Post by davidhr on Feb 1, 2022 8:20:48 GMT -5
Finally, after a several week delay, The Star Academie second season debuted. As noted by the channel TVA: “The first Variety of Star Académie TVA, it is this evening on TVA. Find once again Lara Fabian and the faculty and meet the new academics. Let the show begin!”
It was accompanied by a beautiful picture of the ‘faculty’,
www.facebook.com/staracademietva/photos/a.361601375242829/794873711915591/
whlie the Star Academie released their ‘congratulatory/relieved’ note accompanying that picture:
“Finally, here we are!
It's the return of the BIG VARIETY of Star Académie!
You still have a few hours to warm up your voice, get out your dancing shoes and your tissues!
Yes, yes, Star Académie is officially back to grace your Sunday nights! 💙
So, who will be with us?”
After the two delays, the third time did prove to be a charm.
The ‘daily’ is also back, Monday through Thursday, at 7:30 PM., as emphasized by the promo provided by the 'Lara Fabian est ton autre' FB site,
www.facebook.com/larafabiantonautre/videos/325973549585889
And there was this on Lara’s FB and Instagram sites: “Finally, Star Académie TVA it begins! Right now #nationstarac”. This was accompanied by the picture:
www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=519536239530674&set=a.259330805551220
and
[The Lara Fabian Connecting People site suggested Lara looks in this picture like a ‘headmistress preparing to grade her pupils’ – not far from the truth of what she would be doing, but that outfit would likely get her fired from any school].
To that point (https://news.in-24.com/lifestyle/celebrities/273198.html):
------------------------------------
PHOTO Lara Fabian: at 52, she dares the transparent skirt and it’s hot!
Lara Fabian is making a remarkable comeback! In the Quebec version of the Star Académie, the interpreter of the emblematic 'Je t’aime' charmed the public with a transparent skirt that was as glamorous as it was elegant.
Appointed director of the brand new Star Academy on the Canadian channel TVA, Lara Fabian is definitely back. On her Instagram account, the singer appeared in an unexpected but sophisticated outfit. In the program : a midi pencil skirt with a sheer yoke which showed part of her thighs. With this little eccentricity, Lara Fabian tied a cute short white shirt that balances the look and brings a touch of light to this 100% black outfit.
Elegant for this launch of the Canadian Star Academy, Lara Fabian also bet on a pair of patent peep toe pumps, that is slightly open at the toes. After Louane’s slit mini-skirt, the trend is clearly for revealing clothes.
How to wear the transparent skirt?
Lara Fabian shows it: the transparent skirt is not vulgar if we know how to associate it well. Open mid-thigh, the model chosen by the Belgian singer goes easily with a tight black top. But she could very well have worn it during the day with a very cozy oversized maxi sweater.
If you have fallen for a completely transparent tulle skirt, for example, you will have to use stratagems to wear it well. A close-fitting underdress or undergarments of the same color do the trick. For the evening, dare high-waisted retro panties, it’s very chic and almost couture! Lara Fabian opts for pumps, and the transparent skirt also works with sneakers or even boots for a more rock look.
------------------------------------
The effects of the delay were an item of interest, in effect a story in itself. The waiting has been a challenge for the candidates, as a number of publications have detailed. For example, from (https://www.journaldemontreal.com/2022/01/28/star-academie-lisolement-des-candidats-est-presque-termine#cxrecs_s”:
-----------------------------------------
“While isolation has proven difficult for the academics, they remain excited about their first stage performance.
Krystel Mongeau, one of the candidates who is a parent, took the opportunity to speak as often as possible to her two-year-old daughter via Facetime.
“You just have to remember, in all this waiting, why we are here. What's to come is so beautiful, so immense. You just have to keep that in mind”, says Julien Charbonneau, also an academician.
-------------------------------------------
In preventive isolation at the hotel since January 3, the infected candidates have had only mild symptoms. And they were kept busy, as explained in (https://www.journaldemontreal.com/2022/01/26/star-academie-des-candidats-confines-mais-occupes):
------------------------------------------
“Star Académie”: Candidates confined, but busy!
Confined to their hotel room for more than ten days, the 19 Star Académie candidates are not left to themselves. The entire show team is mobilized to help them get in shape, work on their voice, have fun and, above all, keep their spirits up.
“The health of the candidates is good", reassured Jean-Philippe Dion, producer of the show, in an interview on Tuesday afternoon. "From the middle of the week, many end their isolation. There are still small traces of negative effects, but we have installed humidifiers to help them recover completely."
He is aware that the second postponement of the first Variety has dealt a heavy blow to the morale of the candidates, but nothing has been neglected to provide them with all the necessary support.
“In addition to the support of professional psychologists, the entire Star Académie team mobilized and felt solidarity with the candidates. Same thing with TVA. Denis Dubois called me to find out what could be done for them,” continued Mr. Dion, referring to the vice-president responsible for original content at TVA.
A virtual holiday camp
A host of activities have been organized for the candidates by the two members of the production who reside with them at the hotel. “They are as much psychologists, camp animators as attendants. They are doing everything in their power to help them”.
