Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Hollywood Bowl-Tribute to Serge Gainsbourg

French composer, arranger and longtime Serge Gainsbourg collaborator Jean Claude Vannier, was playing the legendary concept album Histoire de Melody Nelson live, in full with orchestra and guests, at the Hollywood Bowl on Sunday evening.

Jean Claude kindly invited me to join him for the day, at the Hollywood Bowl, to sketch the Artists and the musicians backstage, and on stage, during rehearsal and during the concert in the evening.
It was an amazing experience; this was my first time at the Hollywood Bowl, and to enter this venue, through the Artist entrance at the back and go straight on stage facing the sea of empty seats, it was very impressive to say the least. The stage was filled with a full orchestra, a choir and many very talented and famous artists rehearsing the songs. Needless to say that when I started to sketch I was very nervous. It took me a while to realize I was on stage at the Hollywood Bowl.
I met Jean Claude again Monday evening at the CineFamily (the silent movie theatre) in Hollywood, for a retrospective of his work, presented on stage by Andy Votel; this gave me the opportunity to finish the sketchbook I started Sunday at the Hollywood Bowl and cover his 2 days in L.A.
Thanks to Jean Claude Vannier for this unforgettable experience! 
Full list of Artists here. ('M'-Matthieu Chedid, was also performing on stage).













I also sketched Jean Claude Vannier's performance at The Barbican in London in 2006, you can check it here. This is how we first got in touch.

11 comments:

Nicolas said...

Tres beau travail, une fois de plus Stef. Je suggere que la prochaine fois ce soit les musiciens qui fassent une petite impro pendant que TU dessines sur scene.

Matthew Cruickshank said...

Tres magnifique! Les tres long sketchbook seasons cest super duper!

I saw/heard Gustav Holsts Planet Suite at da' Bowl- it was on like Donkey Kong!

Unknown said...

Awesome post!

Elena said...

I love all the sketches! sounds like you had an amazing time :). Wonderful work as always!

Unknown said...

- Merci Nico. Je leur ai proposé, mais bon, j'ai l'impression qu'ils s'en foutaient un peu.

- Merci Matthew! when is your iPad book out?

- Thanks Tim.

- Thanks Elena :) yes, it was absolutely incredible.

Petrea Burchard said...

This sounds like a mind-boggling experience. Yet I'm drawn to the petite maison! I wish I could buy it from your mum.

Matt Jones said...

Woah! C'est top ca- la longue plan est marrant!

Shelley Whiting said...

Your drawings are jam packed and full of excitement and wonder. Beautiful and fun work.

Cafe Pasadena said...

These are wunderful, SK! SG would be happy.

Christophe"ZEBE" Lourdelet said...

ouaaah!!

Fawn said...

Wow, really awesome sketches. I've been to Hollywood bowl and got to draw before the show, but I was too distracted to make anything this nice. Good job:)