Théâtre des Champs-Élysées Announces Upcoming Season Honoring Josephine Baker

“Tonight is a momentous occasion! It is the first time that the Théâtre des Champs-Elysées will announce their season in the United States”, said Marifé Hernández, the theater’s International Circle Co-Chairman. “We welcome the theater’s new Director, Baptiste Charroing, who has flown from Paris to extend their hands across the ocean, inviting Americans to join them! Théâtre des Champs-Élysées is the Carnegie Hall of Paris, offering the best of opera, concert, and dance. This fall they present something spectacular; a program celebrating the 100th anniversary of Josephine Baker making her Parisian debut on their stage. Hope all of you will join me in Paris; we will have the best time! Chanel will make costumes and underwrite the performances. The Royal Family of Monaco will attend as will Josephine Baker’s son, Brian Bouillon-Baker. Come to Paris September 28 and celebrate with us till October 4!”

Judith Pisar welcomed Marifé, Baptiste, and 70 friends, to her Fifth Avenue art-filled residence. “My love for your jewel of a theater goes back many years, to when I landed in Paris in 1971. I felt like a fish out of water until I discovered Théâtre des Champs-Élysées. As someone who believes so deeply in the power of cultural diplomacy, I’d like to say that in these challenging times, your institution, along with us as your international supporters, have a great role to play in the health of the transatlantic alliance.”

“I have a strong vision for the future of this institution”, said Baptiste Charroing, heading into his first season at the helm. “Above all, this is a house of artists. They are the ones who have created the theater’s story and legacy; Stravinsky, Nijinsky, Bernstein, Chevalier, and so many more. We will continue to bring the best artists to our stage. We will bring you new talent and give women a greater space to be creatives. Our theater will be a hub of connection and shared experiences. The opening of our season is not only a celebration of the 100th anniversary of Josephine Baker’s first performance at the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées, it is also the 50th anniversary of her passing. So we celebrate her legacy off stage as well. Josephine  was a heroine of the French Resistance, a fierce activist for Civil Rights, often refusing to perform in segregated venues and appearing at demonstrations in Washington, most notably alongside Martin Luther King, Jr. at the 1963 March on Washington. Our opening program includes a world premiere by the great Senegalese choreographer Germaine Acogny based on the life of Josephine. Germaine knew Josephine well, and their struggles and beliefs are similar. That dance will be performed on the same program as Pina Bausch’s The Rite of Spring, performed by 35 dancers from 17 African nations. The Stravinsky music was originally premiered at Théâtre des Champs-Élysées. Trust me, it will be very special. I hope you will come and bring your friends. We’re dedicating our entire season to Josephine and her spirit. We see the inequality towards women in classical music and promise to increasingly resolve this in our productions.”

Guests including F. Murray Abraham, John Beck, Joel Bell, Jamie Bernstein, Ashley Bouder, Candace Bushnell, Renee Cox, Joan Hardy Clark, Mr. and Mrs. John French III, William Ivey Long, Yeou-Cheng Ma, Mr. and Mrs. William Maroney, Galina Novikova, Maestro Constantine Orbelian, Dr. Leah Pisar, Twyla Tharp,  Amanda Taylor and Gordon Winston, and Barbara Tober gathered around the piano to hear Llewellyn Sánchez-Werner perform Stravinsky, and stayed late into the evening for a buffet supper.

Théâtre des Champs-Élysées is an intimate house offering world-class concerts, operas, recitals, and dance. Opening in 1913, at 15 Avenue Montaigne in Paris, just off the Avenue des Champs-Élysées, it immediately became home to major artists and premieres. To learn more about Théâtre des Champs-Élysées, visit www.theatrechampselysees.fr/en/home.