News Update: 3/23

[davidhr]

Lara has added one date for a performance in Greece with Mario Frangoulis (May 17th) on the official site; this is a reduction from the original three (different) days, and also a reduction from what the Mario Frangoulis website had indicated. Apparently, in Greece, they are advertising that Lara will be there for the 16th also. This has caused confusion for fans interested in going. Given the uncertainty about the accuracy of the official site, it remains to be seen whether she will really perform then, and for only one night.

Hipda, on the official site forum, reported that Matt Herskowitz in the student journal of Toulouse, discussed the upcoming new album project he is doing with Lara. He apparently said (quoting from Hipda's post), "It is going very well. The theme is classical music. There will be therefore notably some classical arrangements, of classical music, like Schubert and all that. Lara will equally sing some songs that she offered to Nolween Leroy or Daniel Levy…like 'inévitablement" or 'avant'. 'avant' moreover which is based on an Italian aria…and therefore falls in perfectly into the concept of the album.. The recording is done this month of March in Montreal…"

It is not clear how up-to-date his comments are, whether it indicates Lara really is in Montreal now recording the album, or whether it was anticipating that to happen. To the extent that this will really be a 'classical' album, it certainly would be a new and exciting direction for Lara. It would also let us know how well Lara can still sing in that style; most of the extant 'classical-sounding' songs Lara sang were done earlier in her career.

[It gets tired beating a dead horse, but it continues to be ludicrous that this discussion of Lara's future projects, being carried on in the Official Site forum, all takes place based on reports of what other people are saying. It has reached the point that most people realize it is futile to ask Lara or her people anything about them anymore, knowing that they will get no answer. However, that doesn't mean they're happy about it. In "Pierre's corner" there are increasing complaints that Lara is not keeping them informed, both about what she's doing and also about her new daughter. Basically, the underlying tone of these comments is that it indicates to them that she really doesn't care about her fans. Sad; Lara may have perfect pitch when it comes to music, but appears tone deaf when it comes to public relations.]

In lieu of seeing Lara live, people continue to post or refer to pictures of her from previous events. On Hezia's site, ref75 posted some nice, large pictures of Lara, at:

forum.aceboard.net/38688-540-18669-63-Photos-Lara.htm

(on p. 64, part of the way down the page). Further down that page there is also a small photo of Lara with her mother.

On the same site, some pictures of Lara from her concert at the Olympia in Montreal last April were made available by Ze Lamélie; they can be found at

www.citizenside.com/gallery.aspx?idpackage=3350&lan=fr

The same person also pointed to the following site for additional pictures

www.gettyimages.com/Search/Search.aspx?contractUrl=1&language=en-US&family=images&p=lara%20fabian&src=quick

These include a number from the 2007 NOTP tour. And speaking of that, this coming week (next Saturday night), will feature the airing of the video from that tour, in Belgium. People are hopeful that somebody will be put it on NABBOX (and/or rochlara will have it).

David

[bward]

Thanks for the update David.

I find that I hardly visit Lara's website like I use to. I guess I get tired of guessing what is going on with her and her latest message is still en francais on the English portion of her website. I would say that whoever is in charge of that website does not do a good job. At least have the right language in the correct section.

I will be interested in hearing this new classiscal album that has been mentioned, but wonder how wide of an audience it will appeal to in Lara's realm. I guess it depends on how "classical" sounding the songs will be.

Once again....time will tell.

[ocelot]

davidhr said:

In "Pierre's corner" there are increasing complaints that Lara is not keeping them informed, both about what she's doing and also about her new daughter. Basically, the underlying tone of these comments is that it indicates to them that she really doesn't care about her fans.

I don't think that Lara needs to provide her fans with what is going on with her daughter. It's her private life and some singers are more open about their private lives than others. If Lara wants to avoid talking about her daughter in the hope of her daughter having something closer to a normal all the power to her. I don't feel that Lara herself is not doing enough for her fans, but the way her "people" treat her fans needs improvement.

