Post by davidhr on Sept 27, 2011 12:07:34 GMT -5
The news this week obviously centered around Lara’s concert in Belgium last Thursday evening. Approaching the concert, there was great anticipation that Lara would introduce some of the songs from the Mlle. Zhivago album and perhaps provide information concerning her own coming plans. This was fueled by the charity's website, which said that it was to be ‘the first of the MZ concerts, to be followed by the Russian tour” (and actually, even Lara's FB site said this, back on July 3rd). We knew the second part was no longer correct; we didn’t know the first part was wrong as well. Instead, as noted by Haddie0172 in last week’s thread, Lara focused on this being a ‘charity concert’, and did her own rendition of an ‘oldies’ show.
The set list, as clarified by Joan Guardiola on Lara’s FB discussion page, was: J'y crois encore; La Difference; Immortelle; Humana; Tout; Soleil Soleil; Instrumental; Do you know where you’re going to; Wind Beneath My Wings; Angel; Je t'aime; Je Suis Malade; instrumental; Allfonsina y el mar; I Guess I Loved You; Instrumental; Broken Vow; J'ai besoin de parler; Adagio, Pas sans toi. It is fairly similar to charity shows she has done over the last decade, which also means that these songs are all over 7 years old, and many of them date to the 1990s or early 2000s. The program conspicuously lacked anything new Lara has created in the last several years for her international audience.
Thanks largely to Fabian8000 putting wonderful videos on youtube, we have almost a complete record of this concert (missing only three full songs, so far). Her voice was fine, and while not as powerful as it has been at times in the past, she still displays her great vocal dexterity. It is a very nice concert to have. Lara wore the same pretty robe/pajama-type outfit that she had on in Astana in July (where she sang Mlle. Zhivago songs).
On the other hand, it’s obvious that Lara continues to keep the MZ project in limbo as far as western Europe/French speaking audiences are concerned. We don’t know why she switched the program at this venue away from introducing the MZ songs to what she must see as her most loyal fans, if indeed it ever was her intention to do so. It may simply have been that were she to have had the extensive tour originally envisioned, she would have had a full show prepared, and now none of that had been done. But it wouldn’t have taken much effort to sing a few songs from the new album. Perhaps it was just a charity concert in her mind, and nothing more.
Nevertheless, what seems true is that Lara is convinced her French speaking fans do not appreciate any of her international work, and this is not a new opinion on her part. She noticeably has not sung any of the songs (other than Adagio and Broken Vow) from her 3 million selling English language album in Francophile Europe after its debut tour. Similarly, she generally has sung only one song (I Guess I Loved You) from the AWL album, and two from EWIM (Wind Beneath My Wings and Do You Know) for the French audience. And since she never gives concerts in English speaking countries, the rest of the songs almost never get sung (she was forced to perform “I Will Love Again” in China because it won a poll in that country).
It looks as if Mlle. Zhivago has now fallen into that same category in her mind, and in this case, even the French/Italian songs on the album appear to be ‘inappropriate’ for the French speaking audiences (at least so far). In sticking to this point of view, Lara is ignoring the expressed wishes of these same fans, who on her FB forum site, stated (in French) their hope that they would finally get to hear the MZ songs first-hand. Afterwards, fans tried to explain away their absence by saying that, after all, it was a charity concert, and maybe inappropriate for that reason. It was even suggested that perhaps her contract with Igor Krutoi prohibited her from singing them (which would go against the basic idea of commercialization in a new market). Based on the written responses on Lara’s FB site, it appeared that new fans, who had never seen Lara perform live before, appreciated hearing her ‘greatest hits’, while older fans felt more disappointed/misled; but even these were happy to see Lara, given how long it has been since she’s performed in Belgium.
There is another possibility that has been alluded to in some of the fans’ comments. It was reported that Lara looked tired, and there is some concern over her health, not really alleviated with the explanation that the cancelling of her Russian tour was for ‘professional’ reasons. . It’s possible that she felt she wasn’t up to singing the new songs, at least not in the way she would like on their first presentation (she has often said she wants new songs to get their best possible first hearing). That could be true without her health being a factor, but if it is, there is a much bigger problem than her setlist at this particular concert, except insofar as one implies the other.
For whatever reason(s), in passing up the opportunity to present the album, Lara missed her only scheduled chance to promote the MZ project to her French audience. We heard last week from Alan Badoev that the DVD was going to be released in France. If this were really true, wouldn’t Lara have wanted to advertise it? Were it to become available now in Belgium and France, it would ‘come out of the blue’ with no ‘warm-up’. Hence given Lara’s actions we probably shouldn’t expect it any time soon.
