PHANTOM OF THE OPERA French version in concert, Canada 2020
PHANTOM OF THE OPERA French version in concert, Canada 2020
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/30/08
PHANTOM OF THE OPERA French version in concert, Canada 2020#1
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/
PHANTOM OF THE OPERA French version in concert, Canada 2020#2
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
Broadway Star Joined: 10/14/09
PHANTOM OF THE OPERA French version in concert, Canada 2020#3
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!
PHANTOM OF THE OPERA French version in concert, Canada 2020#4
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
PHANTOM OF THE OPERA French version in concert, Canada 2020#5
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.
PHANTOM OF THE OPERA French version in concert, Canada 2020#6
Posted: 9/13/19 at 1:41pm
Is this 'french french' or Canadian french?
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/30/08
PHANTOM OF THE OPERA French version in concert, Canada 2020#7
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/
PHANTOM OF THE OPERA French version in concert, Canada 2020#8
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.
PHANTOM OF THE OPERA French version in concert, Canada 2020#9
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.
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/30/08
PHANTOM OF THE OPERA French version in concert, Canada 2020#10
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/
PHANTOM OF THE OPERA French version in concert, Canada 2020#11
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
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/30/08
PHANTOM OF THE OPERA French version in concert, Canada 2020#12
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
PHANTOM OF THE OPERA French version in concert, Canada 2020#13
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
PHANTOM OF THE OPERA French version in concert, Canada 2020#14
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.
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/30/08
PHANTOM OF THE OPERA French version in concert, Canada 2020#15
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/
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/30/08
PHANTOM OF THE OPERA French version in concert, Canada 2020#16
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
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