The legendary French chanteuse Edith Piaf was a global icon of resistance and triumph in the last years of her extraordinary life. Between 1955 and 1962, the Paris theatre L'Olympia became her second home, where electrifying ovations greeted some of the greatest performances of her long, celebrated career.

L'Olympia witnessed the live debut of her signature song, 'Non, je ne regrette rien', and definitive recordings of some of her most stirring songs of love, joy, and resilience, including 'Mon Dieu', 'La Vie en Rose',' L'Accordeoniste', 'Milord', 'La Foule' and 'Padam Padam'.

Now, commemorating 60 years since the Little Sparrow's classic concert album Récital 1961, New Zealand's multi-award-winning pop-classical contralto Yulia performs with orchestra and band to revisit those historic performances live on stage.

A fluent French speaker, Russian-born Yulia has explored the distinctive smolder and brass of the Piaf catalogue for more than a decade, from a special engagement in Chambord Castle in France to the New Zealand Jazz and Blues Festival in Christchurch.

Piaf's 'L'hymne a l'amour' was among the many highlights of Into The West, Yulia's chart-topping debut album of 2004. Her second, Montage, made her the first female vocalist in New Zealand to have two number-one albums in a row, culminating in total sales of 6 x Platinum.

Don’t miss this meeting across the ages, as one of our most inspired talents channels the great chanteuse performing at the peak of her powers: Edith Piaf à L'Olympia à Paris.

 

 

If you're attending the Saturday performance, journey through the depths of The Civic after the show to find The Secret Piano Bar, Club-a-lub-a-ling-long and enjoy performances by some surprise guests, get your fortune told, you might even meet a few new weird and wonderful friends along the way.

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