None of this matters of course to the orphans for whom the concert’s income was intended. The audience of more than 2000 people reportedly provided a nice profit for the ‘Foundation Papillon” and Lara has said that the foundations leaders guaranteed her they would actually build houses. In that respect one can say it was successful. In addition to the videos, pictures from the concert are available on both Lara’s and the pure-lara FB sites. Additional pictures can be found on a new FB fan site for Lara, available at:
www.facebook.com/LaraFabianSite
The future for Mlle. Zhivago film may be brighter in the ‘countries to the east”, and perhaps for the rest of us as well. Сергей on the Russian forum reported that the Mlle. Zhivago film will “premiere in early October” on the youtube channel “ello”, to be found at:
www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLE789159A66678C11
As explained by “Spark” in the Russian forum, this is a “legal Russian music video channel owned by Ello Symbolic Music Group, which specializes in the distribution of music, film and video works. Partners are “Warner Music Group”, “First music publishing house”, “Velvet Music”, “CD Land”, “Monolith", "Russian Chanson", "Style Records”, “NewsMusic Digital”, etc. [Note Universal Music which funded the movie is not listed here…]. The company also owns a production unit producing the videos “StarPro”.
So this site would seem to have the proper pedigree to provide such a video; what is not clear is whether this would be the entire film or, more likely, just a trailer. Were the actual movie to be shown, it would imply that they have given up on it as a commercial venture, as the audience/profits would be greatly reduced for any subsequent DVD/cinema/TV presentation – and how likely is that, given the $3 million cost to make it? Since the timing is right around the corner, we’ll soon see whether this is yet another unfulfilled rumor regarding this project, or the start of its real distribution. Even a trailer would be a highly positive sign.
In yet another example of serendipity, the next section of the biography of Lara was concerned with Lara’s so far unfulfilled projects, pp. 224-226.
**If one thinks that such occurrences are a recent development, the book points out that as far back as 1998 Lara was planning a “Jaques Brel” project (called ‘Cher Jacques’). At the time she did say that it wouldn’t happen soon, and it obviously has not happened yet, although she has occasionally sung his songs.
**The book also notes that Lara has often indicated her desire to sing in Italy, in particular in the arenas in Verona and Syracuse (Sicily). The closest she got were her flirtations with the country in the last half of the 2000s accompanying Gigi d’Alessio, and then appearing with Christian Imparato. [Of course, Mlle. Zhivago would be a good vehicle!].
**As far as theatrical appearances are concerned, Lara had discussed a joint project with Mathilde Seigner and Fabrice Luchin, which they called “Les emmerdeuses” (The “Pains in the Neck”). It fell through the cracks.
**More recently there was the aborted plan to appear in “Victor Victoria” in Paris. Lara was especially intrigued because she felt that “in contrast to the film of Irwin Winkler [De-Lovely], I could act, dance, sing, transform myself into a man, something that I always dreamed of doing…”. It was cancelled when Lara felt her schedule would not permit it – but with the annulment of the Russian tour, ironically, it seems she would have been able to.
**The film “Charlie” where Lara was to play the wife of an Italian doctor/resistance fighter during WW II was to have been shot in Italy this past summer (and again it seems Lara would have had the time). Financing for this project fell through, and while there has yet to be an official termination (as far as I know), one shouldn’t hold one’s breath.
**Finally, the author firmly believes in the oft-rumored album “Le Secret” (which at the time of writing he anticipated for 2011). He says “some songs in French have already been written by Lara”, and it will include Luc Plamondon’s song written with Lara, “La femme ou la star”. He goes on to say that it will be a short disc in terms of number of tracks, but the songs will be long enough, and it will be a symphonic album”…”One will perhaps find the song “Quitte a partir” which Universal announced in 2008, a lullaby for her daughter “Une nouvelle vie”, a pop rock song “Desenvoute-moi” and perhaps also Lara’s song “Mirage”.
Quite a lot of specificity for an album that has yet to see the light of day, and for whom even the rumors have now died down. An alternate approach suggested for the next French album was that it would be a joint production with the Israeli Giora Linenberg, who has acted as pianist for Lara in ‘the countries to the east’ when Igor Krutoi was not playing, and whom Lara praised in Israel as someone who knows her voice perfectly. More recently, though, Lara has said she is waiting for the next new project to ‘come to her’. She hasn’t released a disc of original French songs since 2005 (the longest such lapse since her career began), and if Mlle. Zhivago is not going to be promoted there, something else has to take its place. At least this is what the French fans hope…
Again nothing public on Lara’s schedule (for the next 6 months, actually, although she may make some appearances when the CD of Fairy Tales with Thierry Gali is released in November). Nevertheless, knowing Lara, we shouldn’t be surprised to see events pop up without much warning, assuming her health is good (and she did not look pregnant - although it was sort of a loose fitting outfit .
