Yves Montand took everything from life that she gave him. He was devilishly jealous. In rage, he could say a lot of superfluous, but, having calmed down, to find and pronounce the necessary words so affectionately and passionately that his beloved forgave him. They adored him for the seething frantic energy in movements and gestures, for the eyes radiating radiant light, for the tonality of his beautiful voice, for the gentle and strong hugs that give rise to the passion that turns the soul and pierces the heart.

Or did you choose?
Ivo Livi was born on October 13, 1921. He began working at age 13 as an assistant hairdresser, and then as a docker in the port. He performed as a singer in small variety shows and restaurants, and then in the Parisian Folin-Berger and Moulin Rouge.

At the age of seventeen, Ivo Levy first appeared on the stage under the pseudonym Yves Montand. Singer Yves Montan (“Montan” comes from a phrase in the peculiar Italian-French dialect “Willow, Montage” (“Ivo, go home!”), – so his mother called him home in childhood). Yves’ parents were wary of their son’s occupation, but 50 francs a week were a convincing argument for continuing their singing career. At the end of 1938, Ivo first performed songs in a movie theater before the start of the show. Continue reading →