A critically acclaimed show finally in the Eastern Townships!

A tribute to the grande dame of French song presented by Marie-Thérèse FORTIN, a great actress and singer from Quebec, accompanied by pianist emeritus Yves LÉVEILLÉ.

Date: Sunday, October 27, Ste-Elizabeth church North Hatley, 3:30 p.m.
Fee :

• Pre-sale reserved for ART-Lié 2024-25 members before July 24, 5 p.m.: $40
• Regular price for non-members and members after July 24: $45

ART-Lié 2024-25 member privileges: 15% at Auberge La Raveaudière (upon presentation of show ticket AND membership card) and at Le Mercantile restaurant, 10% off at Les Appalaches bookstore and on meals at La Chocolatière

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“Barbara continues to captivate us with her melodies and lyrics. Her songs are eternal “, says Marie-Thérèse Fortin.

Almost 30 years ago, actress Marie-Thérèse Fortin and pianist Yves Léveillé created a show to pay tribute to a major figure in French chanson, Barbara.

“Barbara has an indescribable effect on people”, says Ms. Fortin. “She sends shivers down our spines, she gets inside us. Her reading of the human soul is both personal and universal. Poets have this power to rally and captivate us. In my case, she took possession of my soul.”

“I’m an actress who sings. I try to convey my sensibility, and deliver as accurately as possible what I retain from her words. My partners and I want to bring Barbara’s work to life and make it exciting.”

The show will take an overview of Barbara’s career, including her lesser-known songs as well as her must-haves, such as Perlimpinpin, Göttingen, Le Soleil noir and Le mal de vivre, among others. The artist promises to reveal all aspects of the singer, in a very pared-down format, reminiscent of Barbara in her early days.

With her show Marie-Thérèse Fortin chante Barbara, the actress aims to get back to basics, to words and melodies.

“Her character as a grande dame dressed all in black has often overshadowed her talent as a poet and her sense of melody. I want people to rediscover her songs and want to hear her again,” she explains.

Despite the similarity in the timbre of their voices, Marie-Thérèse Fortin makes no attempt to imitate the singer on stage.

She sings 25 pieces created by the immortal interpreter of L’aigle noir. “Not to imitate her,” she warns, “but to bring her back to life, in the space of an intimate show.”

“Words are my whole life. And as Barbara was very theatrical in her songs, I find myself in familiar territory,” she explains.

“Barbara’s songs are like little films,” she says. “From the very first notes, she sets the scene and sees, from image to image, a piece of life’s story.”

 

Yves Léveillé – Pianist and composer

Yves Léveillé is renowned both for his compositions and arrangements, and for his many musical collaborations with leading jazzmen, singers, songwriters, actors and stage directors.

It’s hard to summarize all his works and collaborations, as well as all his world tours and albums, almost all of which have won awards. Léveillé is a prolific, generous and extremely gifted artist. He is regularly asked to present his work in Canada, Asia, Europe and the United States.

He is the recipient of the André Gagnon Prize (instrumental music) from the Spacq Foundation. Some of his award-winning albums include Chorégraphie (FND103) which retraces the pianist’s creations over the past three years, and was selected by Le Devoir newspaper as one of the five best jazz albums of 2010. With pianist François Bourassa, he takes part in the En Trois Couleurs project initiated by percussion soloist Marie-Josée Simard. The concert won top honors in the Concert of the Year | Jazz category of the Prix Opus 2012-2013.

Yves Léveillé reunites with Marie-Thérèse Fortin, with whom he has collaborated for many years as piano accompanist and arranger, on Marie-Thérèse Fortin chante Barbara. In this show, Yves Léveillé’s pared-down arrangements sometimes evoke jazz, sometimes a world of impressionist colors.

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