A French chanteuse in Australia: Sylvie Boisel – Part 2 – WIN a copy of her album
The following interview is in English. Read the French version here.
Do you want to WIN a copy of Sylvie Boisel’s latest album ‘Amour’? Scroll down for more…
Sylvie Boisel is a French singer who debuted her career on the stages of Paris. Today she resides in Australia, where she lives out her passion to the full. With the release of her new album ‘Amour’, we wanted to find out a little more…
You can read the first part of the interview here.
Sylvie Boisel and Australia
You have participated in numerous events and festivals in Sydney, Brisbane, Canberra, Paris, Avignon, etc. Do you perceive any differences between your French audience and your Australian audience?
I don’t see any difference at all between my Australian and French audiences. It’s up to the artist to create a connection with the audience. People’s hearts and souls are the same. I’ve always had a warm welcome from my audience because I love them and I let them know it. However, I’m conscious of making sure to share every applause I get when I sing Edith Piaf with Edith herself, and I often say so on-stage.
What I really appreciate as an artist in Australia is when my audience asks for a song in English such as ‘When You Smile’. During one of my most recent concerts, the entire room sang ‘Que sera, sera’ with me, it was an unforgettable moment.
You recently suggested on your Facebook page that you might be leaving Australia. Can you tell us more?
I’m in touch with some theatres and cabarets in New York and Los Angeles for my different shows. Sydney is a difficult city for sensitive-hearted artists. Connections and money are more important than talent. A few months ago I threw in the towel, because I’m an artist, and not a warrior or a business woman. I pictured myself as Don Quixote, tilting at windmills. I finally decided to go somewhere else where I’d be welcome and where I could express myself on-stage, practising my profession as I do in Paris.
My departure isn’t really on the agenda anymore, things are changing and I’ve been given the lovely opportunity to get on stage, to play, to sing and to do my job in Queensland thanks to two talented Australians: Sallyanne Ryan for my homage to Edith Piaf and Bernard Houston for Projet Prévert. I thank them both with all my heart.
What’s the time and place of your next performance in Australia?
I’ve got several shows coming up, actually.
I’m happy to finally have a talented producer for my tribute to Edith Piaf: Sallyanne Ryan who a lot of people know as an actress, film director and radio announcer. Dates will be announced soon for Queensland, then we’ll look for theatres to welcome us in Victoria.
I’m playing and singing soon in a new show called Projet Prévert at the Brisbane Cabaret Festival, on the 26th and 27th of October 2012.
Her Favourites
If you had to listen to one single last song, what would it be?
‘Ave Maria’ (Schubert) interpreted by Barbara Hendricks.
What spot would you recommend for listening to jazz in Paris?
Le Caveau de la Huchette and le Petit Journal Saint Michel, two legendary locations for Jazz in Paris, as well as le Petit Journal Montparnasse.
What is your favourite Restaurant in Paris?
La coupole for the decoration and the history.
Which Parisian bar would you recommend us to have a drink in?
For the cocktails and the view, le George Bar.
Which is your favourite quarter to go shopping in?
Rue de Rivoli between the stations Hôtel de Ville and Châtelet, the Marais quarter and the Halles quarter.
Which is your favourite Parisian place to enjoy yourself in (nightclubs, parks, museums, etc.)?
The Marais and Halles quarters for the entertainment, the Musée du Louvre and the Musée d’Orsay for the beauty, Parc de Vincennes for the nature and Père Lachaise for the history and the calm.
From Paris, where would you go just for a day?
If I’d been told about Versailles…
Where do you like to go to listen to good music?
There’s not one good place to listen to good music in in Paris, there’s hundreds. Parisians often go for the band over the location… I suggest Le Limonaire, a small typical Parisian bar where I started out, and the Opéra de Paris for the acoustics and the paintings by Chagall.
To find out more about Sylvie Boisel, go to her Facebook page or to her official site. To listen to extracts of her music, they’re here on Myspace/sylvieboisel.
Thank you Sylvie for taking the time to speak to us at My French Life™. We’ve enjoyed getting to know more about you and your musical project.
Competition: Win a copy of Sylvie Boisel’s album ‘Amour’
Ma Vie Française™ magazine are giving 1 lucky member the chance to win a copy of Sylvie Boisel’s album.
To win, all you have to do is:
- JOIN the Ma Vie Française™ community for free and
- In a COMMENT below this article, tell us:
- Who is your favourite French singer? Which song of theirs particularly inspires you?
We will then select the best answer as our winner at 5pm AEST, Monday 29 October 2012.
Bonne chance!
Image credits : All images and video from Sylvie Boisel
About the Contributor
Judy MacMahon
