’ - UITZINNIG.NL
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Charlotte Haesen (vocals)

Known to be active in various musical genres, the singer Charlotte Haesen reaches her listeners with her authentic performance and storytelling, her unmistakable timbre and her incredible musicality. She has won the EuJazz Award, the public price at the 28th Concours de la Chanson Alliance Francaise and received several rewards for her videoclips. Being a uniquely versatile artist, Haesen has performed with different formations at festivals and stages in over 15 countries worldwide. Born in Amsterdam, she has origins from France, The Netherlands and Burundi. She grows up at the border between French speaking Belgium and The Nederlands. She studies jazz singing at the Maastricht Conservatory and the Amsterdam University of the Arts. Charlotte currently focuses on two main projects: Café des Chansons and her duo with guitar...
more

Known to be active in various musical genres, the singer Charlotte Haesen reaches her listeners with her authentic performance and storytelling, her unmistakable timbre and her incredible musicality. She has won the EuJazz Award, the public price at the 28th Concours de la Chanson Alliance Francaise and received several rewards for her videoclips. Being a uniquely versatile artist, Haesen has performed with different formations at festivals and stages in over 15 countries worldwide.

Born in Amsterdam, she has origins from France, The Netherlands and Burundi. She grows up at the border between French speaking Belgium and The Nederlands. She studies jazz singing at the Maastricht Conservatory and the Amsterdam University of the Arts.

Charlotte currently focuses on two main projects: Café des Chansons and her duo with guitar player Philip Breidenbach: Haesen & Breidenbach.


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Thomas Oliemans (vocals)

Amsterdam born winner of the 2013 Prix d' Amis of The Netherlands Opera for his portrayal of Papageno in Simon McBurney's production of Die Zauberflöte, Thomas Oliemans made his professional opera debut aged 24 as the Father in Hans Werner Henze’s Pollicino with the Nationale Reisopera of the Netherlands where he also sang Minos in Händel’s Arianna in Creta and Ned Keene in Britten’s Peter Grimes. In 2005 he made his debut at the Salzburg Festival as Gonsalvo Fieschi in Schreker's Die Gezeichneten. Further important debuts followed in 2006 as Papageno in Mozart´s Die Zauberflöte at the Opéra de Nantes/Angers to great public and critical acclaim, and at the Grand Théâtre de Genève as Guglielmo in Cosi fan tutte.  His most recent operatic engagements have included his debut at Teatro Real in Madrid with Ivor Bolton and...
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Amsterdam born winner of the 2013 Prix d' Amis of The Netherlands Opera for his portrayal of Papageno in Simon McBurney's production of Die Zauberflöte, Thomas Oliemans made his professional opera debut aged 24 as the Father in Hans Werner Henze’s Pollicino with the Nationale Reisopera of the Netherlands where he also sang Minos in Händel’s Arianna in Creta and Ned Keene in Britten’s Peter Grimes.

In 2005 he made his debut at the Salzburg Festival as Gonsalvo Fieschi in Schreker's Die Gezeichneten. Further important debuts followed in 2006 as Papageno in Mozart´s Die Zauberflöte at the Opéra de Nantes/Angers to great public and critical acclaim, and at the Grand Théâtre de Genève as Guglielmo in Cosi fan tutte.

His most recent operatic engagements have included his debut at Teatro Real in Madrid with Ivor Bolton and Krysztof Warlikowski (Hercule in Gluck’s Alceste) Donner in Das Rheingold under the baton of Ingo Metzmacher at the Grand Théâtre de Genève, reprisal of his Papageno in Die Zauberflöte at the Festival d’Aix-en-Provence and Amsterdam. Conte in Le Nozze di Figaro in Gothenburg, Ramiro in L'Heure Espagnole in concert conducted by Charles Dutoit. He appeared as Lescaut in Massenet’s Manon at the Théâtre du Capitole in Toulouse partnering Natalie Dessay, had his debut at the Royal Opera House Covent Garden singing Schaunard alongside Joseph Calleja, Roberto Alagna and Angela Gheorghiu in La Bohème conducted by Semyon Bychkov, Papageno in a new production of Die Zauberflöte staged by esteemed director Simon McBurney and Fritz Kothner in Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg conducted by Marc Albrecht at De Nederlandse Opera in Amsterdam, Marcello in La Bohème and Gunther inGötterdämmerung at the Nationale Reisopera, Eisenstein in Die Fledermaus and Marcello in La Bohème at the Opéra National du Rhin in Strasbourg, Figaro in Le Nozze di Figaro and Figaro in Il Barbiere di Siviglia for the Scottish Opera, Hercule in Gluck’s Alceste at the Festival d’Aix-en-Provence, Papageno in Die Zauberflöte at the Théâtre du Capitole in Toulouse. His strong ties to The Netherlands Opera have resulted in parts in Don Carlo, Un Ballo in maschera, Die Zauberflöte, Meistersinger and Rameau’sCastor et Pollux. He also sang leading roles in three world-premiere productions of contemporary Dutch operas by Wagemans (Legende), Zuidam (Adam in Ballingschap) and Martijn Padding (Laika).


