Angélique Kidjo

One of the greatest artists in international music today, a creative force with sixteen albums to her name, Angélique Kidjo joins prominent French pianist Alexandre Tharaud to share their love of the repertoire, lyrics, and melodies of French song. Angélique Kidjo has been described as “Africa’s premier diva” and named one of the 100 most influential people in the world by TIME Magazine, included in a BBC list of the continent’s 50 most iconic figures, and listed as one of The Guardian’s Top 100 Most Inspiring Women in the World. A five-time Grammy Award winner, her striking voice, legendary stage presence and fluency in multiple cultures and languages have won her worldwide renown. In a career spanning 25 years, Alexandre Tharaud has become one of the most prominent French pianists and a unique figure in the classical music world. His extraordinary discography of over 25 solo albums has received major awards from the music press, and features repertoire ranging from Couperin, Bach and Scarlatti, through Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert, Chopin, Brahms, and Rachmaninov to the major 20th-century French composers. She - the ten-thousand-volt diva - and he - the eternal Little Prince piano wizard – were brought together in 2020, for an unforgettable cover of Charles Aznavour's ’Emmenez-moi’, an experience which gave them both the desire to go further. Their shared love of the French songbook has culminated in this collaborative live performance, which will include unique takes on originals by the likes of Édith Piaf, Serge Gainsbourg, Joséphine Baker, as well as some lesser-known Gallic gems.