The Festival of Francophone Songs ‘07

Photographs by Berges Malu

Date: March 20, 2007 | Venue: Tata Theatre, NCPA (Mumbai)

Every year, the 20th of March is celebrated as Francophone Day all over the world. This year, Alliance Francaise de Bombay celebrated it by organising a ‘Festival of Francophone Songs’ at the Tata Theatre at NCPA, Mumbai. The gala evening saw musicians from various parts of the world perform together.

The show began with Dominique Cerejo along with Asif Ali Baig perform “It’s The Time To Disco”, a Bollywood hit to get the Indo-French Audience into the mood of the evening. This was followed by Pierre Michel Salvador, a noted French musician/pianist/composer who performed “Follement Doux” and “Je’taime et tu le sais” to a captivated audience. He was followed by Ayumi, a Japanese singer who performed “Ne me Quitte pas”, a song originally by Jacques Breland and “La Vie en rose”, a track originally by Edith Plaif. Ayumi is a veteran performer, having sung for many years in music halls in France. She was followed by Alexandra Fit, who played the piano and sang “La Foule” and “Champs Elysees”. Alexandra is a very talented musician from Romania and has won awards at quite a few national and international events, including the first prize at the ‘Festival of Plodiv’. Followed by her was Lucie Fouqueta, a opera singer and lyricist, who was again accompanied by Pierre Michel on the piano and performed two songs.

Then came the man who most people were waiting for with baited breath, Steve Barakatt. Steve is a Canadian musician and has been a huge success in North America as well as Asia. Steve has had the privilege of playing for the Quebec Symphony Orchestra at the tender age of 13, and has recorded his first solo album at age 14. He is in demand as a producer and lyricist for many South American, Canadian and Asian artistes. Also the Canadian Ambassador to the UNICEF, from the Nagoya Dome in Japan to the United Nations in New York, he has performed in front of hundreds of thousands of people. Steve performed two songs, one of which was an instrumental. He said that music can surpass all boundaries and languages.

Followed by this was the awarding of the first prize to the winner of the singing competition held by the Alliance Francaise. The evening ended with all the performers coming together to dance, as Dominique Cerejo performed “Dhoom Machale” for the audience.

1. April 14, 2007, 2:27 pm micheal

   I was there and Steve was just great….hope he comes to mumbai again!!!
2. June 12, 2007, 4:11 pm Piyush

   hmm saw it for the first time..
   i am not much into rock but will def make it next year..