David
The set list, as clarified by Joan Guardiola on Lara’s FB discussion page, was: J'y crois encore; La Difference; Immortelle; Humana; Tout; Soleil Soleil; Instrumental; Do you know where you’re going to; Wind Beneath My Wings; Angel; Je t'aime; Je Suis Malade; instrumental; Allfonsina y el mar; I Guess I Loved You; Instrumental; Broken Vow; J'ai besoin de parler; Adagio, Pas sans toi. It is fairly similar to charity shows she has done over the last decade, which also means that these songs are all over 7 years old, and many of them date to the 1990s or early 2000s. The program conspicuously lacked anything new Lara has created in the last several years for her international audience.
Thanks largely to Fabian8000 putting wonderful videos on youtube, we have almost a complete record of this concert (missing only three full songs, so far). Her voice was fine, and while not as powerful as it has been at times in the past, she still displays her great vocal dexterity. It is a very nice concert to have. Lara wore the same pretty robe/pajama-type outfit that she had on in Astana in July (where she sang Mlle. Zhivago songs).
On the other hand, it’s obvious that Lara continues to keep the MZ project in limbo as far as western Europe/French speaking audiences are concerned. We don’t know why she switched the program at this venue away from introducing the MZ songs to what she must see as her most loyal fans, if indeed it ever was her intention to do so. It may simply have been that were she to have had the extensive tour originally envisioned, she would have had a full show prepared, and now none of that had been done. But it wouldn’t have taken much effort to sing a few songs from the new album. Perhaps it was just a charity concert in her mind, and nothing more.
Nevertheless, what seems true is that Lara is convinced her French speaking fans do not appreciate any of her international work, and this is not a new opinion on her part. She noticeably has not sung any of the songs (other than Adagio and Broken Vow) from her 3 million selling English language album in Francophile Europe after its debut tour. Similarly, she generally has sung only one song (I Guess I Loved You) from the AWL album, and two from EWIM (Wind Beneath My Wings and Do You Know) for the French audience. And since she never gives concerts in English speaking countries, the rest of the songs almost never get sung (she was forced to perform “I Will Love Again” in China because it won a poll in that country).
It looks as if Mlle. Zhivago has now fallen into that same category in her mind, and in this case, even the French/Italian songs on the album appear to be ‘inappropriate’ for the French speaking audiences (at least so far). In sticking to this point of view, Lara is ignoring the expressed wishes of these same fans, who on her FB forum site, stated (in French) their hope that they would finally get to hear the MZ songs first-hand. Afterwards, fans tried to explain away their absence by saying that, after all, it was a charity concert, and maybe inappropriate for that reason. It was even suggested that perhaps her contract with Igor Krutoi prohibited her from singing them (which would go against the basic idea of commercialization in a new market). Based on the written responses on Lara’s FB site, it appeared that new fans, who had never seen Lara perform live before, appreciated hearing her ‘greatest hits’, while older fans felt more disappointed/misled; but even these were happy to see Lara, given how long it has been since she’s performed in Belgium.
There is another possibility that has been alluded to in some of the fans’ comments. It was reported that Lara looked tired, and there is some concern over her health, not really alleviated with the explanation that the cancelling of her Russian tour was for ‘professional’ reasons. . It’s possible that she felt she wasn’t up to singing the new songs, at least not in the way she would like on their first presentation (she has often said she wants new songs to get their best possible first hearing). That could be true without her health being a factor, but if it is, there is a much bigger problem than her setlist at this particular concert, except insofar as one implies the other.
For whatever reason(s), in passing up the opportunity to present the album, Lara missed her only scheduled chance to promote the MZ project to her French audience. We heard last week from Alan Badoev that the DVD was going to be released in France. If this were really true, wouldn’t Lara have wanted to advertise it? Were it to become available now in Belgium and France, it would ‘come out of the blue’ with no ‘warm-up’. Hence given Lara’s actions we probably shouldn’t expect it any time soon.
