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Composers, singers - and Chopin's piano

The area of Montparnasse in Paris has been home to some of the world's most influential composers, singers and musicians. Local resident Joanna Robertson takes us into their world.

The neighbourhood of Montparnasse in central Paris has been home to some of the most influential artists, writers and composers of the last two centuries, perhaps nowhere more so than the area around Joanna Robertson鈥檚 street, rue Boissonade.

In the third of her series, Joanna delves into the musical stories of her road - those of its composers, musicians like world-famous trumpet player Maurice Andre, and singers, including her not-so-famous neighbours downstairs, who indulge in a lot of karaoke.... She also shares a tale about a piano found in a building on her street, said to have been that of composer Frederic Chopin. Or was it?

Presenter: Joanna Robertson
Producer: Arlene Gregorius
Editor: Sara Wadeson
Production coordinator: Maria Ogundele
Sound engineer: Rod Farquhar
Excerpt of Chopin piece played on a Pleyel piano once owned by Chopin: The Cobbe Collection

Release date:

14 minutes

Broadcast

  • Next Friday 21:45

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