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Robert Lis (violin)

Robert Lis was born in Dabrowa Gornicza (Poland) in 1987. He played soloist and chamber musician in major concert halls in Europe. As orchestra violinist Robert Lis has played in the Sinfonietta Polonia, Radio Chamber Philharmonic, Philharmonic Orchestra and the Poznan Philharmonic Orchestra. In addition to his position in the Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra, he plays in the Lyrique Trio, the Moses Quartet and leases with his duo partner, the Polish-Canadian pianist Justyna Maj.
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Robert Lis was born in Dabrowa Gornicza (Poland) in 1987. He played soloist and chamber musician in major concert halls in Europe. As orchestra violinist Robert Lis has played in the Sinfonietta Polonia, Radio Chamber Philharmonic, Philharmonic Orchestra and the Poznan Philharmonic Orchestra. In addition to his position in the Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra, he plays in the Lyrique Trio, the Moses Quartet and leases with his duo partner, the Polish-Canadian pianist Justyna Maj.


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Odile Torenbeek (viola)

Odile Torenbeek studied viola at the Hochschule für Musik (Detmold) at Nobuko Imai, surgeon the prestigious Fulbright scholarship gave her the opportunity to obtain a Master of Music at Yale University with prof.Jesse Levine. Odile works in many orchestras both in the US and in Germany. Since 1996 she is a member of the Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra. Chamber music has always been central to her career. She performs in many different formations at home and abroad.
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Odile Torenbeek studied viola at the Hochschule für Musik (Detmold) at Nobuko Imai, surgeon the prestigious Fulbright scholarship gave her the opportunity to obtain a Master of Music at Yale University with prof.Jesse Levine. Odile works in many orchestras both in the US and in Germany. Since 1996 she is a member of the Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra. Chamber music has always been central to her career. She performs in many different formations at home and abroad.


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Anjali Tanna (cello)

Composer(s)

Jacques Brel

Jacques Brel, in full Jacques Romain Georges Brel, (born April 8, 1929, Schaerbeeck, Belgium—died October 9, 1978, Bobigny, near Paris, France), Belgian singer and songwriter whose literate, passionate songs made him one of the most popular French-language musicians in Europe and gained him a worldwide following. Brel began writing stories and poems as a teen, but he was an indifferent student, and after his final year of secondary school he took a job with his father’s packaging company. While there he became involved with a philanthropic youth organization, and he started performing and writing songs as a member of that group. Brel began singing his compositions in Brussels cabarets in 1952, and the following year he released his first recording, a single that featured the songs “Il y a” (“There Is” or...
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Jacques Brel, in full Jacques Romain Georges Brel, (born April 8, 1929, Schaerbeeck, Belgium—died October 9, 1978, Bobigny, near Paris, France), Belgian singer and songwriter whose literate, passionate songs made him one of the most popular French-language musicians in Europe and gained him a worldwide following.

Brel began writing stories and poems as a teen, but he was an indifferent student, and after his final year of secondary school he took a job with his father’s packaging company. While there he became involved with a philanthropic youth organization, and he started performing and writing songs as a member of that group. Brel began singing his compositions in Brussels cabarets in 1952, and the following year he released his first recording, a single that featured the songs “Il y a” (“There Is” or “There Are”) and “La Foire” (“The Fair”) on its two sides. Although the single was only modestly successful, it caught the attention of a French recording executive, who invited Brel to move to Paris.

