Post by davidhr on Sept 4, 2018 8:27:10 GMT -5
Given Lara’s repeated ‘worries’ about the fate of the Sao Paulo concert, it should come as no surprise that the lead story this week concerns its cancellation. First Lara’s team posted on their web site the following statement:
--------------------------------------
“We regret to inform that the concert “Camouflage World Tour” in Sao Paulo, on September 28th 2018, has been cancelled.
This decision, taken jointly by Mundo Entertainment (the concert organizer), and Lara Fabian’s management, was necessary due to the situation in regards to ticket sales. The ticket sales figures are at a level which do not allow us to ensure the conditions for presenting the show, as it should be. As much as Lara Fabian and all of us regret this decision, this cancellation was inevitable, without putting the show, the public, or the companies involved in jeopardy.
Nevertheless, we will continue our collaboration, to ensure that Lara Fabian comes to Brazil as soon as possible, for a show that will be tailor-made for Brazil. We thank you for your understanding , and apologize for any inconvenience caused..
All ticket holders will be of course fully reimbursed. To request a reimbursement , please follow the following link: www.ingressorapido.com.br”
--------------------------------------
-------------------------------------
“My dear Brazilian fans.. I am so heartbroken.. I was worried these last days, that it would come to this.. And the inevitable has happened.. I was looking forward to celebrate the final date of this tour in São Paulo, with you.. who have been so patient for all these years.. I truly share your disappointment . But , unfortunately, we live in difficult times in the music industry, where the decisions between production companies and local concert organizing companies are dependent of tough economic realities.. However.. we are already working on finding another formula, for a more intimate show, that would be specially prepared for you, for Brazil, and allow us to come as soon as possible , under better conditions for all of us..
Isso é uma promessa [That is a promise] ... Love, L.
---------------------------------------
Many of the fan responses were understanding, though a number were anguished, and a few were angry. Choosing to focus on the understanding ones, Lara wrote:
--------------------------------------
" Thank you all for your good words and understanding. Perhaps, and I sincerely hope, that with the new intimate show on which my team works, we will have the opportunity to come to Argentina and other countries and cities in Latin America. Maybe something good will come out. Love.
--------------------------------------
In fact, in these last remarks, Lara was responding to one of the ‘anguished’ comments:
Verito Arias: “I'm really heartbroken Lara because I was going to flight from Argentina and make my dream come true finally, and now I see my chance to meet you so so so far away. It's really sad. I love you, and I will always love you. You are the most wonderful woman in my world and you always will have a place in my heart. But today is a really sad day. I send you a really big hug. Te amo hasta el infinito. Lara Fabian”
After hearing Lara’s new focus on Argentina, she received this message:
Maximiliano Vidal: “Hello Lara Fabian, I'm the admin of Lara Fabian Argentina Facebook page you don't know all the messages I've received about this cancellation. People are so sad because so many people were going to Brazil, but we have a lot of fans here in Argentina that we are waiting you for so many years, more than 15 years. Hope you'll come as soon it's possible with the new intimate show formula. Thanks to add Argentina and other countries to your new tour. Salutes Lara. We are waiting you with so much passion!
Then there was this comment:
Andreza Ranieri: “My dear Lara... we have been your loyal fans for all these years and we will continue to be. I have been lucky enough to have seen you so many times, but I was really looking forward to seeing you here in my country with the friends I have made thanks to your music. I hope you really can find a way to come here so that everyone can see how amazing and special you are. I thought that for the first time I would have time and would have been able to tell you, looking into your eyes how special and important your music has been to me for the last 20 years of my life. I guess it wasn’t meant to be. I hope you will be able to come back someday and that we all get a chance to see you here.
Love always.”
To which Lara once again responded:
“I will come eventually.. please be patient, I know you have been patient for so many years.. . .. Isso é uma promessa..”
Concerning this idea of a ‘more intimate’ concert, one person wrote,
Mirta Fallesen: Excuse my ignorance , could be any chance to reprogram the show but for the same date in San Pablo? and validate the tickets but in a smaller place so we couldn't miss the only opportunity to see you. Many of us come from neighbor countries and it's not like Europe where the distance is shorter than here so the only possibility to travel to Brazil is by plane, many of us buy the tickets already and there's no refund so we're going to lose the money…
Thank you Lara Fabian”
And from Bruna Caetano Kleinke: “Lara, really have to agree with your fans. Rent a theatre, a piano, bring in your bag a guitar. And come sing to your 1000 fans who bought tickets to see you. There's still time to think and go back. Don't abandon your Brazilian Angels!!”