On the program for the last few days, still virtual, yoga sessions, online games, a musical workshop with Gregory Charles, singing workshops with Marie-Ève Riverin, the show's vocal coach, an ice cream tasting of Coaticook, live Instagrams, viewing of the documentary on Lara Fabian, etc.
Several artists have also sent video messages to encourage them, from Guylaine Tremblay to Vincent Vallières, via Luce Dufault, Mélanie Boulay, Geneviève Jodoin and Joe Bocan.
“Those who finished their isolation also had a private movie night", revealed the producer. Films Sevilla offered us "L’arracheuse de temps", the film by Fred Pellerin. They also did zumba, and the activity they liked the most was definitely the musical bingo.
The only time they could leave their room was to take a walk outside, each in turn and without crossing paths.
New start
From Saturday, the candidates will find the big set of "Star Académie" at Mels studios in Saint-Hubert for rehearsals.
“As we interrupted production the day after the pilot, there were adjustments to be made to the staging, the lights, the music… We therefore resume these production notes with Jean-François Blais. We are going to adjust everything on Saturday, without the guest artists, and from Sunday morning, we repeat the show in full".
Of the 19 candidates, only fifteen will join the Academy on Sunday evening, and live the dream of their lives. For the others, a follow-up will be ensured by the production.
“Our team is always present when a candidate leaves. We do not release them into the wild. If there is one who needs a closer accompaniment, someone can go to sleep at the hotel with him. Then, given what they have just experienced, Productions Déferlantes is looking to offer compensation to the candidates who will not be taken on Sunday evening. We want to be sure that they can pay their accounts and that they are not badly taken”, assured Jean-Philippe Dion.
----------------------------
Viewing the documentary on Lara…if that wasn’t enough to drive them away, nothing will!
As for the show itself, from the Journal de Montreal (https://www.journaldemontreal.com/2022/01/30/star-academie-un-premier-variete-eclate-1):
----------------------------------------------------
“Star Académie”: a first Variety exploded!
Star Académie offered a fanfare start for its first Variety, Sunday evening, with the 19 candidates who were finally able to sing "Changer le monde", the show's new anthem. After two postponements due to COVID-19, the Variety team had put all its best assets to launch this new season.
Opening the evening, the number in tribute to Daniel Bélanger truly transported the viewers to another planet, in a poetically exploded staging. The five Academicians chosen during the final audition resumed his great success "Dans un spoutnik", before the most awarded male artist of ADISQ entered with the rest of the candidates.
Ariane Moffatt made a surprise entrance on the intro of “Rêver mieux”, before resuming the chorus with Bélanger and all the candidates.
“Opium”, “Sortez-moi de moi”, “Les temps fous”, “Dis tout sans rien dire” and “La plus belle saison” allowed each of the five Academicians to do a duet with the singer, while the atmosphere changed from a lunar planet to an abundance of spring flowers. A magnificent number in tribute to an immense artist, and a breathtaking staging, signed by Marcella Grimaux and Samuel Sauvageau, which sets the table for the rest of the season.
According to Marc Dupré, the presence of Daniel Bélanger was particularly justified by the fact that he was the artist most taken up by the candidates during the auditions, all artists combined.
Selection
During this first evening, 14 candidates had to prove their talent to be able to enter the Academy. Split into three groups, they had to distinguish themselves during a kind of medley.
From the first group of contestants, Jacques chose "If You Don't Know Me By Now"; Mathieu is the only one to have opted for a song in French, "Je te connais par cœur". Olivia performed an excerpt from "C'est la vie", Krystel opted for "Against All Odds" and Édouard finished with "Watermelon Sugar".
The teachers immediately recruited Krystel and Mathieu, the other three being put to a public vote.
Gaelle kicked off the second group medley with “Domino”; Julien continued with “Just the Two of Us”. Jérémy took over Shania Twain's safe bet "You're Still the One", and Marily concluded with " Sèche tes pleurs". The five candidates were selected by the teachers to go to sleep in Waterloo.
For the third round, William defended himself with "Killing Me Softly With his Song", Alexandra winked at Marc Dupré with "Ton départ", Olivier won with "Calvaire", Yannick is noted with "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing" and Sandrine concluded with "What About Us". The teachers kept Yannick and Sandrine in this group, the other three being subject to public appreciation.
Many English songs were chosen during this segment, and Gregory Charles also told the candidates that they would have to increase their French repertoire in the coming weeks.
Verdict
Before discovering the names of the Academicians elected by the public, Pierre-Yves Roy-Desmarais gave a tour of the Academy, which has been revamped for the season, in a completely crazy capsule.
Finally, Édouard Lagacé and Olivier Bergeron received confirmation that the public was behind them, and they left on the bus for the Academy.
Emotions
Guylaine Tremblay had the privilege of receiving a little word of encouragement from her former drama teacher Marc Doré, which moved her very much. Gregory Charles was surprised at the word his daughter Julia sent him and the feedback she gave him. Finally, Lara's dad, Pierre Crokaert, also had a word of support for his daughter.
