“Pannonica, Baronne du Jazz”: Actress Natacha Régnier to star in the play at Avignon Festival 2023 after successful run at the Phénix Festival in Paris.

It is an unknown story that inspired the writer Olivia Elkaïm, that of Pannonica by Koenigswarter (1913-1988). In the 1950s, this wealthy Rothschild heiress defied social convention to help New York jazz musicians. The director Christophe Gand has decided to adapt this play for the Avignon Festival with actress Natacha Régnier in the title role. Presented in preview at the Hébertot theater as part of the Phénix festival until June 3, the play will then set off to conquer the city of the Popes.

Free and passionate about jazz

Alone on stage, accompanied only by the musician Raphaël Sanchez, Natacha Régnier plays Pannonica Koenigswarter. We are in New York in 1958, the English aristocrat has just been arrested at the wheel of his luxury car. At his side, the black musician Thelonious Monk. But at the time, a white woman and a black man could not be together.

Throughout her interrogation, she reveals herself to be free and modern: she has broken the moral codes and social conventions that confined her. She discovers the world of American jazz, becomes the musicians’ great friend and sometimes their mistress. “She is a Rothschild girl who married Baron Koenigswarter and after a while she implodes, she leaves her husband to become a patron of New York jazzmen”, says Natacha Régnier.

At the wheel of her gray Bentley, Pannonica roams the streets of Manhattan, spends nights in jazz clubs, welcomes her musician friends to her superb home. She takes under her wing Duke Ellington, Charlie Parker, Bud Powell and the pianist Thelonious Monk who will dedicate the title to her. Pannonica. “She brought this music to life.” emphasizes the actress.

A taste of Avignon

This show is part of festival Phenix, a new theatrical event programmed in seven Parisian halls which gives a taste of the Avignon festival. Until June 18, 2023, around twenty new creations are unveiled to the public. “These are shows that have just come out of the work, they will then rub shoulders with the largest theater in the world, namely the Avignon festival which presents 1,700 shows every day, so to emerge it is not easy” , reports Sandra Vollant the creator of the festival.

Also on the program, readings by candlelight and cabaret DJ set evenings at the Red Garden where we will come across theatre, poetry, dance, circus and lots of music.

“Pannonica, Baronne du Jazz”, by Olivia Elkaïm directed by Christophe Gand at the Studio Hébertot from June 1 to 3, 2023 as part of the Phénix Festival and from July 7 to 29 at 3:45 p.m. (No class on Tuesdays 11, 18 and 25) at Festival Off d’Avignon at Le Petit Chien theatre.