Paris in Song: French Chanson and Jazz
Join us on Monday, June 15, 2026 for a special Cultural Presentation exploring the rich musical relationship between French chanson, Parisian culture, and jazz. Paris-based singer, pianist and composer Sophie Leliwa will lead delegates through an intimate “story-concert” that brings together live performance, musical history, and cultural exchange.
Through well-loved songs, short introductions, and moments of audience participation, this session will trace how French chansons moved from Parisian music halls, cabarets, and cinema into the wider world, later becoming part of the international jazz repertoire.
Location: Sorbonne University International Conference Center (CICSU), Auditorium
Availability: Unlimited
Ticket Price: Free to attend
**This Cultural Presentation is open to all registered IAFOR conference delegates**
About French Chanson and Jazz
This interactive musical session explores the long and fascinating dialogue between Paris, French chanson, and jazz. Through live performance and short contextual introductions, participants will discover how songs born in French cinema, cabaret, and popular culture travelled across languages and genres, gradually finding new life in the international jazz tradition.
The programme follows a loose journey from early echoes of ragtime and Parisian music‑hall to Saint‑Germain‑des‑Prés jazz, focusing on well‑known songs that began in French cinema and cabarets before entering the international jazz repertoire, songs from Mistinguett, Charles Trenet, Édith Piaf, and Jacques Brel, highlighting how French musical storytelling helped shape a wider cultural imagination.
Delegates will be warmly invited to share brief reactions, respond to simple questions, and, where they wish, sing along with familiar refrains. The aim is to create a relaxed, inclusive atmosphere in which musical heritage and cultural exchange come together naturally.
Led by Paris‑based singer, pianist and composer Sophie Leliwa, and accompanied by Bruno Rougevin‑Baville on piano and Nathan Kuperminc on clarinet, the session offers an intimate “story‑concert” experience designed for an international audience.
Don’t Miss This Celebration of Parisian Culture
Whether you are discovering French chanson and jazz for the first time or returning to songs you already know and love, this Cultural Presentation offers a warm and engaging introduction to one of Paris’s most distinctive musical traditions. Join us on Monday, June 15, 2026, 15:15–16:15 for a unique insight into the songs, stories, and spirit of Parisian musical culture.