Nicole Renaud Returns to Theaterlab 12/19

French soprano-accordionist Nicole Renaud returns to Theaterlab (137 West 14th St.) with a special multimedia holiday concert, Christmas Star, on Monday, December 19, 2011.

Under a star-filled sky, Nicole will take the audience on an intimate musical journey through her favorite holiday music, from French and international Christmas carols to obscure winter songs.

She will sing accompanying herself on her lincordian, a one-of-a-kind luminous transparent accordion designed by British artist-engineer Paul Etienne Lincoln. Alex Tseytlin will join her with his violin, embellishing this minimalist meditative musical tableau with his lyrical motifs and countermelodies.

More magic will be brought through the multimedia tricks of Parisian video designer Jacques Perdigues and the special costume lighting by Charles Kouzoujian. Jacques Perdigues has worked in the field of theater (Victoria Chaplin, Aurélia Thiérrée) and fashion (John Galliano, Thierry Mugler).

For over a decade, Renaud has been a stalwart on the New York music circuit, winning raves from the New York Times, Time Out New York, and the New Yorker. Last year, she presented an original song cycle Couleurs, a multimedia show where the lyrics of her songs were projected onto her dress. She toured Couleurs internationally including France (Limoges Opera House), Belgium (La Biennale de la Chanson Francaise) and Italy (Festival internazionale di Poesia).

In France, she has sung regularly on France Culture for Frédéric Mitterrand’s program "Ca me dit l'après midi" and on ARTE’s experimental television show "Die Nacht/La Nuit." Her song "Le Gris" (from Couleurs) is featured in Idiots and Angels, the feature film by independent animator Bill Plympton, and was on the short list for the Academy Award nomination this year. Her voice has also been featured in the Super Bowl Volkswagen commercial. She divides her time between New York, Paris and Capri.

Christmas Star is presented by Theaterlab. The performance schedule is Monday, December 19th at 7:30 pm, at Theaterlab (137 West 14th Street, between 6th and 7th Ave., Subway: 1/2/3 or A/C/E or F/M to 14th Street or L to 6th Ave.). Tickets are $15 in advance at www.theaterlabnyc.com. A complimentary hot wine will be served after the show.