Doisneau and music at the Philharmonie: prolongations

If the name Doisneau doesn't ring a bell, that's because Robert Doisneau (1912-1994) was a photographer, and not just any photographer. An artist whom the Philharmonie has curiously decided to honor through an exhibition, entitled Doisneau et la musique and exceptionally extended until May 5, 2019. A photographer who knew the whole of Paris, and the music scene in particular, hence the relevance of this retrospective for the Cité de la Musique.

The idea behind the exhibition is to reveal Robert Doisneau's"musical sense of imagination and work". Equipped with his inseparable camera, he criss-crossed Paris and its suburbs in every direction. Parisians in the streets, popular balls, restaurants and cabarets, this accomplished photographer photographed Paris, crossing paths with hundreds of jazz musicians and stars of the day.

His amused view of the world gave him a real visual identity, which earned him newspaper commissions. During his career, he immortalized many artists, including actors, authors and musicians. He even worked for Vogue magazine from 1949 to 1951!

• To be read
• Tips for the week of December 23 - 29, 2024 in Paris: free or cheap outings
• What to do in Paris in December 2024? Discover this month's events in the Paris Region
• Free museums and monuments this Sunday: places to visit in Paris on January 5, 2025

When he died in April 1994, after almost 60 years as a photographer, he left behind 450,000 negatives that tell the amusing story of his era. For this exhibition, some 200 photographs have been brought together for the first time by Clémentine Deroudille, the photographer's granddaughter.

There are photos of Georges Brassens, Juliette Gréco, Charles Aznavour, Claude François... but also of the Kentucky Club, the jazz club of the 50s in the 5th arrondissement, photos of Gréco at 21, as well as Jacques Prévert smoking on the banks of the Canal Saint-Martin and the Rita Mitsouko in a photo shoot in the Parc de la Villette for the sleeve of a 45 rpm.

The exhibition is set to music by the group Moriarty and designed by Stephan Zimmerli, the group's musician and graphic designer. The aim? To bring back to life the joyful atmosphere of Robert Doisneau's ballads. An exhibition that reconciles music and photography, and is sure to delight fans of both artistic worlds.

Please note that it's been over 4 years since our last visit, so the place and experience may have changed.