The return of Armande Altaï to Star Academy this week is already making headlines. She is known for her eccentric personality. Her look is delightfully baroque. She possesses a charisma that divides as much as it fascinates. For the 2024 edition, she promises to bring her unique touch. At 80, this mythical figure proves she is still capable of surprising. A look back at a colorful character.
A Life of Art and Theater
Armande Altaï was born in 1944 in Aleppo, Syria. Her life has been an artistic wandering. She explored various disciplines, moving from painting to singing. From theater, she turned to teaching. She started at the Beaux-Arts de Marseille before venturing into music. But it was her role as a singing teacher in the first three seasons of Star Academy that propelled her to the rank of television icon. Her style is marked by a gothic hairstyle and extravagant clothing. Her teaching methods are often criticized. This is how she stands out, both for her style and her teaching.
In 2008, she became the director of the program’s eighth season. She mixes theatrical gestures and philosophical quotes. As a great admirer of Brigitte Bardot, she makes the classes memorable. Sometimes, it even borders on the burlesque. Her students remember her as much for her strange vocal exercises as for her tales from another world.
"A Unique Voice… or Not"
It must be said: Armande Altaï has never claimed to have a classical voice. That hasn’t stopped her from creating a universe of her own, between lyrical singing and experimental rock. The criticisms? She brushes them off. In an interview with Femina, she stated: "Marginal artists create what doesn’t follow the trend."
Her detractors, like former singing teacher Isabelle Charles, judge her performances as "monstrous." No matter: Altaï knows she polarizes. And she loves it. "If everyone agrees with you, it means you’re bland," she often tells her students.
Juicy Anecdotes
During her years at Star Academy, Armande Altaï multiplied memorable moments. Who can forget her famous recommendations to the students? "Sing as if a cat were dying in your arms," she told one of them. Another time, she appeared in a medieval dress, claiming to embody a "priestess of the voice."
Her teaching method, oscillating between mysticism and musical comedy, has often been mocked but noticed. She sometimes asked candidates to sing while balancing on one leg or dancing as if they were "possessed by a baroque spirit."
And that’s not all: a persistent legend tells that she once distributed black roses to the students, explaining that "each petal is a cry of the soul." Eccentricity or genius? The debate remains open.
A Modest Pension, an Unwavering Passion
Away from the spotlight, Armande Altaï leads a modest life. With a pension of 900 euros per month, she manages her finances sparingly. But she refuses to complain. "I will work until my last breath," she confides in a recent interview. Her past earnings have allowed her to settle her debts and make some home improvements.
Today, she is preparing a musical comedy inspired by the story of Vercingetorix, blending music, theater, and her inimitable style. This project is for her a way to continue sharing her love of art.
The Return of a Legend to Star Academy
For the new generation of Star Academy, Armande Altaï is an enigma. Few of them know her glorious past or her eccentricities. But they are about to discover a woman who never does anything like the others.
Her first appearance in the castle this season was marked by a memorable burst of laughter. Seeing a student sing off-key, she exclaimed: "Your soul cried, but your mouth didn’t hear it." A comment that left the jury in stitches and the students puzzled.
Armande Altaï returns with undiminished energy. She shows that, even at 80, the passion for art can break all conventions. Get ready: this week of Star Academy promises to be epic, and it’s largely thanks to the Lady.