Very chic in his tuxedo, Marc Dupré showed himself to be a solid host, capable of delivering technical information with ease, and above all with a lot of humor. We knew he was capable of it: he confirmed to us that he was excellent.
To conclude this first Variety, Laurence Nerbonne came to perform the Star Académie theme song with fifteen new Academicians.
The daily Star Académie begins this Monday. This meeting is presented from Monday to Thursday at 7:30 p.m., on TVA.
Krystel Mongeau, 25, Sherbrooke
Mother of a two-year-old girl, Krystel Mongeau pursues a career as a hairdresser alongside music. To defend her place, she performed with aplomb the song of Phil Collins, “Against All Odds”. The teachers chose to keep her “for her magnificent voice and her solid performance,” explained Guylaine Tremblay. The 25-year-old singer is not a total stranger to the public. When she was younger, she participated in the show Mixmania, which allowed her to gain experience on stage. Later, she was recruited at La Voix, where she joined Lara Fabian's team.
Yannick Bissonnette-Powell, 22 years old, Beauport
Yannick is rather introverted, even if he confides that he is a real clown in private. As Gregory Charles said when announcing his entrance to the Academy, “he has it!” Yannick tried his luck at La Voix, and he participated in the Star Académie selection camp last year, but it is this year that he will be able to deploy all his abilities. His rendition of the song "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing" gave a taste of his talent.
Olivier Bergeron, 20, Kedgwick, NB
Originally from a small village in New Brunswick, Olivier Bergeron wanted to demonstrate, by entering the Academy, that “even if you come from a small village, you can make your dreams come true”. He participated in the selection camp last year, but it was not enough. He came back this year much more confident and full of new experiences. His rendition of the song “Calvaire” was felt and he found his way to touch the hearts of the audience.
The Academicians chosen at the final audition
Sarah-Maude, 23, Amos
Audrey-Louise Beauséjour, 23, Brossard
Éloi Cummings, 16, Magdalen Islands
Camélia Zaki, 17, Sherbrooke
Laurie Déchène, 20, Quebec
They were chosen by the teachers
Krystel Mongeau, 25, Sherbrooke
Mathieu Rheault, 27, Montreal
Jérémy Plante, 25, Lévis
Marily Dorion, 26, Sherbrooke
Julien Charbonneau, 23, Montreal
Gaëlle Khoueiry-Jaber, 21, Gatineau
Sandrine Hébert, 28 years old, Coaticook
Yannick Bissonnette-Powell, 22 years old, Beauport
They were saved by the public
Edouard Lagacé, 27, Cowansville
Olivier Bergeron, 20, Kedgwick, NB
---------------------------
It was a nice touch that the judges had family members provide videos of support – – including Lara’s father, Pierre - they too have to ‘perform properly’ .
Final tally is 8 women and 7 men; the guess is that every effort is made to have the gender numbers as equal as possible, all else being equal. As noted, some of the candidates have had experience on other musical reality shows in Quebec; nice to see Krystel Mongeau, once again, from Lara’s team on La Voix, and Olivier, from last year. Pictures of all the candidates can be found at (https://canada.dayfr.com/tv/42256.html). The guests on next week’s show will be Eddy de Pretto, Paul Piché, Laurence Jalbert and last year's winner, William Cloutier.
The efforts being made to prevent further outbreaks of COVID on the set and in the Manor are detailed in an article at www.journaldemontreal.com/2022/01/30/star-academie-un-des-plus-gros-plateaux-tele-au-canada. As noted, there are 200 people who work on the production, one of the biggest television sets in Canada, and who have to be kept safe, not all of whom “have the same level of understanding.” As also indicated:
--------------------------------------
“The technical team was ready in mid-December, but the new health rules forced it to review all its plans, in particular due to the ban on having an audience in the studio.“We had to make big adjustments when we got back from the Holidays”, said Chantal Lépine. “It changed the staging, the lighting plan, all departments were finally impacted. And if the public returns, we expect to make other changes.”
Academicians also require increased vigilance. They will live in a closed bubble at the Waterloo Academy, but in the studio, they are also very protected.
“Behind the scenes, there is a section only reserved for Academicians, and very few people have access to it. When they are not on stage, they have to stay in this place where they find everything they need: make-up, hairdressing, cafeteria, as well as their own toilets. The few who can enter wear N95 masks and are tested every morning”.
-----------------------------------------
Good luck to them!
As to be expected, Lara’s time and attention were likely taken up with the show, which will mostly be the case for the next several months.
Now for the latest extract from Lara’s book “Je passe a table” (which, according to the Lara Fabian Lockdown Sessions FB site, has begun arriving in France, and maybe even Russia):
---------------------------------------------------
Tenth Story: The Beginning of True Healing
When I left my love tribulations and my inopportune trips around the world, I had had enough.
I had to move on.
The album 'Nue' was again a great success and the shows in the Zenith were sold out. But what looked like an improvement was in reality a perfect illusion. Some media were having a field day, and I was really starting to suffer from this recurrent and incomprehensible persecution of me.
I had to get my act together, find myself, restructure myself.
In all intimacy
One night, for the first time in a long time, what guides me is no longer despair, but inspiration.