Doing the ‘more intimate show’ now, rather than at some unseen future time, undoubtedly will not happen, although it does sound appealing.
Presumably, the general concept is that with less of a supporting cast – and that includes not only the musicians, but the need for all the visuals, lighting, etc. that the Camouflage World Tour featured – Lara wouldn’t need such a big audience to make a trip of that distance pay off, financially. If she added Argentina to Brazil, she could expand the number of venues, without counting so much on any particular one. The question is, when would she find the time to do this? Certainly not until after the main tour in France and Belgium for the new French album, and that can’t be until after La Voix is finished. So at the very earliest, one probably cannot expect it before next summer.
Taking a step back, consider that Lara originally had six ‘Camouflage’ concerts scheduled for September – five in Germany, and this one in Brazil. All six were cancelled for lack of sufficient ticket sales. That may have been due to lack of proper promotion (as was mentioned by Lara’s people for the concerts in Germany, and was a complaint by Brazilian fans even before this one was cancelled). Lara’s Team has continually said that promotion is up to the organizers, but there’s no way to spin this: either they have chosen very poor organizers, or they have not provided the organizers with enough oversight. One might argue that both of these cases were ‘special circumstances’, and that Lara was trying to break into new territory (as she was to some extent in the U.S., where attendance was also somewhat spotty). The response to that is that in those circumstances, more oversight is required, a laissez faire approach does not seem to work.
Of course, the other explanation is that Lara is just not sufficiently popular/known in these countries, and that nothing would have helped. Maybe that’s true, but then both her Team and the organizers overestimated the size of the houses she could fill. That too would seem to need correcting. Either way, to have to cancel concerts is not good for the image of the performer, or the state of mind of her fans in these countries.
Stepping back one step further, as sort of a ‘eulogy’ for the Camouflage World Tour, now that it is officially over: Lara said that releasing an English language album was a passport to countries that she could not visit with a French language album. How well did that work out? One can compare the countries she visited with her previous French album, ‘Ma vie dans la tienne’ with those visited with ‘Camouflage’, shown here alphabetically (all these venues are listed in the ‘Events’ section of Lara’s FB page):
Ma vie dans la tienne: Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria, England, Flemish region of Belgium, France, Greece, Hungary, Moldova, Romania, Russia, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine,
Camouflage: Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, France, Greece, Holland, Hungary, Romania, Russia, Ukraine, U.S.
As can be seen, the only different places she went with the English album are: the U.S. and the Czech Republic (both countries where she had been previously with ‘Le Secret’, a French album), and Holland (where she at least has made an appearance previously, also singing in French, www.youtube.com/watch?v=mo3YAvz5Ncc). One would have to say the English album didn’t really provide the passport that was anticipated, given that there were a host of English speaking countries that she didn't go to - e.g., England, Australia, New Zealand, English speaking Canada, as well as many more countries whose citizens are much more open to English language concerts, where the album really would have made her more acceptable (in addition to South America, countries in Asia and Africa - that is, an actual World Tour).
The final irony is: this was a truly great show Lara put on, one of her very best. Relatively few people got to see it live, and it was not memorialized by any professional recording, but it was in every respect one of the highlights of Lara’s career. Hopefully she will not give up on English language records and shows – one can only suggest that she just choose the timing more carefully, do not allow any diversions, and oversee the organizers and promotion more closely.
In more positive news, now that “La rentree” is upon us (or whatever passes for its equivalent in Quebec), we can expect some acceleration in Lara’s upcoming public activities. Lara’s appearance on “Tout le monde aime”, the new show with Sonia Benezra, now has a scheduled broadcast date, September 23. From Le Soleil, a daily publication in Quebec (https://www.lesoleil.com/les-choix-de-la-redaction/les-emissions-a-ne-pas-manquer-cet-automne-afc871707687b60cfcaa35b230da1272) (in translation):
---------------------------------------------------
Emissions not to be missed this fall
Tout le monde aime
Beginning: Sunday, September 23 at 21h
The perfect concept for Sonia Benezra, back after a long involuntary absence. With the complicity of artists and the public, she will allow her guest stars to go through all the range of emotions by revisiting their work. On the list: Mario Pelchat, Lara Fabian, Roch Voisine, Eric Lapointe, Michel Louvain and Ariane Moffatt.
----------------------------------------------------
Lara will be her first guest, and TVA provided a beautiful photo of Lara with Sonia,
gcm-v2.omerlocdn.com/production/global/files/image/11ac194c-1625-4ea3-8e16-01a89818e9d5_1024.jpg
And there is a promotional video, in which Lara makes several appearances, at
www.facebook.com/SoniaBenezraPageOfficielle/videos/2168169389922417/
Note that this show is not available for viewing outside of Canada, so others will have to depend on whatever videos are allowed on youtube or elsewhere (perhaps the NABBOX forum).