None of this matters of course to the orphans for whom the concert’s income was intended. The audience of more than 2000 people reportedly provided a nice profit for the ‘Foundation Papillon” and Lara has said that the foundations leaders guaranteed her they would actually build houses. In that respect one can say it was successful. In addition to the videos, pictures from the concert are available on both Lara’s and the pure-lara FB sites. Additional pictures can be found on a new FB fan site for Lara, available at:
www.facebook.com/LaraFabianSite
The future for Mlle. Zhivago film may be brighter in the ‘countries to the east”, and perhaps for the rest of us as well. Сергей on the Russian forum reported that the Mlle. Zhivago film will “premiere in early October” on the youtube channel “ello”, to be found at:
www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLE789159A66678C11
As explained by “Spark” in the Russian forum, this is a “legal Russian music video channel owned by Ello Symbolic Music Group, which specializes in the distribution of music, film and video works. Partners are “Warner Music Group”, “First music publishing house”, “Velvet Music”, “CD Land”, “Monolith", "Russian Chanson", "Style Records”, “NewsMusic Digital”, etc. [Note Universal Music which funded the movie is not listed here…]. The company also owns a production unit producing the videos “StarPro”.
So this site would seem to have the proper pedigree to provide such a video; what is not clear is whether this would be the entire film or, more likely, just a trailer. Were the actual movie to be shown, it would imply that they have given up on it as a commercial venture, as the audience/profits would be greatly reduced for any subsequent DVD/cinema/TV presentation – and how likely is that, given the $3 million cost to make it? Since the timing is right around the corner, we’ll soon see whether this is yet another unfulfilled rumor regarding this project, or the start of its real distribution. Even a trailer would be a highly positive sign.
In yet another example of serendipity, the next section of the biography of Lara was concerned with Lara’s so far unfulfilled projects, pp. 224-226.
**If one thinks that such occurrences are a recent development, the book points out that as far back as 1998 Lara was planning a “Jaques Brel” project (called ‘Cher Jacques’). At the time she did say that it wouldn’t happen soon, and it obviously has not happened yet, although she has occasionally sung his songs.
**The book also notes that Lara has often indicated her desire to sing in Italy, in particular in the arenas in Verona and Syracuse (Sicily). The closest she got were her flirtations with the country in the last half of the 2000s accompanying Gigi d’Alessio, and then appearing with Christian Imparato. [Of course, Mlle. Zhivago would be a good vehicle!].
**As far as theatrical appearances are concerned, Lara had discussed a joint project with Mathilde Seigner and Fabrice Luchin, which they called “Les emmerdeuses” (The “Pains in the Neck”). It fell through the cracks.
**More recently there was the aborted plan to appear in “Victor Victoria” in Paris. Lara was especially intrigued because she felt that “in contrast to the film of Irwin Winkler [De-Lovely], I could act, dance, sing, transform myself into a man, something that I always dreamed of doing…”. It was cancelled when Lara felt her schedule would not permit it – but with the annulment of the Russian tour, ironically, it seems she would have been able to.
**The film “Charlie” where Lara was to play the wife of an Italian doctor/resistance fighter during WW II was to have been shot in Italy this past summer (and again it seems Lara would have had the time). Financing for this project fell through, and while there has yet to be an official termination (as far as I know), one shouldn’t hold one’s breath.
**Finally, the author firmly believes in the oft-rumored album “Le Secret” (which at the time of writing he anticipated for 2011). He says “some songs in French have already been written by Lara”, and it will include Luc Plamondon’s song written with Lara, “La femme ou la star”. He goes on to say that it will be a short disc in terms of number of tracks, but the songs will be long enough, and it will be a symphonic album”…”One will perhaps find the song “Quitte a partir” which Universal announced in 2008, a lullaby for her daughter “Une nouvelle vie”, a pop rock song “Desenvoute-moi” and perhaps also Lara’s song “Mirage”.
Quite a lot of specificity for an album that has yet to see the light of day, and for whom even the rumors have now died down. An alternate approach suggested for the next French album was that it would be a joint production with the Israeli Giora Linenberg, who has acted as pianist for Lara in ‘the countries to the east’ when Igor Krutoi was not playing, and whom Lara praised in Israel as someone who knows her voice perfectly. More recently, though, Lara has said she is waiting for the next new project to ‘come to her’. She hasn’t released a disc of original French songs since 2005 (the longest such lapse since her career began), and if Mlle. Zhivago is not going to be promoted there, something else has to take its place. At least this is what the French fans hope…
Again nothing public on Lara’s schedule (for the next 6 months, actually, although she may make some appearances when the CD of Fairy Tales with Thierry Gali is released in November). Nevertheless, knowing Lara, we shouldn’t be surprised to see events pop up without much warning, assuming her health is good (and she did not look pregnant - although it was sort of a loose fitting outfit .
David