That night, I think of a show. A unique show where I will revisit all my classics in an acoustic way.
Accompanied by a string quartet and my sublime pianist, Pierre Grimard, I am writing a show in which I tell my story in a different way.
In a metaphor that glorifies the love between a white elephant and a butterfly, I start to dream again.
Assiduously, every day, I work on my voice, my texts, my arrangements.
First alone. Then, thinking that this kind of show could suffer from not having an outside eye, I asked Lewis Furey, a genial director and a bit of a barrister, to give me a hand.
I like the result, I can't wait to go on stage.
Every Monday, at the Casino de Paris, not far from my little apartment in the rue Pigalle, I perform this show many times to full houses.
I can say without hesitation that, to this day, this show called "En toute intimité" remains the favorite of those who follow me.
Mine too.
It marks the end of one era and the beginning of another where, between drama and emancipation, I choose courage and perseverance rather than lamentations.
Masayo, Momoka and me
The women who heal me continue to accompany me, they keep track of what’s happening with me, they do not leave me.
In the neighborhood where I live, there is a very special Japanese tea room; a little black-haired girl produces wonders there, tirelessly.
I pass every day in front of the window.
When I come back from my rehearsals, my classes, my work, I see her, she smiles at me. I also smile at her.
I will find out later that she is from Osaka, Japan, that she came here a few years ago and that she speaks our language very little.
She spends all her days showing us her gastronomy.
Her name is Masayo Hashimoto. Her tea room is called Momoka.
"Nice to meet you, I'm Lara."
Her great specialty is desserts inspired by her culture and adapted to ours. But her art is infinitely more extensive. When you take the time to sit at the bar of her tea room and let her do her thing, you discover a world from which you will not come out unscathed.
Today, I can easily say that she healed me with her food. She taught me how to eat again, and if I am now on my feet, I owe it to her in large part.
She has delighted me with her sense of aesthetics, with the purity and simplicity of the ingredients she uses, which remind me of those from my island.
My pain is her medicine.
Her unique look, the certainty that silence is a language that says everything.
She is one of those people who reconciled me with the life that was sleeping inside me. She is one of the women in the world whose heart and whose cooking I love the most, including that of my mother.
Once my mandate at the Casino de Paris is over, the tour of En toute intimité will extend to the whole of France. When the distance between two cities allows it, my faithful Yannick takes me home.
Even late at night, I find Masayo behind her counter waiting for me with a small meal. Or sometimes I even find a small bento box outside my door filled with a little rice, crunchy vegetables, edible flowers and tasty sauce.
All wrapped up like a flower arrangement under a cellophane. Crazy.
It remains frugal.
The portion is a very small food bowl.
I keep everything, every time.
I move on.
I will live in Brussels for thirteen consecutive years.
The installation is very particular in Brussels. After a break with my parents, the time to understand how to turn around, I move to a house not far from their neighborhood.
The day my boxes arrive and land on a different continent is April 9th. It is not invented: it snows all day on my boxes. Not to believe it, I know it. I can't believe it, I know it.
But I swear it's true.
Is it a wink from my Quebec?
Is it a way to make me measure the distance?
I don't know.
I stood there, my nose stuck in the snowflakes, amazed.
In the process, I wrote one of my favorite songs, although discreet, entitled "Je me souviens". It will be my love letter to our beautiful province.
The following week, I take a Thalys train to go back to my professional habits: the journalists, the photos, the TV, the promotion and tutti quanti.
On my way, I always stop in the 9th district, where Massayo has her restaurant. Between two promos, I take a break to eat at her place. Without me asking her anything, at the end of the evening, before the cab takes me home, she offers me to make me a little something to take away for the next day.
She knows that my day will be long and that I will not have time to eat.
In a few minutes, she brings one of her indescribably elegant wooden boxes on the counter.
And with the delicacy and generosity that characterize her, she concocts my bento, my lunch box. Inside: rice with wine, perfectly seasoned seasonal vegetables, hamachi (sushimi), tuna and scallop sashimi, and in the second compartment of the bento, a very special little sandwich with a tasty egg salad and cucumber slices.
I can still, in this very moment, close my eyes and feel the emotion I experienced the next day when, between two interviews, I opened the box and savored.
Anyone who witnessed that moment could have compared my expression to that of the food critic in the movie "Ratatouille", at the magical moment when he scoops up a spoonful of the dish with the same name.
He finds himself catapulted back to his childhood.
For me, this is what happens every time I eat my friend Masayo's food. My mind reconnects to the simplest and most joyful part of me: my childhood in Sicily.
---------------------------------------------
A much less dramatic story than the previous chapters. Also pretty unique: not many cookbooks have both Sicilian and Japanese recipes!
Interesting photo(s)/video(s) of the week:
From Lara The Ring Fabian, a short video of Lara at Sunday night’s Star Academie, looking quite fine,
www.youtube.com/watch?v=481yjnpVaOI
And on a different note, from larafabian_fanpage_
also quite beautiful.
