The City of Chambly is organizing its next Diapason Meeting at the Chambly Cultural Center in October. This time, it is the giants of French song, Barbara and Jacques Brel, who will be honored.
The next one Diapason Meeting from the City of Chambly takes us to the French song scene of the 60s. Where two great artists built a friendship during their debuts at the end of the 50s in Parisian cabarets.
Julie Daoust and Renaud Paradis play Barbara and Jacques Brel. They highlight, in front of the audience, the deep bond of friendship that united them by covering their songs in order to tell their story. For the Quebec actress, this new role allowed her to get to know the famous singer better. “I dove into her work, which is incredible,” she says. “She embodies resilience, humanity, and is shameless with timeless lyrics and unforgettable music. Barbara’s fans feel fervent love for her. For her part, she shows extreme humility.”
Behind the scenes
The Black Eagle is necessarily her most famous piece. But Julie Daoust has been intrigued by other songs, for example Nantes. “This work takes on its full dimension when you know the story,” continues the Quebec artist. She was supposed to see her father on his deathbed in Nantes, but she arrived too late. This father who is evoked in The Black Eagle. Along with Jacques Brel, she is one of those great artists who knew how to describe the human soul because they lived this life.
When it came to covering the famous French singer, Julie Daoust was careful not to imitate. “It’s an evocation! We take on the artist’s mantle and present her work. It’s an encounter between Barbara, me and the audience. The goal is to convey her humanity. Just like Jacques Brel, her lyrics are still relevant today and she has such a special way of reaching out to the audience.”
So, to present their work to the public, the artists, as well as Philippe Noireaut on the piano, have created a framework. “It’s not a Jacques song, another Barbara song,” continues Julie Daoust. Their friendship serves as a common thread with theatrical moments and documentaries to explain the choice of songs.”
This show is a Diapason Meetingduring which the artists will be able to interact with the public.
“That’s why we do this job,” smiles the actress. “The relationship with the public is essential. Exchanges with the public are always rich.”
Brel and Barbara, Wednesday, October 16 at 2 p.m., at the Pôle culturel de Chambly. Reservations at 450 358-3949.