In 1953 Brel began singing in French cafés. He did not meet with immediate success, but he persevered, and his first album, Jacques Brel et ses chansons (“Jacques Brel and His Songs”) appeared in 1955. He finally broke through with the title song of his second album, Quand on n’a que l’amour (1957; “If We Only Have Love”), and by the end of the decade he was a star in France. His songs, frequently sharply satirical and often implicitly religious, also became hugely popular in much of Europe. His best-known songs, including “Ne me quitte pas” (“Do Not Leave Me”), “Amsterdam,” “Madeleine,” “Les Vieux” (“The Old Ones”), and “La Chanson des vieux amants” (“Song of Old Lovers”), were translated and recorded by numerous singers in other languages. Notable American recordings of Brel’s songs included Damita Jo’s “If You Go Away” (1966), a translation by Rod McKuen of “Ne me quitte pas”; Judy Collins’s “The Dove” (1963), an English-language version of “La Colombe”; David Bowie’s “Amsterdam” (1973) and “My Death” (1983), the latter a translation of Brel’s “La Mort” (1959); and Terry Jacks’s “Seasons in the Sun” (1974), McKuen’s rather cloying translation of Brel’s 1961 song “Le Moribond” (“The Dying Man”). Brel became best known in the United States, however, through the 1968 Off-Broadway revue Jacques Brel Is Alive and Well and Living in Paris, which was revived on Broadway in 1972 and filmed in 1975, featuring translations by Eric Blau and Mort Shuman.

Brel announced his retirement from performing in 1966, with his final performance the following year, and he also released the album Jacques Brel 67. His next, and final, album, Les Marquises (1977), was rapturously received. A statue of Brel singing was unveiled in Brussels in 2017.

Brel also acted in 10 films from 1967 to 1973, two of which he directed. In addition, he adapted and translated the stage musical Man of La Mancha as L’Homme de la Mancha, and he both directed and played the lead in 1968 in Brussels and in a 1968–69 staging in Paris.


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Léo Ferré

Although little known in English speaking countries, Leo Ferre (1916-1993) is a monument of French chanson, revered throughout the francophone world. A singer, songwriter, author, composer, and even orchestra conductor, he is mostly remembered for songs like 'Avec le Temps,' 'Les Anarchistes,' and 'Jolie Mome.' His career began in the cabaret and took him through four decades and a number of styles, but his best material and his popularity peak happened in the '60s and early '70s, as the generation of May '68 adopted him as an anarchist figure. Leo Ferre was born and raised in the principality of Monaco, between France and Italy. Throughout his life, the artist would live and work in the two countries alternately, even recording a...
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Although little known in English speaking countries, Leo Ferre (1916-1993) is a monument of French chanson, revered throughout the francophone world. A singer, songwriter, author, composer, and even orchestra conductor, he is mostly remembered for songs like "Avec le Temps," "Les Anarchistes," and "Jolie Mome." His career began in the cabaret and took him through four decades and a number of styles, but his best material and his popularity peak happened in the '60s and early '70s, as the generation of May '68 adopted him as an anarchist figure.
Leo Ferre was born and raised in the principality of Monaco, between France and Italy. Throughout his life, the artist would live and work in the two countries alternately, even recording a few songs in Italian. He completed his college studies in 1934 in Rome. Since his father refused to let him go to the music conservatory, he went to Paris for studies in law, earning a diploma in Political Sciences in 1939. The second World War dragged him into the military and upon Paris' capitulation he fled back to Monaco. He got married for the first time in 1943, began to work at Radio Monte-Carlo, and wrote his first songs.
After the Liberation (1945) Ferre gave his first performances in Parisian cabarets, encouraged by Charles Trenet, Edith Piaf, and Juliette Greco who would sing many of his songs. His first wife divorced him in 1950. Shortly after, he met Madeleine Rabereau, who would become his second wife and have a decisive influence on his career, pushing him constantly forward. He cut his first 78 rpms for Le Chant du Monde and wrote his first piece of "serious" music, the oratorio "La Chanson du Mal-Aime." In 1953, Ferre was signed by the record label Odeon and recorded his first LP which includes "Paris-Canaille." In the late '50s and early '60s he recorded a series of albums devoted to French poets, interspersed with LPs of his own songs. His lyrics alternate between love topics and a social commentary that grows more and more bitter: "Thank You Satan," "Mon General" (against Charles De Gaulle), "Ni Dieu, Ni Maitre." When the events of May '68 take place, Ferre is at a popular and artistic peak. Now forever associated to the Anarchist movement, he let himself be transported by the younger generation. He abandoned the over-emphatic, theatrical style of singing that was also Jacques Brel's trademark, recorded and toured with the rock group Zoo, and included monologues in his concerts. In October 1970 came out the single "Avec le Temps." It became his signature song.
Starting in 1975, Ferre attempted a career in classical music, conducting orchestras for his works and classics (he recorded works by Beethoven and Ravel). For the next decade he continued to release albums and tour, but his prime had passed. His writings and television appearances were feeding his popularity more than his musical production of the time, and by 1985 he had considerably slowed down his activities. He was preparing a come back to the stage when illness struck in 1992. He died in July 1993 at age 77.