With all the ‘sturm und drang’ concerning the Star Academie and COVID in the rear view mirror (hopefully), the show during the coming week should be more focused on the candidates preparation during the ‘dailies’, and their Sunday presentations. It’s likely Lara’s week will be, too. Stay safe everybody,
David
It was accompanied by a beautiful picture of the ‘faculty’,
www.facebook.com/staracademietva/photos/a.361601375242829/794873711915591/
whlie the Star Academie released their ‘congratulatory/relieved’ note accompanying that picture:
“Finally, here we are!
It's the return of the BIG VARIETY of Star Académie!
You still have a few hours to warm up your voice, get out your dancing shoes and your tissues!
Yes, yes, Star Académie is officially back to grace your Sunday nights! 💙
So, who will be with us?”
After the two delays, the third time did prove to be a charm.
The ‘daily’ is also back, Monday through Thursday, at 7:30 PM., as emphasized by the promo provided by the 'Lara Fabian est ton autre' FB site,
www.facebook.com/larafabiantonautre/videos/325973549585889
And there was this on Lara’s FB and Instagram sites: “Finally, Star Académie TVA it begins! Right now #nationstarac”. This was accompanied by the picture:
www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=519536239530674&set=a.259330805551220
and
http://instagram.com/p/CZX49_0rt27
[The Lara Fabian Connecting People site suggested Lara looks in this picture like a ‘headmistress preparing to grade her pupils’ – not far from the truth of what she would be doing, but that outfit would likely get her fired from any school
].To that point (https://news.in-24.com/lifestyle/celebrities/273198.html):
------------------------------------
PHOTO Lara Fabian: at 52, she dares the transparent skirt and it’s hot!
Lara Fabian is making a remarkable comeback! In the Quebec version of the Star Académie, the interpreter of the emblematic 'Je t’aime' charmed the public with a transparent skirt that was as glamorous as it was elegant.
Appointed director of the brand new Star Academy on the Canadian channel TVA, Lara Fabian is definitely back. On her Instagram account, the singer appeared in an unexpected but sophisticated outfit. In the program : a midi pencil skirt with a sheer yoke which showed part of her thighs. With this little eccentricity, Lara Fabian tied a cute short white shirt that balances the look and brings a touch of light to this 100% black outfit.
Elegant for this launch of the Canadian Star Academy, Lara Fabian also bet on a pair of patent peep toe pumps, that is slightly open at the toes. After Louane’s slit mini-skirt, the trend is clearly for revealing clothes.
How to wear the transparent skirt?
Lara Fabian shows it: the transparent skirt is not vulgar if we know how to associate it well. Open mid-thigh, the model chosen by the Belgian singer goes easily with a tight black top. But she could very well have worn it during the day with a very cozy oversized maxi sweater.
If you have fallen for a completely transparent tulle skirt, for example, you will have to use stratagems to wear it well. A close-fitting underdress or undergarments of the same color do the trick. For the evening, dare high-waisted retro panties, it’s very chic and almost couture! Lara Fabian opts for pumps, and the transparent skirt also works with sneakers or even boots for a more rock look.
------------------------------------
The effects of the delay were an item of interest, in effect a story in itself. The waiting has been a challenge for the candidates, as a number of publications have detailed. For example, from (https://www.journaldemontreal.com/2022/01/28/star-academie-lisolement-des-candidats-est-presque-termine#cxrecs_s”:
-----------------------------------------
“While isolation has proven difficult for the academics, they remain excited about their first stage performance.
Krystel Mongeau, one of the candidates who is a parent, took the opportunity to speak as often as possible to her two-year-old daughter via Facetime.
“You just have to remember, in all this waiting, why we are here. What's to come is so beautiful, so immense. You just have to keep that in mind”, says Julien Charbonneau, also an academician.
-------------------------------------------
In preventive isolation at the hotel since January 3, the infected candidates have had only mild symptoms. And they were kept busy, as explained in (https://www.journaldemontreal.com/2022/01/26/star-academie-des-candidats-confines-mais-occupes):
------------------------------------------
“Star Académie”: Candidates confined, but busy!
Confined to their hotel room for more than ten days, the 19 Star Académie candidates are not left to themselves. The entire show team is mobilized to help them get in shape, work on their voice, have fun and, above all, keep their spirits up.
“The health of the candidates is good", reassured Jean-Philippe Dion, producer of the show, in an interview on Tuesday afternoon. "From the middle of the week, many end their isolation. There are still small traces of negative effects, but we have installed humidifiers to help them recover completely."
He is aware that the second postponement of the first Variety has dealt a heavy blow to the morale of the candidates, but nothing has been neglected to provide them with all the necessary support.
“In addition to the support of professional psychologists, the entire Star Académie team mobilized and felt solidarity with the candidates. Same thing with TVA. Denis Dubois called me to find out what could be done for them,” continued Mr. Dion, referring to the vice-president responsible for original content at TVA.
A virtual holiday camp
A host of activities have been organized for the candidates by the two members of the production who reside with them at the hotel. “They are as much psychologists, camp animators as attendants. They are doing everything in their power to help them”.
