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.
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.
==> this board is a nest of vipers <==
"Michael Riedel...The Perez Hilton of the New York Theatre scene" - Craig Hepworth, What's On Stage
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!
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.
==> this board is a nest of vipers <==
"Michael Riedel...The Perez Hilton of the New York Theatre scene" - Craig Hepworth, What's On Stage
"You can't overrate Bernadette Peters. She is such a genius. There's a moment in "Too Many Mornings" and Bernadette doing 'I wore green the last time' - It's a voice that is just already given up - it is so sorrowful. Tragic. You can see from that moment the show is going to be headed into such dark territory and it hinges on this tiny throwaway moment of the voice." - Ben Brantley (2022)
"Bernadette's whole, stunning performance [as Rose in Gypsy] galvanized the actors capable of letting loose with her. Bernadette's Rose did take its rightful place, but too late, and unseen by too many who should have seen it" Arthur Laurents (2009)
"Sondheim's own favorite star performances? [Bernadette] Peters in ''Sunday in the Park,'' Lansbury in ''Sweeney Todd'' and ''obviously, Ethel was thrilling in 'Gypsy.'' Nytimes, 2000
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.)
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.
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.)
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.
"You can't overrate Bernadette Peters. She is such a genius. There's a moment in "Too Many Mornings" and Bernadette doing 'I wore green the last time' - It's a voice that is just already given up - it is so sorrowful. Tragic. You can see from that moment the show is going to be headed into such dark territory and it hinges on this tiny throwaway moment of the voice." - Ben Brantley (2022)
"Bernadette's whole, stunning performance [as Rose in Gypsy] galvanized the actors capable of letting loose with her. Bernadette's Rose did take its rightful place, but too late, and unseen by too many who should have seen it" Arthur Laurents (2009)
"Sondheim's own favorite star performances? [Bernadette] Peters in ''Sunday in the Park,'' Lansbury in ''Sweeney Todd'' and ''obviously, Ethel was thrilling in 'Gypsy.'' Nytimes, 2000
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.
"It does what a musical is supposed to do; it takes you to another world. And it gives you a little tune to carry in your head. Something to take you away from the dreary horrors of the real world. A little something for when you're feeling blue. You know?"
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.
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.
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.
==> this board is a nest of vipers <==
"Michael Riedel...The Perez Hilton of the New York Theatre scene" - Craig Hepworth, What's On Stage