In 2010, for the 29th Edition of Fete de la Musique in France, the organizers chose the theme of Women and Music ‘Musique au Feminin’.
The June 21 event will both celebrate women’s contribution to musical creativity and remember the rocky road that led them to where they are now.
Looking back on the place of women in music over the centuries, the program remids us how women had to fight from their freedom of expression and right to musical creation.
For a time lowlife women or courtisanes were the one playing music and going on stage.
Proper women in the 19th century were allowed to play the piano.
Composing, creating, directing music were for a long time reserved to men.
Radio France Internationale (RFI) in France gears up for Fête de la Musique (June 18) shares a few picks.
Festivities actually started on Sunday at Saint-Eustache church with non-stop
music for 36 hours, starting at 11am on Sunday 20 June with La
Manufacture Vocale. Turzi, Jonathan Fitoussi, Dr Drone, Cheval Blanc,
Joseph Leon and Bad Mama Dog will also be playing.
In Paris, for the Nuits du Jazz au féminin Lisa Cat-Berro, Julie Saury, Jacynthe Jacquet and Tullia Morand will be performing at the Sunside and Baiser Salé jazz bars.
Staying with the ladies, the Palais Royal is putting on four artists Christine
Salem (19h35), Madjo (20h15) the two Spanish women Amparo Sanchez
(21h30) and Buika (22h45).
To conclude with some of RFI’s picks if you want to groove and dance “Place des Vins de France is host to MTV Shake your
booty, with Féfé, Ben l’Oncle Soul, Cut Killer, China, Sheryfa Luna,
L’algerino, Admiral T, Youssoupha and several others.”
Outside Paris, Living French in Francophonie Celebrates World Music Day (June 19) highlights these:
too, notably an electro soirée next to the Palais des Sports and
various classical music events around town. Place Bellecour is hosting
singers Tété and Dan Black and hip hop act Les Gourmets will be in
concert at Place de la Bourse.
In Marseille, there’s Mozart’s Marriage
of Figaro, Rossini’s Barber of Seville and Charles Gounod’s ballet, the
Nuit de Walpurgis. Classical music will be the Temple de l’Eglise
Réformée deFrance, with rock at the Plage du Prado at the Atelier
Juxtapoz.
Most other major cities from Rennes and Nantes to Bordeaux, Toulouse, Montpellier, Tours and many more will also stage their own festivities. I could not list them all…