Obsession with French legend Piaf led to career
The quintessential sounds of France will arrive in Stirling next month.
And Christine Bovill’s visit to the Macrobert on March 3 will be an extra special one, as she returns to her old stomping ground.
Piaf is Christine’s tribute to the great Edith Piaf, and all things French, being described as much a play as a musical show.
Glasgow singer Christine studied at Stirling University having fallen in love with France as a teenager.
“I will probably get a bit emotional,” she said. “I was 14 at the time I first heard Edith Piaf. I hated French when I was at school with a passion, I hated school generally.
“I was really into old music, and the 50s and the 40s. A family friend came down with this record from Piaf. It was that moment that I became obsessed, and took the path that I did.”
Edith Piaf was a French cabaret singer, songwriter and actress who became widely regarded as France’s biggest star during the 1940s and 50s - with her music evoking scenes of vintage Paris.
After discovering her work, Christine went onto study French and became a school teacher - before taking up singing full-time. She has now performed around the world, and is gearing up for a return to Australia later in the year.
“I absolutely loved my time in Stirling,” she said. “I never really get back unfortunately. Even when I was there, I managed to get a singing job in Glasgow and used to commute through.” Christine paid tribute to her former lecturer Alistair Blyth, who helped her secure a scholarship to study music in France during her year abroad as part of her degree, which cemented her relationship with the country.
Since releasing her first album in 2009, Christine has gone on to perform regularly at international venues, and Piaf has sold out three years in a row at the Edinburgh Festival.
Charles Dumont, Piaf ’s great friend and composer of Non, Je ne Regrette Rien, made the journey from Paris to join Christine on stage in Edinburgh in 2012, and she has received widespread plaudits for her work.
Piaf arrives at the Macrobert on March 3 at 7.30pm.