On the program for the last few days, still virtual, yoga sessions, online games, a musical workshop with Gregory Charles, singing workshops with Marie-Ève Riverin, the show's vocal coach, an ice cream tasting of Coaticook, live Instagrams, viewing of the documentary on Lara Fabian, etc.
Several artists have also sent video messages to encourage them, from Guylaine Tremblay to Vincent Vallières, via Luce Dufault, Mélanie Boulay, Geneviève Jodoin and Joe Bocan.
“Those who finished their isolation also had a private movie night", revealed the producer. Films Sevilla offered us "L’arracheuse de temps", the film by Fred Pellerin. They also did zumba, and the activity they liked the most was definitely the musical bingo.
The only time they could leave their room was to take a walk outside, each in turn and without crossing paths.
New start
From Saturday, the candidates will find the big set of "Star Académie" at Mels studios in Saint-Hubert for rehearsals.
“As we interrupted production the day after the pilot, there were adjustments to be made to the staging, the lights, the music… We therefore resume these production notes with Jean-François Blais. We are going to adjust everything on Saturday, without the guest artists, and from Sunday morning, we repeat the show in full".
Of the 19 candidates, only fifteen will join the Academy on Sunday evening, and live the dream of their lives. For the others, a follow-up will be ensured by the production.
“Our team is always present when a candidate leaves. We do not release them into the wild. If there is one who needs a closer accompaniment, someone can go to sleep at the hotel with him. Then, given what they have just experienced, Productions Déferlantes is looking to offer compensation to the candidates who will not be taken on Sunday evening. We want to be sure that they can pay their accounts and that they are not badly taken”, assured Jean-Philippe Dion.
----------------------------
Viewing the documentary on Lara…if that wasn’t enough to drive them away, nothing will!
As for the show itself, from the Journal de Montreal (https://www.journaldemontreal.com/2022/01/30/star-academie-un-premier-variete-eclate-1):
----------------------------------------------------
“Star Académie”: a first Variety exploded!
Star Académie offered a fanfare start for its first Variety, Sunday evening, with the 19 candidates who were finally able to sing "Changer le monde", the show's new anthem. After two postponements due to COVID-19, the Variety team had put all its best assets to launch this new season.
Opening the evening, the number in tribute to Daniel Bélanger truly transported the viewers to another planet, in a poetically exploded staging. The five Academicians chosen during the final audition resumed his great success "Dans un spoutnik", before the most awarded male artist of ADISQ entered with the rest of the candidates.
Ariane Moffatt made a surprise entrance on the intro of “Rêver mieux”, before resuming the chorus with Bélanger and all the candidates.
“Opium”, “Sortez-moi de moi”, “Les temps fous”, “Dis tout sans rien dire” and “La plus belle saison” allowed each of the five Academicians to do a duet with the singer, while the atmosphere changed from a lunar planet to an abundance of spring flowers. A magnificent number in tribute to an immense artist, and a breathtaking staging, signed by Marcella Grimaux and Samuel Sauvageau, which sets the table for the rest of the season.
According to Marc Dupré, the presence of Daniel Bélanger was particularly justified by the fact that he was the artist most taken up by the candidates during the auditions, all artists combined.
Selection
During this first evening, 14 candidates had to prove their talent to be able to enter the Academy. Split into three groups, they had to distinguish themselves during a kind of medley.
From the first group of contestants, Jacques chose "If You Don't Know Me By Now"; Mathieu is the only one to have opted for a song in French, "Je te connais par cœur". Olivia performed an excerpt from "C'est la vie", Krystel opted for "Against All Odds" and Édouard finished with "Watermelon Sugar".
The teachers immediately recruited Krystel and Mathieu, the other three being put to a public vote.
Gaelle kicked off the second group medley with “Domino”; Julien continued with “Just the Two of Us”. Jérémy took over Shania Twain's safe bet "You're Still the One", and Marily concluded with " Sèche tes pleurs". The five candidates were selected by the teachers to go to sleep in Waterloo.
For the third round, William defended himself with "Killing Me Softly With his Song", Alexandra winked at Marc Dupré with "Ton départ", Olivier won with "Calvaire", Yannick is noted with "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing" and Sandrine concluded with "What About Us". The teachers kept Yannick and Sandrine in this group, the other three being subject to public appreciation.
Many English songs were chosen during this segment, and Gregory Charles also told the candidates that they would have to increase their French repertoire in the coming weeks.
Verdict
Before discovering the names of the Academicians elected by the public, Pierre-Yves Roy-Desmarais gave a tour of the Academy, which has been revamped for the season, in a completely crazy capsule.
Finally, Édouard Lagacé and Olivier Bergeron received confirmation that the public was behind them, and they left on the bus for the Academy.
Emotions
Guylaine Tremblay had the privilege of receiving a little word of encouragement from her former drama teacher Marc Doré, which moved her very much. Gregory Charles was surprised at the word his daughter Julia sent him and the feedback she gave him. Finally, Lara's dad, Pierre Crokaert, also had a word of support for his daughter.
Very chic in his tuxedo, Marc Dupré showed himself to be a solid host, capable of delivering technical information with ease, and above all with a lot of humor. We knew he was capable of it: he confirmed to us that he was excellent.
