Dr Danièle Pascal is multi-platinum selling recording artist. This Grande Dame of the South African cabaret scene and French chanson, actor and playwright, is one of South Africa's most celebrated artists. Born and raised in the South of France, she began her career in Canada and USA performing in musicals, comedies, music-theatre, and cabarets, developing an adoring audience. A recipient of several theatre and service awards, this Ambassador of the French Chanson, is a household name in South Africa and renowned for the music of Edith Piaf, Jacques Brel, and other French legends, Leonard Cohen and the French Café Song genre.
She popularized the French chanson to new levels with her unique and intimate approach and nowhere is the French tradition better expressedthan in her repertoire. Danièle has been compared to Edith Piaf and is affectionately known at “Piaf” amongst her fans and clients. Her style is elegant, classic, sophisticated, and she has a wonderful cross-over appeal.
As a music theatre /dinner-theatre pioneer, this veteran entertainer remains an influential force on the South African entertainment circuit since her arrival in South Africa in 1985, inspiring and influencing many South African performers with her style of music and theatre presentation. Always the cultural activist, Daniele continues in her efforts bridging the cultural divide between France and South Africa. She introduced audiences to various entertainment genres that include cabaret, music theatre, French Café music, chanson, Berlin cabaret, rock musicals, French Jazz , FAK songbook adaptations into French which resulted into the Afrikaans crossover album Tydloos, to works diverse as Berthold Brecht and Kurt Weill, Federico Garcia Lorca, Marianne Faithful and Leonard Cohen - a longtime friend whom she performed with during her sojourn in Canada.
In 2006, Danièle received the Western Cape Services Award for Outstanding Achievement of Women in the fields of Arts and Culture, by the Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport.
Danièle is a sought-after entertainer and speaker at corporate events and her clients include sectors in the fields of banking, automotive, medical, financial, hospitality, cruise ships, wine and spirits, mining, aviation, just to name a few.
She also performs regularly at events arranged by the French Embassy, French Consulate and the Alliance Francaise, and often features at Bastille Day Celebrations. A few years ago she sang the National French Anthem, La Marseillaise, to a full standing ovation at an International rugby match in Durban, which was televised throughout Europe. She appeared as soloist on numerous occasions with the Cape Town Symphony Orchestra, Cape Town Philharmonic, KZN Philharmonic and Namibian National Symphony and Philharmonic Orchestras.
Danièle released 8 bestselling albums, which are available online at www.danielepascal.co.za , or at selected music stores.
Flons Flons du Bal (live at Rhumbelow Theatre Durban)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uQB1Pf5aDLU
A quoi ça sert l’amour ( live at Rhumbelow Theatre Durban)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uf2eqx9Ep-Y&feature=related
