PHANTOM OF THE OPERA French version in concert, Canada 2020
PHANTOM OF THE OPERA French version in concert, Canada 2020
Fan123
Broadway Star Joined: 8/30/08
#1PHANTOM OF THE OPERA French version in concert, Canada 2020
Posted: 9/12/19 at 7:23am
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/
#2PHANTOM OF THE OPERA French version in concert, Canada 2020
Posted: 9/12/19 at 8:18am
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.
"Michael Riedel...The Perez Hilton of the New York Theatre scene"
- Craig Hepworth, What's On Stage
greensgreens
Broadway Star Joined: 10/14/09
#3PHANTOM OF THE OPERA French version in concert, Canada 2020
Posted: 9/12/19 at 12:13pm
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!
#4PHANTOM OF THE OPERA French version in concert, Canada 2020
Posted: 9/12/19 at 12:38pm
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.
"Michael Riedel...The Perez Hilton of the New York Theatre scene"
- Craig Hepworth, What's On Stage
Fosse76
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/21/05
#5PHANTOM OF THE OPERA French version in concert, Canada 2020
Posted: 9/13/19 at 1:33pm
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.
#6PHANTOM OF THE OPERA French version in concert, Canada 2020
Posted: 9/13/19 at 1:41pm
Is this 'french french' or Canadian 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
Fan123
Broadway Star Joined: 8/30/08
#7PHANTOM OF THE OPERA French version in concert, Canada 2020
Posted: 9/13/19 at 7:07pm
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/
#8PHANTOM OF THE OPERA French version in concert, Canada 2020
Posted: 9/14/19 at 1:26am
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.
#9PHANTOM OF THE OPERA French version in concert, Canada 2020
Posted: 9/14/19 at 3:32am
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.
"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
Fan123
Broadway Star Joined: 8/30/08
#10PHANTOM OF THE OPERA French version in concert, Canada 2020
Posted: 10/22/19 at 3:26am
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/
#11PHANTOM OF THE OPERA French version in concert, Canada 2020
Posted: 10/24/19 at 6:42pm
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
"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?"
Fan123
Broadway Star Joined: 8/30/08
#12PHANTOM OF THE OPERA French version in concert, Canada 2020
Posted: 12/8/19 at 3:17am
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
#13PHANTOM OF THE OPERA French version in concert, Canada 2020
Posted: 12/9/19 at 10:04am
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.
"Michael Riedel...The Perez Hilton of the New York Theatre scene"
- Craig Hepworth, What's On Stage
#14PHANTOM OF THE OPERA French version in concert, Canada 2020
Posted: 12/9/19 at 12:53pm
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.
Fan123
Broadway Star Joined: 8/30/08
#15PHANTOM OF THE OPERA French version in concert, Canada 2020
Posted: 3/7/20 at 3:37pm
For those interested, I happened across a TV show clip from January of the concert leads singing the title song:
https://www.facebook.com/lasemainedes4julie/videos/210996786595218/
Fan123
Broadway Star Joined: 8/30/08
#16PHANTOM OF THE OPERA French version in concert, Canada 2020
Posted: 8/23/20 at 4:46am
Time for another random revival of this thread. Here's a video of 'Let point de non-retour', socially-distanced style, from back in June.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8kJojxGQZp8
