Post by davidhr on Mar 13, 2012 12:01:30 GMT -5
Lara’s first concert ever in the Czech Republic took place last night. While it’s still early, some reviews have come in, both from fans and the press, indicating that the show was a great success, ending with a standing ovation in a sold-out hall. The set list included (in no particular order): “I guess I loved you”, “Adagio”, "Wind beneath my wings", "Immortelle," "Angel," "Je t’aime”, “Pas sans toi”, “Demaine n’existe pas”, “Soleil Soleil”, “Je suis malade”, “Alfonsina y el mar”, “Always”, and a wonderful new song “Le Secret”, obviously from the upcoming album. A video of it can now be found on youtube, at:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=0T9tsr6EoXk
As can be seen, it was a mix, with old and new songs, pretty much like the January show for fans in Paris. “Le Secret” of course was the big hit for her fans, but for the audience, “Je suis malade” was the star attraction, sung a capella without a microphone at the end as Lara often does it. Apparently it was a popular hit in the Czech Republic some years ago performed by Mary Rottrová under the name ‘I'm so so glad’ [or at least this is what Google translator calls it – might really be ‘sick’ rather than ‘glad’].
Some additional videos of the concert are available at:
www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLE735F16943AF0AC7&feature=plcp
and hopefully more will be uploaded (one that is promised is of the drummer playing over a basin of water - something that has been done at least once in the past at Lara’s concerts – and which merited special comment in the press reporting).
Lara’s concert was covered on the nightly news, and that can be seen at:
voyo.nova.cz/product/zpravy/28024-nocni-televizni-noviny-12-3-2012
with Lara’s appearance from 14:29 to 16:37.
Here’s a (google-translated) description of the performance in the Czech press, (which began by noting that she received a standing ovation at the finish):
---------------------------------------------------------
Fabian, who chose to wear a black dress with gold accessories, sang songs in French and English on the stage in which an intimate atmosphere accented the evening. Its main part was a red sofa, around which stood five major candlesticks with lighted candles.
The singer who is very popular, especially in Francophone countries, brought three musicians, a pianist, guitarist and drummer, whose humorous solo basin full of water lightened the serious nature of the evening.
On pauses between songs, Fabian filled in with commentary, which often explained what each song meant for her life. Among other things, songs like Soleil Soleil - hits from her latest album ‘toutes les femmes en moi of 2009’ or the song ‘Je suis malade’ of Serge Lama that in the Czech Republic Mary Rottrová made famous.
Before the end of the concert, visitors brought dozens of bouquets.
------------------------------------------------
A number of photos from the show are available at:
www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150683514222417.418483.382393522416&type=1
As to what the setlist implies about the future, at least in this country there was only a little from the ‘Mlle Zhivago’ album. If this represents the standard for her other concerts in the ‘countries to the east’, one can assume she is basically finished with it (without releasing it anywhere but Russia and the Ukraine). In fact, given the unveiling of the new song, she's probably now focused on her future album, still a year away.
Before the show, Lara gave another interview. Here’s a google-translation of it, and their comments:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Francophone singer Lara Fabian performs tonight in Prague. For Super.cz found a few minutes to answer a few questions. That she loves films of Milos Forman was a surprise. But although she is very slim, she is fond of Czech cuisine. "It's tasty and nutritious," she says. Sasha Šeflová , Super.cz
Have you ever before been in the Czech Republic?
Yes, I was there with my husband just for pleasure, privately.
Do you know Czech culture? What do you think?
I admire Milos Forman, the impressive view of reality. I like Miroslav Vitous, a great jazz musician and his album Universal Syncopations, which he recorded with John McLaughlin and Jan Garbarkem. And Antonin Dvorak, he’s a master.
Even for us, some wrote about the case that you did not want to go to Lebanon because you are a Zionist. What happened?
It was only a few extremists who do not understand that I sing about love, tolerance and peace. Anyway, I sang in Lebanon. It was a chamber concert, which we filmed and subsequently broadcast on television. Music knows no boundaries.
What is your favorite food?
Anything my mom cooks.
And before the concert you have any rituals, even as far as food?
