Jean Claude Vannier - Histoire de Melody Nelson & L'Enfant Assassin Des Mouches
with special guests Jarvis Cocker, Badly Drawn Boy, Mick Harvey, Gruff Rhys & Laetitia Sadier
21 October 2006 / 19:30
Barbican Hall

Only Connect presents the first ever live performances of two cult classic albums Histoire De Melody Nelson and L'Enfant Assassin Des Mouches from 1971 and 1972 respectively. Produced by long-time collaborator of randy iconoclast Serge Gainsbourg, composer/arranger Jean-Claude Vannier's otherworldly string and choral arrangements are iconic of the era, and the rediscovery by a whole new generation has won him renewed acclaim.

For tonight's World Premier event, Vannier conducts the BBC Concert Orchestra, Crouch End Festival Chorus, a children's string quintet plus the inimitable musicians Dougie Wright, Big Jim Sullivan , Herbie Flowers and Vic Flick from the original recordings.

Jarvis Cocker, Badly Drawn Boy, The Bad Seeds' Mick Harvey and The Super Furries' Gruff Rhys take it in turns to sing Serge for the performance of L'Histoire De Melody Nelson' and L'Enfant Assassin des Mouches features live sound effects - including ringing bells, ticking clocks, a model helicopter, flies and even a billiards table.

Histoire de Melody Nelson
Words: Serge Gainsbourg
Music: Serge Gainsbourg and Jean Claude Vannier

L'enfant Assassin des Mouches
Music: Jean Claude Vannier
Story: Serge Gainsbourg