To conclude this first Variety, Laurence Nerbonne came to perform the Star Académie theme song with fifteen new Academicians.
The daily Star Académie begins this Monday. This meeting is presented from Monday to Thursday at 7:30 p.m., on TVA.
Krystel Mongeau, 25, Sherbrooke
Mother of a two-year-old girl, Krystel Mongeau pursues a career as a hairdresser alongside music. To defend her place, she performed with aplomb the song of Phil Collins, “Against All Odds”. The teachers chose to keep her “for her magnificent voice and her solid performance,” explained Guylaine Tremblay. The 25-year-old singer is not a total stranger to the public. When she was younger, she participated in the show Mixmania, which allowed her to gain experience on stage. Later, she was recruited at La Voix, where she joined Lara Fabian's team.
Yannick Bissonnette-Powell, 22 years old, Beauport
Yannick is rather introverted, even if he confides that he is a real clown in private. As Gregory Charles said when announcing his entrance to the Academy, “he has it!” Yannick tried his luck at La Voix, and he participated in the Star Académie selection camp last year, but it is this year that he will be able to deploy all his abilities. His rendition of the song "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing" gave a taste of his talent.
Olivier Bergeron, 20, Kedgwick, NB
Originally from a small village in New Brunswick, Olivier Bergeron wanted to demonstrate, by entering the Academy, that “even if you come from a small village, you can make your dreams come true”. He participated in the selection camp last year, but it was not enough. He came back this year much more confident and full of new experiences. His rendition of the song “Calvaire” was felt and he found his way to touch the hearts of the audience.
The Academicians chosen at the final audition
Sarah-Maude, 23, Amos
Audrey-Louise Beauséjour, 23, Brossard
Éloi Cummings, 16, Magdalen Islands
Camélia Zaki, 17, Sherbrooke
Laurie Déchène, 20, Quebec
They were chosen by the teachers
Krystel Mongeau, 25, Sherbrooke
Mathieu Rheault, 27, Montreal
Jérémy Plante, 25, Lévis
Marily Dorion, 26, Sherbrooke
Julien Charbonneau, 23, Montreal
Gaëlle Khoueiry-Jaber, 21, Gatineau
Sandrine Hébert, 28 years old, Coaticook
Yannick Bissonnette-Powell, 22 years old, Beauport
They were saved by the public
Edouard Lagacé, 27, Cowansville
Olivier Bergeron, 20, Kedgwick, NB
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It was a nice touch that the judges had family members provide videos of support – – including Lara’s father, Pierre - they too have to ‘perform properly’
. Final tally is 8 women and 7 men; the guess is that every effort is made to have the gender numbers as equal as possible, all else being equal. As noted, some of the candidates have had experience on other musical reality shows in Quebec; nice to see Krystel Mongeau, once again, from Lara’s team on La Voix, and Olivier, from last year. Pictures of all the candidates can be found at (https://canada.dayfr.com/tv/42256.html). The guests on next week’s show will be Eddy de Pretto, Paul Piché, Laurence Jalbert and last year's winner, William Cloutier.
The efforts being made to prevent further outbreaks of COVID on the set and in the Manor are detailed in an article at www.journaldemontreal.com/2022/01/30/star-academie-un-des-plus-gros-plateaux-tele-au-canada. As noted, there are 200 people who work on the production, one of the biggest television sets in Canada, and who have to be kept safe, not all of whom “have the same level of understanding.” As also indicated:
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“The technical team was ready in mid-December, but the new health rules forced it to review all its plans, in particular due to the ban on having an audience in the studio.“We had to make big adjustments when we got back from the Holidays”, said Chantal Lépine. “It changed the staging, the lighting plan, all departments were finally impacted. And if the public returns, we expect to make other changes.”
Academicians also require increased vigilance. They will live in a closed bubble at the Waterloo Academy, but in the studio, they are also very protected.
“Behind the scenes, there is a section only reserved for Academicians, and very few people have access to it. When they are not on stage, they have to stay in this place where they find everything they need: make-up, hairdressing, cafeteria, as well as their own toilets. The few who can enter wear N95 masks and are tested every morning”.
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Good luck to them!
As to be expected, Lara’s time and attention were likely taken up with the show, which will mostly be the case for the next several months.
Now for the latest extract from Lara’s book “Je passe a table” (which, according to the Lara Fabian Lockdown Sessions FB site, has begun arriving in France, and maybe even Russia):
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Tenth Story: The Beginning of True Healing
When I left my love tribulations and my inopportune trips around the world, I had had enough.
I had to move on.
The album 'Nue' was again a great success and the shows in the Zenith were sold out. But what looked like an improvement was in reality a perfect illusion. Some media were having a field day, and I was really starting to suffer from this recurrent and incomprehensible persecution of me.
I had to get my act together, find myself, restructure myself.
In all intimacy
One night, for the first time in a long time, what guides me is no longer despair, but inspiration.
That night, I think of a show. A unique show where I will revisit all my classics in an acoustic way.
Accompanied by a string quartet and my sublime pianist, Pierre Grimard, I am writing a show in which I tell my story in a different way.