There is some additional promotion for Lara’s upcoming October concerts in Quebec, although the first two in Montreal are already sold out (the one in Quebec City is not). As shown on the ‘Lara Fabian web FB site’ (https://www.facebook.com/larafabianweb/photos/a.247913198557556/2384425524906302/?type=3&theater), the (translated) promotion reads:
“October 12 and 13 at Theatre St-Denis and October 14 at Videotron Center
La Voix's coach makes a veritable comeback in Quebec. Lara Fabian will offer her Quebec audience an exclusive show. For the occasion, she will perform songs from her recent album Camouflage, several of her great success as well as her favorite music.”
So…at least there will be a few more concerts with songs from Camouflage…
We have also been led to believe that she will perform songs from earlier in her Quebec career (e.g., perhaps “Tout en vas”, etc.).
And in news both positive and sad: Lara posted the following on her FB site, (in translation):
“Hear her voice again..
" Vesoul ", first single of the ultimate album, posthumous, from Maurane ("Brel", release date of the album: 12 October).” A short radio edit can be heard at:
itunes.apple.com/be/album/vesoul-radio-edit-single/1434400060
Note the album was never finished, professionally during Maurane’s life, and Maurane’s daughter helped put together the tapes that were available. This extract sounds wonderful…
We’ve had no additional word concerning the new album or any single. If the album is indeed postponed to early next year, as rumor has it, a single released in time for the winter holidays would seem appropriate timing. Hopefully we’ll learn more in the coming weeks. Let’s wish one last goodbye to Camouflage, the high quality album and tour that was indeed, like its name, ‘hidden’ from too many people. This will be our ‘interesting photo’ of the week:
images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/61WvE6-e-eL.jpg
David
--------------------------------------
“We regret to inform that the concert “Camouflage World Tour” in Sao Paulo, on September 28th 2018, has been cancelled.
This decision, taken jointly by Mundo Entertainment (the concert organizer), and Lara Fabian’s management, was necessary due to the situation in regards to ticket sales. The ticket sales figures are at a level which do not allow us to ensure the conditions for presenting the show, as it should be. As much as Lara Fabian and all of us regret this decision, this cancellation was inevitable, without putting the show, the public, or the companies involved in jeopardy.
Nevertheless, we will continue our collaboration, to ensure that Lara Fabian comes to Brazil as soon as possible, for a show that will be tailor-made for Brazil. We thank you for your understanding , and apologize for any inconvenience caused..
All ticket holders will be of course fully reimbursed. To request a reimbursement , please follow the following link: www.ingressorapido.com.br”
--------------------------------------
Then Lara added her own comment:
“My dear Brazilian fans.. I am so heartbroken.. I was worried these last days, that it would come to this.. And the inevitable has happened.. I was looking forward to celebrate the final date of this tour in São Paulo, with you.. who have been so patient for all these years.. I truly share your disappointment . But , unfortunately, we live in difficult times in the music industry, where the decisions between production companies and local concert organizing companies are dependent of tough economic realities.. However.. we are already working on finding another formula, for a more intimate show, that would be specially prepared for you, for Brazil, and allow us to come as soon as possible , under better conditions for all of us..
Isso é uma promessa [That is a promise] ... Love, L.
---------------------------------------
Many of the fan responses were understanding, though a number were anguished, and a few were angry. Choosing to focus on the understanding ones, Lara wrote:
--------------------------------------
" Thank you all for your good words and understanding. Perhaps, and I sincerely hope, that with the new intimate show on which my team works, we will have the opportunity to come to Argentina and other countries and cities in Latin America. Maybe something good will come out. Love.
--------------------------------------
In fact, in these last remarks, Lara was responding to one of the ‘anguished’ comments:
Verito Arias: “I'm really heartbroken Lara because I was going to flight from Argentina and make my dream come true finally, and now I see my chance to meet you so so so far away. It's really sad. I love you, and I will always love you. You are the most wonderful woman in my world and you always will have a place in my heart. But today is a really sad day. I send you a really big hug. Te amo hasta el infinito. Lara Fabian”
After hearing Lara’s new focus on Argentina, she received this message:
Maximiliano Vidal: “Hello Lara Fabian, I'm the admin of Lara Fabian Argentina Facebook page you don't know all the messages I've received about this cancellation. People are so sad because so many people were going to Brazil, but we have a lot of fans here in Argentina that we are waiting you for so many years, more than 15 years. Hope you'll come as soon it's possible with the new intimate show formula. Thanks to add Argentina and other countries to your new tour. Salutes Lara. We are waiting you with so much passion!
