Billie Holiday. Légende noire

An icon with an inimitable voice, Billie Holiday revolutionised jazz and made history through the artistic and political power of her singing. The Philharmonie dedicates a vibrant retrospective to her, punctuated by artworks and rare documents that celebrate her genius, her freedom, and the burning relevance of her legacy.

The art of vocal jazz at its peak. Considered the quintessential jazz singer, Billie Holiday remains one of the major figures of the 20th century. In 2021, the Chicago Tribune named her among “the thirty-six Black women who changed American history”. An emulator of Louis Armstrong and Bessie Smith in her early days, she invented a way of singing whose influence extended far beyond vocal jazz, from Frank Sinatra to Janelle Monáe, via Miles Davis, Nina Simone, and Amy Winehouse. The unique timbre of her voice, her instrumental-like phrasing, and the expressiveness of her interpretations make her a singer unlike any other. Surrounded by the greatest musicians of her time, such as Teddy Wilson, Lester Young, Count Basie, and Oscar Peterson, she made a multitude of recordings that have become masterpieces, losing none of their power or emotional charge.

A contemporary icon. A victim of racism throughout her career and in her daily life, Billie Holiday was one of the first African-American artists to denounce the violence of segregation by performing “Strange Fruit”, a song targeting lynchings in the southern United States. Ruthlessly exploited by the sensationalist press, her personal life, marked by abusive relationships, drug addiction, and legal troubles, contributed to forging the tragic legend of an artist who died prematurely at the age of 44. However, going against melodramatic clichés, the exhibition traces the extraordinary destiny of this artist who became an icon, both glamorous and deeply political. It highlights the richness of her art and underscores her remarkable resilience, from her childhood in Baltimore to her last European tours.

Between art and memory: an unprecedented retrospective. Punctuated by artworks and installations – from Niki de Saint Phalle to Mickalene Thomas, from Rom