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Special Programming

Selected Shorts: French Fiction

Guy de Maupassant's "A Parisian Affair," which depicts the adventures of a bored provincial housewife seeking the Paris of her fantasies, is read by actor Rene Auberjonois. An excerpt from Kiffe Kiffe Tomorrow takes us to the public housing projects of the Paris suburb of Pantin, as seen by Faïza Guène, a child of Algerian immigrants. The excerpt is read by actress Sonia Manzano. To close, a rare 1878 piece about the phantom transmission of a musical secret across the generations, "The Secret of the Old Music," by French aristocrat Auguste Villiers de l'Isle Adam, is read by Philippe de Montebello. (Airs 7-8pm; pre-empts Which Way, LA?)

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Jan 1, 2010 • 1 min read

This program of French-themed short stories opens with a delightful tale by

Guy de Maupassant (1850 to 1893),

"A Parisian Affair," which depicts the adventures of a bored provincial housewife seeking the Paris of her fantasies. Translated by Sian Miles, it is read by stage and screen star

Rene Auberjonois, who, though born in New York City, is related to Napoleon Bonaparte.

Kiffe Kiffe Tomorrow, takes us to the public housing projects of the Paris suburb of Pantin, as depicted by

Faïza Guène

, a child of Algerian immigrants who grew up there. The excerpt is read by distinguished theatre actress

Sonia Manzano, who has for many years voiced the character of María on

Sesame Street.

"The Secret of the Old Music," by the French aristocrat

Auguste Villiers de l'Isle Adam, vibrantly read by

Philippe de Montebello.

(Airs 7-8pm; pre-empts Which Way, LA?)

Banner image of Sonia Manzano by Richard Termine

    Culture
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