Four hours before the concert it only slow carbohydrates. Then nothing.
As to Czech food, do you like it?
Czech food I tasted when I was in Prague. I like it, it is very tasty and nutritious. ■
Prague's Municipal House now will host singer Lara Fabian. Her first concert in the Czech Republic, according to the organizers is sold out. The performance is part of a large European tour for the singer of Belgian-Italian descent, who in 1994 became a Canadian citizen and lives mostly in Montreal.
------------------------------------------------------------------
Although filled with factual errors, the interview did illustrate that Lara was asked about the situation visa vi Lebanon several times during her stay; we may expect that will continue at her upcoming venues. Note also that she refers to Gerard as her husband, something we’ve heard her do often, although whether it’s literally true or not, we don’t know.
Elsewhere, in another article, Lara was asked whether she could imagine herself singing in Czech, and she replied, ‘why not, I enjoy languages’.
One additional comment on the concert: apparently the organizers failed to instruct people where to sit, causing a great deal of confusion. But even with this distraction, the fans writing in said that Lara’s performance was amazing. A good start to the week of concerts.
In other news, Lara’s performance “Entre vous et moi" for Lebanon was shown on RTL TV in Belgium Sunday night and got well-deserved good reviews from fans who hadn’t previously seen it. Curiously, outside of an occasional comment from fans in Lebanon, there didn’t seem to be any reaction in the Arab press to the televised concert there when it occurred. Presumably their interest in Lara extended only insofar as whether she entered the country; since she wasn’t physically there, they stopped paying attention.
The movie "Cloclo" comes out March 14, but a preview of the biographical film about the artist Claude François took place March 6, and Lara was in attendance. As reported in the press, after the showing, "a very private cocktail party took place at the Metropole Hotel in the presence of a few stars" (Lara included).
The Lara Fabian Greek Music Treasure Box site has officially called it quits, although the FB site will remain open for occasional updates. We thank Christina for two years of great postings and links, and wish her well in all her future activities. While there are a number of FB sites still open associated with Lara, they have very little substantive discussion of her activities/career – not that such discussions have influenced Lara substantively, but they have helped keep fan interest alive.
Lara performs tonight in Bratislava, Slovakia, followed on Thursday in Moldavia, and then finishing up with two shows in Bucharest, Romania over the weekend. So far it looks like the busiest week of the year for her [
or 
,not sure which].
David
www.youtube.com/watch?v=0T9tsr6EoXk
As can be seen, it was a mix, with old and new songs, pretty much like the January show for fans in Paris. “Le Secret” of course was the big hit for her fans, but for the audience, “Je suis malade” was the star attraction, sung a capella without a microphone at the end as Lara often does it. Apparently it was a popular hit in the Czech Republic some years ago performed by Mary Rottrová under the name ‘I'm so so glad’ [or at least this is what Google translator calls it – might really be ‘sick’ rather than ‘glad’].
Some additional videos of the concert are available at:
www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLE735F16943AF0AC7&feature=plcp
and hopefully more will be uploaded (one that is promised is of the drummer playing over a basin of water - something that has been done at least once in the past at Lara’s concerts – and which merited special comment in the press reporting).
Lara’s concert was covered on the nightly news, and that can be seen at:
voyo.nova.cz/product/zpravy/28024-nocni-televizni-noviny-12-3-2012
with Lara’s appearance from 14:29 to 16:37.
Here’s a (google-translated) description of the performance in the Czech press, (which began by noting that she received a standing ovation at the finish):
---------------------------------------------------------
Fabian, who chose to wear a black dress with gold accessories, sang songs in French and English on the stage in which an intimate atmosphere accented the evening. Its main part was a red sofa, around which stood five major candlesticks with lighted candles.
The singer who is very popular, especially in Francophone countries, brought three musicians, a pianist, guitarist and drummer, whose humorous solo basin full of water lightened the serious nature of the evening.
On pauses between songs, Fabian filled in with commentary, which often explained what each song meant for her life. Among other things, songs like Soleil Soleil - hits from her latest album ‘toutes les femmes en moi of 2009’ or the song ‘Je suis malade’ of Serge Lama that in the Czech Republic Mary Rottrová made famous.
