-----------------Progressive singer-song writing and music presents :-----------
----------------------------CATHERINE RIBEIRO & LES ALPES-----------------------
INTERVIEW :
LIVE interview with Cathérine Ribeiro in "PSYCHE VAN HET FOLK", Radio Centraal, Antwerpen, Belgium.
(originally in French).  2002-10-16 :

Cathérine agreed with my description of her attribution in the songs as having 
emotional depth and strength in balance with an intellectual depth, with as much 
associations of personal experiences as being involved in what happens in 
society. Cathérine Ribeiro gives herself with the power of a flamenco artist, 
prepared to challenge the bottom of the soul at a performance, but at the same 
time with full intellectual awareness. A rare seen balance between a caring 
heart, soul and mind (or intellect). 

VOICE

Cathérine's voice delves in the real darker parts of ourselves, expresses this 
with a caring nature. The nature of such a voice expression was already 
described nicely in Cathérine's song "Cette Voix".  I asked Cathérine how 
she saw her own voice.
CR:  "The voice itself is an essential part in music and an important factor to 
have an impact on the public, surely on the emotions, a vital force in a human 
being."

The ideas expressed in the albums of Cathérine Ribeiro & Les Alpes about some 
hypocrisy in society or in emotional involvements seem still to be as current as 
ever. Cathérine re-examined "Paix" in our times, but it seems she did not have 
to change anything in the words comparing these times with the content. All 
ideas seem even more present today without anything of them being solved or 
changed.

LES ALPES

I asked about the origin of the name "Les Alpes".

CR : "I have acquaintance with Patrice Moullet, composer of " Les Alpes" already 
a long time. I met him back in 1962 at the time of the playing of a movie from 
Jean Luc Goddard "Les Carabinier" in 1962. Patrice originates from the area of 
les hautes Alpes, in the Provence. He did school there travelling there with a 
bike in the snow. By marrying him I have adapted this origin in some way."

PVHF : Is there a symbolic signification too ?

CR : "Sure, it is. The Alpes are mountains with peeks, majestic, directing in 
the heights."

PVHF : "So not really immediately directed with our society, in the structure of 
a pyramid."

CR (cynically) : "Were we are only at the bottom of it."
(She continues).  Since very young I did some steps towards the sun, with some 
progression only.

PVHF : "How was your childhood, was it a nice one ?"

CR : "No, not at all. In 1999 I wrote a book which is published in France, 
"L'Enfance" (childhood). I chose this title because I had a terrible childhood.

PVHF : (not having expected this reminding the covers of the albums) "But the 
pictures look so beautiful".

CR : "Thank you. Yes they do, I have to admit. We also had ideas more often to 
make covers even more normal. But we had difficulties before with the record 
companies, like with the front picture on "Ame Debout" were we are having 
breakfast outside. They didn't want that. But I insisted : "it's that picture or 
nothing".  So after 48 hours they agreed." 

PVHF : Does "Les Alpes" still exist ?

CR : "Yes, I reformed the group lately and we are making a new album. The CD is 
going to be released at the end of this year or the beginning of next year. We 
also have 2 weeks of concerts in Paris in May in the "Grand Halle de la 
Villette" in the "Société de la Musique". For us it is musically also very 
important to express to the public that there exist also other forms of music 
beside RAP, HIP HOP, or what entertainment business in France only distributes. 
This has nothing to do with vanity or something ; it's our inner need to express 
there's something else as well. The group did exist 17 years, so that's a long 
time."
 
PVHF : "I hope there will be a distribution in Belgium."

CR : "I hope so too. I like the Belgians, and have had nice experiences. In 
Belgium they asked for Cathérine Ribeiro & Les Alpes even sooner as in France. 
May be you don't recall, but in December 1973 we played in the St.Gedule-St. 
Michel Cathedral in Bruxelles. It was very very crowded. It was the first time 
that there was a concert in the cathedral. So it was a very special moment for 
us. We have often played in Belgium. We don't know why that has changed now. 

PVHF : "Hopefully it will change now."

CR : "I really hope. I don't tell you this to please you, but I always 
experienced much more openness in Belgium than in France."

PVHF (having still doubts myself)...
"Ok. Let's hope there can be made some arrangements.."

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Webpage related with Cathérine Ribeiro and this radioprogram you can find at 
http://singersong.homestead.com/RIBEIRO.html