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Georges Brassens

George Brassens, (born October 22, 1921, Sète, France—died October 30, 1981, Sète), French singer and songwriter. One of the most-celebrated French chansonniers (cabaret singers) of the 20th century, Brassens held a unique place in the affections of the French public and, during a career of nearly 30 years, sold more than 20 million records. Brassens’s songs, which won the poetry prize of the Académie Française in 1967, belonged to a tradition reaching back to the medieval jongleurs (professional storytellers and entertainers). They combined bawdy humour, tenderness, and contempt for the self-importance of bigots and authority figures. After arriving in Paris in 1940, Brassens worked in the Renault car factory and was conscripted for war work in Germany. While off duty back...
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George Brassens, (born October 22, 1921, Sète, France—died October 30, 1981, Sète), French singer and songwriter. One of the most-celebrated French chansonniers (cabaret singers) of the 20th century, Brassens held a unique place in the affections of the French public and, during a career of nearly 30 years, sold more than 20 million records.
Brassens’s songs, which won the poetry prize of the Académie Française in 1967, belonged to a tradition reaching back to the medieval jongleurs (professional storytellers and entertainers). They combined bawdy humour, tenderness, and contempt for the self-importance of bigots and authority figures. After arriving in Paris in 1940, Brassens worked in the Renault car factory and was conscripted for war work in Germany. While off duty back in France, Brassens deserted and was given refuge by his aunt’s neighbour, Jeanne Planche, to whom he dedicated many of his songs. In 1952 Brassens was discovered by Jacques Grello and made his debut in a nightclub owned by the singer Patachou. His warm voice and emphatic guitar accompaniment were heard at the Olympia, the Alhambra, and the Palais de Chaillot, but he was at his best in his regular appearances in the unpretentious surroundings of the Bobino music hall.


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Charles Trenet

Louis Charles Auguste Claude (Charles) Trenet (Narbonne, 18 May 1913 - Créteil, 19 February 2001) was a French singer, composer and actor, active from the nineties until the nineties of the 20th century. Trenet, who got his comic expression and his felt hat the nickname 'Le Fou Chantant' (the singing fool), is best known for his world hit Douce France and La mer. In France, Trenet is just as famous as Édith Piaf and Charles Aznavour.  
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Louis Charles Auguste Claude (Charles) Trenet (Narbonne, 18 May 1913 - Créteil, 19 February 2001) was a French singer, composer and actor, active from the nineties until the nineties of the 20th century. Trenet, who got his comic expression and his felt hat the nickname "Le Fou Chantant" (the singing fool), is best known for his world hit Douce France and La mer. In France, Trenet is just as famous as Édith Piaf and Charles Aznavour.


