Kristen Noguès

Breton Harpist and Singer

Kristen was born on March 14, 1952 in Versailles, France and died on April 5, 2007 in Brest, France. She soon learnt to speak Breton and to play the Celtic harp. She became a student of Denise Mégevand, the concert artist, at the age of 8. When she came back to Brittany at the age of 21, she discovered traditional Breton songs with Yann Poëns. In 1973, she started -along with Patrik Ewen, Gérard Delahaye, Melaine Favennec, Ann Krist and later on Jacques Pellen- the great experience of Nevenoe which defended the idea of "living and working in your homeland". Kristen's first records came out during that period and took her all around Europe for a series of concerts. In 1980, she left Nevenoe and started a solo carreer accompanied on the way by Bertrand Dupont, her manager and a great number of writers and musicians such as Jacques Pellen, Bruno Nevez, Henri Texier, Peter Gritz, Denis Barbier, Cesarius Alvim, JF. Jenny Clark, Yves Branellec, Yvon le Men, Manu Lann-Huel, Jacky & Patrick Molard, Yann-Fanch Kemener, Denez Prigent, Didier Squiban, Didier Lockwood, John Surman, Mauro Negri, Ricardo Del Fra, Rabih Abou-Khalil, Gildas Bocle, Paolo Fresu, Celtic Procession ... and many more! Her creativity led her on varied paths: albums, children's music, film soundtracks, music for tales, poems and dance shows as well as arrangements for other Breton artists. Her music, so modern, contemporary and innovative will be long remembered by musicians of all backgrounds