For the first time, the French festival Francofolies came to New York Thursday for an exceptional tribute to Edith Piaf.

Twenty singers, most of them French from the younger generation, gathered on the stage of the Beacon Theater, each interpreting one of Piaf’s songs: Nolwenn Leroy, Christophe Willem, Zaz,  Duffy, Madeleine Peyroux, Alex Hepburn, Olivia Ruiz, Camélia Jordana, Coeur de Pirate, Emmanuel Moire, Patrick Fiori, Elodie Frégé, Jean-Louis Aubert, Patricia Kaas, Angelique Kidjo. Harry Connick Jr, Duffy, Beth Ditto made up the non-french contingent.

But 84 year old Charles Dumont got the most applause from an audience impressed by his history with Edith Piaf. He wrote more then 30 songs for her.

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