In a metaphor that glorifies the love between a white elephant and a butterfly, I start to dream again.
Assiduously, every day, I work on my voice, my texts, my arrangements.
First alone. Then, thinking that this kind of show could suffer from not having an outside eye, I asked Lewis Furey, a genial director and a bit of a barrister, to give me a hand.
I like the result, I can't wait to go on stage.
Every Monday, at the Casino de Paris, not far from my little apartment in the rue Pigalle, I perform this show many times to full houses.
I can say without hesitation that, to this day, this show called "En toute intimité" remains the favorite of those who follow me.
Mine too.
It marks the end of one era and the beginning of another where, between drama and emancipation, I choose courage and perseverance rather than lamentations.
Masayo, Momoka and me
The women who heal me continue to accompany me, they keep track of what’s happening with me, they do not leave me.
In the neighborhood where I live, there is a very special Japanese tea room; a little black-haired girl produces wonders there, tirelessly.
I pass every day in front of the window.
When I come back from my rehearsals, my classes, my work, I see her, she smiles at me. I also smile at her.
I will find out later that she is from Osaka, Japan, that she came here a few years ago and that she speaks our language very little.
She spends all her days showing us her gastronomy.
Her name is Masayo Hashimoto. Her tea room is called Momoka.
"Nice to meet you, I'm Lara."
Her great specialty is desserts inspired by her culture and adapted to ours. But her art is infinitely more extensive. When you take the time to sit at the bar of her tea room and let her do her thing, you discover a world from which you will not come out unscathed.
Today, I can easily say that she healed me with her food. She taught me how to eat again, and if I am now on my feet, I owe it to her in large part.
She has delighted me with her sense of aesthetics, with the purity and simplicity of the ingredients she uses, which remind me of those from my island.
My pain is her medicine.
Her unique look, the certainty that silence is a language that says everything.
She is one of those people who reconciled me with the life that was sleeping inside me. She is one of the women in the world whose heart and whose cooking I love the most, including that of my mother.
Once my mandate at the Casino de Paris is over, the tour of En toute intimité will extend to the whole of France. When the distance between two cities allows it, my faithful Yannick takes me home.
Even late at night, I find Masayo behind her counter waiting for me with a small meal. Or sometimes I even find a small bento box outside my door filled with a little rice, crunchy vegetables, edible flowers and tasty sauce.
All wrapped up like a flower arrangement under a cellophane. Crazy.
It remains frugal.
The portion is a very small food bowl.
I keep everything, every time.
I move on.
I will live in Brussels for thirteen consecutive years.
The installation is very particular in Brussels. After a break with my parents, the time to understand how to turn around, I move to a house not far from their neighborhood.
The day my boxes arrive and land on a different continent is April 9th. It is not invented: it snows all day on my boxes. Not to believe it, I know it. I can't believe it, I know it.
But I swear it's true.
Is it a wink from my Quebec?
Is it a way to make me measure the distance?
I don't know.
I stood there, my nose stuck in the snowflakes, amazed.
In the process, I wrote one of my favorite songs, although discreet, entitled "Je me souviens". It will be my love letter to our beautiful province.
The following week, I take a Thalys train to go back to my professional habits: the journalists, the photos, the TV, the promotion and tutti quanti.
On my way, I always stop in the 9th district, where Massayo has her restaurant. Between two promos, I take a break to eat at her place. Without me asking her anything, at the end of the evening, before the cab takes me home, she offers me to make me a little something to take away for the next day.
She knows that my day will be long and that I will not have time to eat.
In a few minutes, she brings one of her indescribably elegant wooden boxes on the counter.
And with the delicacy and generosity that characterize her, she concocts my bento, my lunch box. Inside: rice with wine, perfectly seasoned seasonal vegetables, hamachi (sushimi), tuna and scallop sashimi, and in the second compartment of the bento, a very special little sandwich with a tasty egg salad and cucumber slices.
I can still, in this very moment, close my eyes and feel the emotion I experienced the next day when, between two interviews, I opened the box and savored.
Anyone who witnessed that moment could have compared my expression to that of the food critic in the movie "Ratatouille", at the magical moment when he scoops up a spoonful of the dish with the same name.
He finds himself catapulted back to his childhood.
For me, this is what happens every time I eat my friend Masayo's food. My mind reconnects to the simplest and most joyful part of me: my childhood in Sicily.
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A much less dramatic story than the previous chapters. Also pretty unique: not many cookbooks have both Sicilian and Japanese recipes!
Interesting photo(s)/video(s) of the week:
From Lara The Ring Fabian, a short video of Lara at Sunday night’s Star Academie, looking quite fine
,www.youtube.com/watch?v=481yjnpVaOI
And on a different note
, from larafabian_fanpage_http://instagram.com/p/CZXlHd3IpYa
also quite beautiful.
With all the ‘sturm und drang’ concerning the Star Academie and COVID in the rear view mirror (hopefully), the show during the coming week should be more focused on the candidates preparation during the ‘dailies’, and their Sunday presentations. It’s likely Lara’s week will be, too. Stay safe everybody,
David
