PHANTOM OF THE OPERA French version in concert, Canada 2020

[Fan123]

A concert version of Le Fantôme de l’Opéra will play in Montreal and Quebec in January. (There was a similar concert in Montreal last year as well; did anyone here attend?) I wonder if this French-language version will someday get a production in France as was originally planned - unless it has done already and I'm just unaware of it.

https://www.ludwig-van.com/montreal/2019/09/10/nouvelle-une-nouvelle-production-du-fantome-de-lopera-en-francais-au-theatre-st-denis-en-janvier/

[Lot666]

The planned French language version at Théâtre Mogador in Paris is still a really sore spot for me. We planned that trip way in advance, spent a fortune in non-refundable travel arrangements, and bought tickets to two different performances during our planned stay. That was a very expensive cancellation for us.

[greensgreens]

As they tell the story in Paris, that Theatre Mogador production was cancelled because of a massive fire that affected the sets and they could not rebuild. The original Bjornson sets would look MARVELOUS in the Mogador theatre though!!!

At the Paris Opera and Mogador, they cutely say that "the Phantom didn't want his horrible story brought up again in his city" and "nobody in Paris really liked the novel anyway" in regard to the aborted production. I was given a very heavy vibe that the French don't appreciate the musical or the popularity it has brought. But in all honesty, the only reason I ever visited the Paris Opera was to see the sights I associated with the show. They only have a keychain and sell copies of the book for Phantom merch in the gift shop. Sad, because I would've dropped a fortune for all my theatre friends on stuff.

But, like others, I can only imagine how powerful this piece would be seeing it a block or two from the actual Opera Garnier!

[Lot666]

greensgreens said: "I was given a very heavy vibe that the French don't appreciate the musical or the popularity it has brought."

That seems odd, because the Palais Garnier put a plaque on the door to Box 5 indicating that it is reserved for the Phantom's use. The pic used for my avatar was taken when we toured the opera house.

[Fosse76]

Lot666 said: "That was a very expensive cancellation for us."

Too bad there was nothing else to do in Paris other than see that show. Then you wouldn't have had to cancel. 

[qolbinau]

Is this 'french french' or Canadian french?

[Fan123]

Judging by this past article announcing the 2018 concerts, these 2020 concerts will again use Nicolas Engel's adaptation which was originally planned for the Paris production. So, 'French French'? But they might have Canadified it a bit I suppose. (I wouldn't know the difference myself.)

https://www.ludwig-van.com/montreal/2017/12/07/50115-fantome-opera-version-concert-francais-montreal/
 

[PatrickDC]

Doesn’t answer your questions but sparks my memory of the Canadian tour cast recording (in English). It’s a glorious recording and I particularly loved they had the Hannibal scene unlike the other recordings. 

[qolbinau]

Fan123 said: "Judging by this past article announcing the 2018 concerts, these 2020 concerts will again use Nicolas Engel's adaptation which was originally planned for the Paris production. So, 'French French'? But they might have Canadified it a bit I suppose. (I wouldn't know the difference myself.)

https://www.ludwig-van.com/montreal/2017/12/07/50115-fantome-opera-version-concert-francais-montreal/
"

Apparently the pronunciation and words are quite different. A French person once told me it would be like speaking to someone who is speaking Shakespearean English. And that sometimes it is actually easier to just speak English rather than French. 

[Fan123]

A trailer has been been released. Although I'm not familiar with the performers therein myself, judging from the below Facebook post, it's Anne-Marine Suire and Hugo Laporte, who played Christine and the Phantom in the 2018 concert. So it seems that they're going to reprise their roles.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8tFKtJUaSP0

https://www.facebook.com/romeoetfils/photos/a.601672699851128/2759150444103332/

[BroadwayBaby6]

Musical theatre lyric translations in French tend to be quite pedestrian. The French lyrics to the title song of Phantom are not very good:

 

 

Le Fantôme de l'Opéra (English translation)

• Artist: The Phantom of the Opera (musical)
• Featuring artist: Cécilia Cara, Laurent Ban
• Song: Le Fantôme de l'Opéra
• Translations: English

• Play "Le Fantôme de l…"
  
  on Amazon Music

La nuit dans mon sommeil

Se glisse un homme

Sa voix éclate en moi

Sa voix me somme

 

Serait-ce un rêve encore?

Mais cette fois

Je sais que le fantôme de l'opéra

Est là en moi

 

Ce soir la scène est mise

Nos chants se mêlent

Ma main, mes mots, ma voix

Je t'ensorcelle

 

 

[Fan123]

The Theatre St-Denis has posted a few performance clips from a recent press event for these concerts. While some of the delivery in these clips seems a little awks to me, it's still interesting to hear this in French. It's also interesting to hear a snippet of a more operatic voice than usual (to my knowledge, anyway) as the Phantom.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iYINcbKNwYg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VeKTlnpLLUk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ldy_oa4jxfw

[Lot666]

Fan123 said: "TheTheatre St-Denis has posted a few performance clips from a recent press event for these concerts. Whilesome of the delivery in these clips seems a little awks to me, it's still interesting to hear this in French. It's also interesting to hear a snippet of a more operatic voice than usual (to my knowledge, anyway)as the Phantom.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iYINcbKNwYg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VeKTlnpLLUk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ldy_oa4jxfw"

Thanks so much for sharing these! I loved hearing both the Phantom and Christine sung in more full-on operatic style (I really liked Christine's cadenza at the end of Think of Me). Although I do love Ben Crawford, I wish the Broadway production would cast a true opera singer in the title role.

[ukpuppetboy]

Lot666 said: "Although I do love Ben Crawford, I wish the Broadway production would cast a true opera singer in the title role."

Just one more reason why Anthony Warlow was always so perfect.