Then there was this comment:
Andreza Ranieri: “My dear Lara... we have been your loyal fans for all these years and we will continue to be. I have been lucky enough to have seen you so many times, but I was really looking forward to seeing you here in my country with the friends I have made thanks to your music. I hope you really can find a way to come here so that everyone can see how amazing and special you are. I thought that for the first time I would have time and would have been able to tell you, looking into your eyes how special and important your music has been to me for the last 20 years of my life. I guess it wasn’t meant to be. I hope you will be able to come back someday and that we all get a chance to see you here.
Love always.”
To which Lara once again responded:
“I will come eventually.. please be patient, I know you have been patient for so many years.. . .. Isso é uma promessa..”
Concerning this idea of a ‘more intimate’ concert, one person wrote,
Mirta Fallesen: Excuse my ignorance , could be any chance to reprogram the show but for the same date in San Pablo? and validate the tickets but in a smaller place so we couldn't miss the only opportunity to see you. Many of us come from neighbor countries and it's not like Europe where the distance is shorter than here so the only possibility to travel to Brazil is by plane, many of us buy the tickets already and there's no refund so we're going to lose the money…
Thank you Lara Fabian”
And from Bruna Caetano Kleinke: “Lara, really have to agree with your fans. Rent a theatre, a piano, bring in your bag a guitar. And come sing to your 1000 fans who bought tickets to see you. There's still time to think and go back. Don't abandon your Brazilian Angels!!”
Doing the ‘more intimate show’ now, rather than at some unseen future time, undoubtedly will not happen, although it does sound appealing.
Presumably, the general concept is that with less of a supporting cast – and that includes not only the musicians, but the need for all the visuals, lighting, etc. that the Camouflage World Tour featured – Lara wouldn’t need such a big audience to make a trip of that distance pay off, financially. If she added Argentina to Brazil, she could expand the number of venues, without counting so much on any particular one. The question is, when would she find the time to do this? Certainly not until after the main tour in France and Belgium for the new French album, and that can’t be until after La Voix is finished. So at the very earliest, one probably cannot expect it before next summer.
Taking a step back, consider that Lara originally had six ‘Camouflage’ concerts scheduled for September – five in Germany, and this one in Brazil. All six were cancelled for lack of sufficient ticket sales. That may have been due to lack of proper promotion (as was mentioned by Lara’s people for the concerts in Germany, and was a complaint by Brazilian fans even before this one was cancelled). Lara’s Team has continually said that promotion is up to the organizers, but there’s no way to spin this: either they have chosen very poor organizers, or they have not provided the organizers with enough oversight. One might argue that both of these cases were ‘special circumstances’, and that Lara was trying to break into new territory (as she was to some extent in the U.S., where attendance was also somewhat spotty). The response to that is that in those circumstances, more oversight is required, a laissez faire approach does not seem to work.
Of course, the other explanation is that Lara is just not sufficiently popular/known in these countries, and that nothing would have helped. Maybe that’s true, but then both her Team and the organizers overestimated the size of the houses she could fill. That too would seem to need correcting. Either way, to have to cancel concerts is not good for the image of the performer, or the state of mind of her fans in these countries.
Stepping back one step further, as sort of a ‘eulogy’ for the Camouflage World Tour, now that it is officially over: Lara said that releasing an English language album was a passport to countries that she could not visit with a French language album. How well did that work out? One can compare the countries she visited with her previous French album, ‘Ma vie dans la tienne’ with those visited with ‘Camouflage’, shown here alphabetically (all these venues are listed in the ‘Events’ section of Lara’s FB page):
Ma vie dans la tienne: Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria, England, Flemish region of Belgium, France, Greece, Hungary, Moldova, Romania, Russia, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine,
Camouflage: Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, France, Greece, Holland, Hungary, Romania, Russia, Ukraine, U.S.
As can be seen, the only different places she went with the English album are: the U.S. and the Czech Republic (both countries where she had been previously with ‘Le Secret’, a French album), and Holland (where she at least has made an appearance previously, also singing in French, www.youtube.com/watch?v=mo3YAvz5Ncc). One would have to say the English album didn’t really provide the passport that was anticipated, given that there were a host of English speaking countries that she didn't go to - e.g., England, Australia, New Zealand, English speaking Canada, as well as many more countries whose citizens are much more open to English language concerts, where the album really would have made her more acceptable (in addition to South America, countries in Asia and Africa - that is, an actual World Tour).