Before the end of the concert, visitors brought dozens of bouquets.
------------------------------------------------
A number of photos from the show are available at:
www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150683514222417.418483.382393522416&type=1
As to what the setlist implies about the future, at least in this country there was only a little from the ‘Mlle Zhivago’ album. If this represents the standard for her other concerts in the ‘countries to the east’, one can assume she is basically finished with it (without releasing it anywhere but Russia and the Ukraine). In fact, given the unveiling of the new song, she's probably now focused on her future album, still a year away.
Before the show, Lara gave another interview. Here’s a google-translation of it, and their comments:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Francophone singer Lara Fabian performs tonight in Prague. For Super.cz found a few minutes to answer a few questions. That she loves films of Milos Forman was a surprise. But although she is very slim, she is fond of Czech cuisine. "It's tasty and nutritious," she says. Sasha Šeflová , Super.cz
Have you ever before been in the Czech Republic?
Yes, I was there with my husband just for pleasure, privately.
Do you know Czech culture? What do you think?
I admire Milos Forman, the impressive view of reality. I like Miroslav Vitous, a great jazz musician and his album Universal Syncopations, which he recorded with John McLaughlin and Jan Garbarkem. And Antonin Dvorak, he’s a master.
Even for us, some wrote about the case that you did not want to go to Lebanon because you are a Zionist. What happened?
It was only a few extremists who do not understand that I sing about love, tolerance and peace. Anyway, I sang in Lebanon. It was a chamber concert, which we filmed and subsequently broadcast on television. Music knows no boundaries.
What is your favorite food?
Anything my mom cooks.
And before the concert you have any rituals, even as far as food?
Four hours before the concert it only slow carbohydrates. Then nothing.
As to Czech food, do you like it?
Czech food I tasted when I was in Prague. I like it, it is very tasty and nutritious. ■
Prague's Municipal House now will host singer Lara Fabian. Her first concert in the Czech Republic, according to the organizers is sold out. The performance is part of a large European tour for the singer of Belgian-Italian descent, who in 1994 became a Canadian citizen and lives mostly in Montreal.
------------------------------------------------------------------
Although filled with factual errors, the interview did illustrate that Lara was asked about the situation visa vi Lebanon several times during her stay; we may expect that will continue at her upcoming venues. Note also that she refers to Gerard as her husband, something we’ve heard her do often, although whether it’s literally true or not, we don’t know.
Elsewhere, in another article, Lara was asked whether she could imagine herself singing in Czech, and she replied, ‘why not, I enjoy languages’.
One additional comment on the concert: apparently the organizers failed to instruct people where to sit, causing a great deal of confusion. But even with this distraction, the fans writing in said that Lara’s performance was amazing. A good start to the week of concerts.
In other news, Lara’s performance “Entre vous et moi" for Lebanon was shown on RTL TV in Belgium Sunday night and got well-deserved good reviews from fans who hadn’t previously seen it. Curiously, outside of an occasional comment from fans in Lebanon, there didn’t seem to be any reaction in the Arab press to the televised concert there when it occurred. Presumably their interest in Lara extended only insofar as whether she entered the country; since she wasn’t physically there, they stopped paying attention.
The movie "Cloclo" comes out March 14, but a preview of the biographical film about the artist Claude François took place March 6, and Lara was in attendance. As reported in the press, after the showing, "a very private cocktail party took place at the Metropole Hotel in the presence of a few stars" (Lara included).
The Lara Fabian Greek Music Treasure Box site has officially called it quits, although the FB site will remain open for occasional updates. We thank Christina for two years of great postings and links, and wish her well in all her future activities. While there are a number of FB sites still open associated with Lara, they have very little substantive discussion of her activities/career – not that such discussions have influenced Lara substantively, but they have helped keep fan interest alive.
Lara performs tonight in Bratislava, Slovakia, followed on Thursday in Moldavia, and then finishing up with two shows in Bucharest, Romania over the weekend. So far it looks like the busiest week of the year for her [
or 
,not sure which]. David
