Mireille Mathieu

Since making her debut in 1962, French belle dame, Mireille Mathieu, has recorded over 1,200 songs over 90 albums, of which she has sold 122 million worldwide.

She launched her career with an homage to probably the best known French person in history outside of Napoleon Bonaparte, Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette – Edith Piaf. Mathieu performed the timeless classic La Vie en rose in a song competition, from which she won a trip to Paris. Here she met her manager, Johnny Stark, and by the turn of the 1970s, she was roundly regarded as Edith Piaf’s honoured successor.

At 68, she still carries an ageless beauty. She still casts a striking presence with her signature 1960s bob, of which she was an early champion before it was swept up by the likes of Vogue editor-in-chief, Anna Wintour, and her stylish wardrobe, which is vibrant and figure-hugging, but age-appropriate.

With such an extensive career behind her, with so many recordings to her name, no two performances could be the same. It is such a delight then, that she performs the career inspiring song of her first performance. La Vie en rose soars across the palladium and it’s as charming as when she performed it to a panel of competition judges in 1964.