Of course, at least some of the reason for that was the timing: it turned out to be perhaps the worst possible time for her to release the English album, since it coincided with her taking on the role of coach for La Voix. Bad luck, really, since the album was planned before the opportunity in Quebec arose. Not only did that cause concerts to be cancelled, but it disrupted promotion for the new album by involving Lara in an alternate intensive activity. It also made her re-introduction to Quebec somewhat awkward, as carrying around an English album in the Belle Province was hardly a plus (although she very successfully overcame it).
However, that doesn't account for all of it - many of the above-mentioned countries likely were not on the schedule to begin with, even before 'La Voix' arose. As Lara's people indicate, it is up to the organizers to buy the show, but they provide organizers with the general outlines of her availability, and it doesn't seem as if they had an expansive view of where this "diplomatic passport" could really carry her. The bottom line was the worst sales of her career, and an abbreviated concert schedule, of which these last cancellations in September are emblematic.
The final irony is: this was a truly great show Lara put on, one of her very best. Relatively few people got to see it live, and it was not memorialized by any professional recording, but it was in every respect one of the highlights of Lara’s career. Hopefully she will not give up on English language records and shows – one can only suggest that she just choose the timing more carefully, do not allow any diversions, and oversee the organizers and promotion more closely.
In more positive news, now that “La rentree” is upon us (or whatever passes for its equivalent in Quebec), we can expect some acceleration in Lara’s upcoming public activities. Lara’s appearance on “Tout le monde aime”, the new show with Sonia Benezra, now has a scheduled broadcast date, September 23. From Le Soleil, a daily publication in Quebec (https://www.lesoleil.com/les-choix-de-la-redaction/les-emissions-a-ne-pas-manquer-cet-automne-afc871707687b60cfcaa35b230da1272) (in translation):
---------------------------------------------------
Emissions not to be missed this fall
Tout le monde aime
Beginning: Sunday, September 23 at 21h
The perfect concept for Sonia Benezra, back after a long involuntary absence. With the complicity of artists and the public, she will allow her guest stars to go through all the range of emotions by revisiting their work. On the list: Mario Pelchat, Lara Fabian, Roch Voisine, Eric Lapointe, Michel Louvain and Ariane Moffatt.
----------------------------------------------------
Lara will be her first guest, and TVA provided a beautiful photo of Lara with Sonia,
gcm-v2.omerlocdn.com/production/global/files/image/11ac194c-1625-4ea3-8e16-01a89818e9d5_1024.jpg
And there is a promotional video, in which Lara makes several appearances, at
www.facebook.com/SoniaBenezraPageOfficielle/videos/2168169389922417/
Note that this show is not available for viewing outside of Canada, so others will have to depend on whatever videos are allowed on youtube or elsewhere (perhaps the NABBOX forum).
There is some additional promotion for Lara’s upcoming October concerts in Quebec, although the first two in Montreal are already sold out (the one in Quebec City is not). As shown on the ‘Lara Fabian web FB site’ (https://www.facebook.com/larafabianweb/photos/a.247913198557556/2384425524906302/?type=3&theater), the (translated) promotion reads:
“October 12 and 13 at Theatre St-Denis and October 14 at Videotron Center
La Voix's coach makes a veritable comeback in Quebec. Lara Fabian will offer her Quebec audience an exclusive show. For the occasion, she will perform songs from her recent album Camouflage, several of her great success as well as her favorite music.”
So…at least there will be a few more concerts with songs from Camouflage…
We have also been led to believe that she will perform songs from earlier in her Quebec career (e.g., perhaps “Tout en vas”, etc.).And in news both positive and sad: Lara posted the following on her FB site, (in translation):
“Hear her voice again..
" Vesoul ", first single of the ultimate album, posthumous, from Maurane ("Brel", release date of the album: 12 October).” A short radio edit can be heard at:
itunes.apple.com/be/album/vesoul-radio-edit-single/1434400060
Note the album was never finished, professionally during Maurane’s life, and Maurane’s daughter helped put together the tapes that were available. This extract sounds wonderful…
We’ve had no additional word concerning the new album or any single. If the album is indeed postponed to early next year, as rumor has it, a single released in time for the winter holidays would seem appropriate timing. Hopefully we’ll learn more in the coming weeks. Let’s wish one last goodbye to Camouflage, the high quality album and tour that was indeed, like its name, ‘hidden’ from too many people. This will be our ‘interesting photo’ of the week:
images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/61WvE6-e-eL.jpg
David
