“A melody drifts on the air, can you hear it?” I ask, pausing dramatically as we stand before Avenue Paul Dalbret. “It’s the faint echo of Paul Dalbret himself, a Parisian singer who found his home, and his final resting place, right here in Marseille.” Avenue Paul Dalbret, a 780-meter stretch of road, spans the 13th arrondissement. It connects Place des Héros to Traverse de la Balme, bridging the Château-Gombert and Les Médecins districts. This avenue, once known as Chemin des Paroyes and Chemin de l’Hermitage, now bears the name of a man who captivated audiences with his voice and compositions. Paul Dalbret, born Auguste Paul Van Trappe in Paris in 1876, was a singer-songwriter who made his mark in the early 20th century. He began his career in Parisian cabarets, eventually sharing the stage with the iconic Mistinguett. Drawn to the vibrant energy of Marseille, he settled in Château-Gombert. He married and continued to perform in both Paris and Marseille. At the beginning of Avenue Paul Dalbret, near Place des Héros, stands the Église Saint-Matthieu de Château-Gombert. The École privée Saint-Mathieu is nearby. Further down the avenue, at number 18, you’ll find the Maison de quartier de Château-Gombert, a community hub. Dalbret’s life was tragically cut short by the lingering effects of a wartime injury, passing away in 1927 at just 51 years old. The city of Marseille, recognizing his contribution to the city’s cultural scene, honored him by naming this avenue after him. Avenue Paul Dalbret is a quiet tribute to a man whose melodies once filled the air. It’s a reminder that even in the bustling city, the echoes of the past, like a faint melody, can still be heard if you listen closely.
Центральный дом работников искусств
Step through the grand wooden doors of the Central House of the Workers of Art, and you’ll be transported to