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Michel Legrand

Michel Legrand has made his fame and fortune from writing for films, but he has done significant work in jazz on an occasional basis. In 1957, he arranged a set of Dixieland and swing standards for a French orchestra (recorded on Philips), in 1958 he used three different all-star groups for the classic Legrand Jazz (with such sidemen as Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Phil Woods, Herbie Mann, Bill Evans, Ben Webster, Art Farmer, and others), in 1968 he recorded a strictly jazz set with a trio and Legrand has written for albums led by Stan Getz (1971), Sarah Vaughan (1972), and on several occasions, Phil Woods. Several of his songs (such as 'What Are You Doing the Rest of Your...
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Michel Legrand has made his fame and fortune from writing for films, but he has done significant work in jazz on an occasional basis. In 1957, he arranged a set of Dixieland and swing standards for a French orchestra (recorded on Philips), in 1958 he used three different all-star groups for the classic Legrand Jazz (with such sidemen as Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Phil Woods, Herbie Mann, Bill Evans, Ben Webster, Art Farmer, and others), in 1968 he recorded a strictly jazz set with a trio and Legrand has written for albums led by Stan Getz (1971), Sarah Vaughan (1972), and on several occasions, Phil Woods. Several of his songs (such as "What Are You Doing the Rest of Your Life," "Watch What Happens," and "The Summer Knows") have been recorded many times by jazz musicians.

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Charles Aznavour

Aznavour was born as the son of Micha Aznavourian, an Armenian-born Armenian, and Knar Baghdassarian, an Armenian who grew up in Smyrna (now Izmir). His parents, in vest in the city, are vest in the city of his roots. His father performed as a singer in restaurants and later opened a Japanese restaurant himself. Aznavour twice: in 1946, Micheline meets Rugel, meets Evelyn Plessis in 1956 and in 1967 Ulla Thorsell met the more than 20 years younger Swedish. From his marriages six children were born: Séda (1946), Patrick (1951), Charles (1952), Katia (1969), Mischa (1972) and Nicolas (1977). He lived with his wife Ulla six months a year in southern France and the rest of the year in Geneva in...
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Aznavour was born as the son of Micha Aznavourian, an Armenian-born Armenian, and Knar Baghdassarian, an Armenian who grew up in Smyrna (now Izmir). His parents, in vest in the city, are vest in the city of his roots. His father performed as a singer in restaurants and later opened a Japanese restaurant himself.

Aznavour twice: in 1946, Micheline meets Rugel, meets Evelyn Plessis in 1956 and in 1967 Ulla Thorsell met the more than 20 years younger Swedish. From his marriages six children were born: Séda (1946), Patrick (1951), Charles (1952), Katia (1969), Mischa (1972) and Nicolas (1977). He lived with his wife Ulla six months a year in southern France and the rest of the year in Geneva in Switzerland. In Saint-Sulpice, on Lake Geneva, they had a new house built in 2012.

In December 2008 he was granted Armenian citizenship.

Charles Aznavour died on 1 October 2018 at the age of 94 from heart and lung failure as a result of acute pulmonary edema.


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Jacques Datin

Jacques Datin was born on June 14, 1920 in Saint-Lô, Manche, France. He was a composer, known for Lost Highway (1997), Une belle fille comme moi (1972) and Via Macau (1966). He died on August 24, 1973 in Saclas, Essonne, France.
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Jacques Datin was born on June 14, 1920 in Saint-Lô, Manche, France. He was a composer, known for Lost Highway (1997), Une belle fille comme moi (1972) and Via Macau (1966). He died on August 24, 1973 in Saclas, Essonne, France.

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Philippe Sarde

Philippe Sarde (born 21 June 1948) is a French film composer. Considered among the most versatile and talented French film composers of his generation, Sarde has scored over two hundred films, film shorts, and television mini-series. He received an Academy Award nomination for Tess (1979), and twelve César Award nominations, winning for Barocco (1976) and The Judge and the Assassin (1976). In 1993, Sarde received the Joseph Plateau Music Award.
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Philippe Sarde (born 21 June 1948) is a French film composer. Considered among the most versatile and talented French film composers of his generation, Sarde has scored over two hundred films, film shorts, and television mini-series. He received an Academy Award nomination for Tess (1979), and twelve César Award nominations, winning for Barocco (1976) and The Judge and the Assassin (1976). In 1993, Sarde received the Joseph Plateau Music Award.