I think Lara cares about her fans but doesn't want her life controlled by her fans. It's a careful road to drive because you want your fans to feel appreciated but also want control of your life. I think the best response by her people when the fans ask questions that Lara is not ready to reveal the answer to or doesn't want her fans to know is to give a polite refusal instead of no answer.

I'm looking forward to this new classical album.

[davidhr]

Clearly it is a "careful road" that one is on when one is a public figure, and depends on the public for one's livelihood. I think what irks people is that Lara's whole persona is of one who cares a great deal about her fans, and therefore she's held to a higher standard (if she were 'Bob Dylan' nobody would expect anything!). Also, she's inconsistent - sometimes she reveals more than perhaps she should, implying intimacy (as with how she felt during the various stages of her pregnancy), and then she stops talking about it entirely, and won't even mention the child. Finally, people have to learn about Lara's doings from other performers - Maurane, Matt Herskowitz - why do they feel free to talk and Lara doesn't?

My feeling is that it is Lara's natural tendency to be very open and communicative, and she doesn't know how to 'be secretive' so she does it poorly - but she feels it's necessary because otherwise she gets ridiculed in the press (like with the whole baby gift business). There has to be some middle path she can take which will avoid problems on both sides, but she can't seem to find it. As has been said many times, a good public relations person is needed, one she has confidence in.

David

[lapayin]

Conrad emailed these posters to me with the website to order tickets - it's in Greek. Looks like tickets are for May 16 & 17.

ticketshop.forth-crs.gr/arn/theatra.exe?PM=P1&id=00018_000000007#linkOk

[jimfromtexas]

In my opinion the correct classification for Lara’s rumored up coming album with Matt Herskowitz will be Classical Crossover - not classical. As Lara is an international Pop Star and Matt is a jazz phenomenon, all they can do is take classical music and try and fit it into the Pop music spectrum.

Classical Crossover is a genre that has recently been made popular by Lara’s old singing partner Josh. Well… and Opra when she called him Opera Boy the first time he was on her show. This is not a new genre to the Pop music world. But lately, Josh has taken it and made it his own. I know there were a lot of sneers at Josh’s music when he first came on the scene. I was one I will admit. But now he writes his own ticket in the entertainment world and he owes Lara one. She was the first major pop star to show Josh the ropes about performing in big venue’s when they sang a duet on PBS with John Williams and the Boston Pops all those years back. If she is to ever perform stateside; that is a debt she needs to collect - in my opinion anyway.

A side note:
I guess the first time I was made aware of Classical Crossover was with Albe Herpert and the Bjjuana Trash. Sorry, it’s late and I’m in the middle of my second drink for the evening - or is it three? Oh well, that should be Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass. I know, I know… my age is showing again. But that’s just the way it is.

Later, there was this Country guitar player who had a great big giant hit with something he called Classical Gas. Which actually didn’t have anything to do with classical music or gas but it had a catchy tune and the word classical in the title. So I think that would qualify it as Classical Crossover. Don’t you?

Wait a minute; now that I think about, any contemporaries of Lara of Matt’s have never heard of this two. Oh Crap, I think I will go refill my glass.

Classical Jim
(Or, since I am so full of hot air that should be Gassical Jim.)

[lapayin]

Very funny Jim.

Let's not forget Mario Frangoulis. He is also Popera. I just received his new album and he is turning more to opera. In "Passione" Mario sings Mario Lanza. So in my view Lara performing with Mario is in line with Lara going "classical crossover". What would they sing together? As David pointed out in a prior post there is "So In Love" their duet from DeLovely and "Tu Es Mon Autre" which Mario just performed.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lx1MeSWWymQ

But they both have performed "Caruso", "Hijo De La Luna" and "Adagio" (although very differently). There is also a very beautiful song that Mario sings as a duet "Naturaleza Muerta" that would be perfect.

As far as Joshie goes " he owes Lara one. She was the first major pop star to show Josh the ropes about performing in big venue’s" this is true, but Celine Dion could make a case for when Josh filled in for an ailing Andrea Bocelli during rehearsals, I believe, for the Oscars. Also Josh could have claimed payback for the benefit "Chess" performance in New York that Lara backed out of.