ANOUAR BRAHEM RECEIVES THE INSIGNIA OF KNIGHT OF THE ORDER OF ARTS AND LETTERS FROM FRENCH CULTURE MINISTER FRÉDÉRIC MITTERRAND
On 9 December 2009, Anouar Brahem was presented with the insignia of Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters by French Minister of Culture and Communication Frédéric Mitterrand, during a reception held at the Salle Pleyel in Paris.
The distinction followed a concert devoted to the repertoire of "The Astounding Eyes of Rita", released earlier that year on ECM, with Björn Meyer, Klaus Gesing and Khaled Yassine.
"A standing ovation rarely heard in this legendary hall… Three encores. An audience on its feet, intoxicated by a rare, all-too-rare happiness."
— Hugues Blondet, La pensée de Midi – Actes Sud
"At Pleyel, Brahem triumphs."
— Philippe Cornet, Le Vif/L’Express