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Press

Price CD week 46: Du bout des yeux. Charlotte Haesen sings beautifully and also in fine French.
Radio 4, 12-11-2018

A chance meeting in the street, singer Charlotte Haesen and viola player Odile Torenbeek found each other in their love for French chansons. A passionate romance between strings and singing followed.
De Volkskrant, 19-10-2018

The voice of Haesen, complemented by a classical string, almost automatically creates that image of a couple in lova along the Paris avenues.
Opus Klassiek, 11-10-2018

Here, she edits a number of well-known and lesser-known chansons in a grand way and gives them a new life.
Mania, 09-10-2018

With her jazz timing, her unadorned presentation, her great, pure and therefore moving voice she can do very special things. Of course, this did not go unnoticed. And so there is now CD number 2 (released on Challenge Records), which is even better than the first one.
Het Parool, 06-10-2018

A wonderful CD that is often heard here in house and a must not only for the lovers of chansons, but actually for everyone who has their ears in the right place!
Rootstime, 04-10-2018

The approach is that brand new arrangements perfectly serve the classical instrumentation and the delicate voice of the lead singer. This CD is a real gem.
Kerk & Leven, 10-9-2018

Play album Play album
01.
Paris canaille
03:20
(Léo Ferré) Café des Chansons, Charlotte Haesen, Robert Lis, Evelien Jaspers, Odile Torenbeek, Anjali Tanna
02.
Mon coeur est un violon
02:29
(Miarka Laparcerie, Jean Richepin) Café des Chansons, Charlotte Haesen, Robert Lis, Evelien Jaspers, Odile Torenbeek, Anjali Tanna
03.
Je me suis fait tout petit
03:30
(Georges Brassens) Café des Chansons, Charlotte Haesen, Robert Lis, Evelien Jaspers, Odile Torenbeek, Anjali Tanna
04.
Les vieux
03:45
(Jacques Brel) Café des Chansons, Charlotte Haesen, Robert Lis, Evelien Jaspers, Odile Torenbeek, Anjali Tanna
05.
Débit de l'eau, débit de lait
02:39
(Charles Trenet) Café des Chansons, Charlotte Haesen, Thomas Oliemans, Robert Lis, Evelien Jaspers, Odile Torenbeek, Anjali Tanna
06.
La chanson des vieux amants
04:21
(Jacques Brel, Gérard Jouannest) Café des Chansons, Charlotte Haesen, Robert Lis, Evelien Jaspers, Odile Torenbeek, Anjali Tanna
07.
Qui protège les marins?
04:10
(Charlotte Haesen) Café des Chansons, Charlotte Haesen, Thomas Oliemans, Robert Lis, Evelien Jaspers, Odile Torenbeek, Anjali Tanna
08.
Isabelle
03:46
(Jacques Brel) Café des Chansons, Charlotte Haesen, Robert Lis, Evelien Jaspers, Odile Torenbeek, Anjali Tanna
09.
La bohème
04:18
(Charles Aznavour, Jacques Plante) Café des Chansons, Charlotte Haesen, Robert Lis, Evelien Jaspers, Odile Torenbeek, Anjali Tanna
10.
L?adolescente
02:53
(Jeanne Moreau, Philippe Sarde) Café des Chansons, Charlotte Haesen, Robert Lis, Evelien Jaspers, Odile Torenbeek, Anjali Tanna
11.
Le jazz et la java
02:56
(Jacques Datin, Claude Nougaro) Café des Chansons, Charlotte Haesen, Robert Lis, Evelien Jaspers, Odile Torenbeek, Anjali Tanna
12.
Orly
04:35
(Jacques Brel) Café des Chansons, Charlotte Haesen, Robert Lis, Evelien Jaspers, Odile Torenbeek, Anjali Tanna
13.
Les moulins de mon coeur
03:17
(Michel Legrand) Café des Chansons, Charlotte Haesen, Thomas Oliemans, Robert Lis, Evelien Jaspers, Odile Torenbeek, Anjali Tanna
show all tracks

Videos

Café des Chansons feat. Charlotte Haesen 'Du bout des yeux'
Charlotte Haesen & Philip Breidenbach - Ou est l'amour

Often bought together with..

où est l'amour?
haesen & breidenbach
Various composers
Perles de Pluie
Café des Chansons feat. Charlotte Haesen
Desire
Yuri Honing Acoustic Quartet
Joseph Haydn, José Peris
The seven last words of Christ - version for string quartet and voice
Henschel Quartett / Susanne Kelling
Maurice Ravel, Frédéric Chopin
Le Tombeau de Couperin & Chopin: 24 Préludes Op. 28 (Live)
Ivo Janssen

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Café des Chansons feat. Charlotte Haesen