1. Catherine Lara has released 26 studio albums, contributed music to numerous television and film productions, and helped stage and produce many theatrical works.
22 Facts About Catherine Lara
1. 2.
Catherine Lara Bodet was born in Poissy, near Paris, the daughter of a doctor and pianist father, and a violinist mother.
3.
Catherine Lara started playing the violin at age 5 and entered the Conservatoire de Versailles at age 11, obtaining first prize in 1958.
4.
Catherine Lara went on to get the 2nd prize for violin at the Conservatoire de Paris in 1965 and the first prize for chamber music in 1966.
5.
Catherine Lara then created the Lara Quartet, which accompanied singers on stage, including Claude Nougaro, Nana Mouskouri, Mireille Mathieu, and Jean Ferrat.
6.
Catherine Lara played on recordings by Francoise Hardy, Maxime Le Forestier, Georgette Lemaire, Jean Sablon, and Juliette Greco, as well as writing two songs for Barbara's 1972 album Amours incestueuses.
7.
In 1969, Catherine Lara opened for Canadian musician Gilles Vigneault at the Olympia music hall in Paris.
8.
Catherine Lara's 1974 folk-tinged album La craie dans l'encrier included vocal contributions from Gilbert Montagne.
9.
Since her 1979 album Coup d'feel, Catherine Lara's songs have been more influenced by rock music.
10.
In 1986, Catherine Lara had a breakthrough with the single "Nuit magique", written by Luc Plamondon, from the album of the same name.
11.
Catherine Lara's biggest hit to date, it brought her fame and helped her win a Victoires de la Musique for best female singer of the year; the music video for the song won the Camera d'Or award at Cannes.
12.
In 1987, Catherine Lara published her autobiography, titled L'Aventuriere de l'archet perdu.
13.
Catherine Lara wrapped up a successful decade with a two-week series of concerts at the Olympia that year, which was recorded and released as Catherine Lara Live 88.
14.
In 1990, Catherine Lara was named Chevalier de l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres by the French Ministry of Culture.
15.
Catherine Lara took part in several charity concerts for Les Restos du coeur alongside French rock stars Johnny Hallyday, Eddy Mitchell, and Jean-Jacques Goldman, as well as supporting Sidaction and Sol En Si.
16.
Catherine Lara acted as artistic advisor for the Roger Louret production La Java des memoires.
17.
In 2000, Catherine Lara released a major musical work titled Aral, her name spelled backwards, made up entirely of instrumental compositions, with contributions from the French world music project Deep Forest.
18.
In 2005, Catherine Lara composed the musical show Graal, inspired by Arthurian lore, which was certified Gold.
19.
Catherine Lara released an album of original songs titled Passe-moi l'ciel the same year.
20.
In 2009, Catherine Lara released her next instrumental album, titled Au-dela des murs, whose music was inspired by the sound of the Balkans.
21.
In February 2011, Catherine Lara published her second book, Entre emoi et moi, and followed this with the album Une voix pour ferre, in honour of the Monegasque poet and composer Leo Ferre.
22.
Catherine Lara co-hosted the French selection for the Eurovision Song Contest 2011, together with Laurent Boyer.