Theatrical performances, gleaming costumes with androgynous allure, projections transporting in an amalgam of universes, clever plays of light, choreographies and a beautiful band of musicians on stage: the multimedia musical tribute to the great David Bowie does not disappoint.
He was a free spirit and an avant-garde with legendary flamboyance and eccentricity. There is no doubt that David Bowie would have had great pleasure in seeing part of his work – that of his rich Berlin era – taken up and interpreted by three young women artists of our generation.
It’s singer-songwriter Gabriella Laberge (Quebec singer-multi-instrumentalist who we saw at The Voice 5 in France, in Mika’s team), actress and singer Elisabeth Gauthier Pelletier and folk singer-songwriter Loryn Taggart, who were entrusted with the task of reinventing 26 key pieces from one of the successes of the legendary London singer.
And the three artists pulled it off very well, whether they perform solo or in a trio during this show giving itself the air of a new kind of musical comedy – or 2.0 – where the musicians play live on stage and where the video and film projections follow one another in the background.
Difficult to recognize, because constantly changing costumes and all wearing the same hairstyle, there was no longer any doubt about Gabriella’s identity when she took out her violin to electrify the room with a mind-blowing solo. Boys Keep Swinging.
Or when Loryn Taggart accompanied herself on the guitar – dressed in a princess-like white dress and in front of a shower of stars – on the superb song Wild is the Wind.
The giant LED screen the size of two buildings, the various video projections, the “motion design” and the cutting edge of experimental cinematography: we can only salute the digital creative direction of Fred Caron (having worked with Kiss, Mötley Crüe , Osheaga, Cirque du Soleil) and Jean-François Couture for the lighting and the brilliant and moving scenography.
Candy for the fans
On an illuminated and raised stage erected behind the singers, the eight musicians (guitars, drums, saxophone, bass, percussion, keyboards) under the musical direction of Daniel Lacoste interpreted nearly thirty songs.
Pieces from the albums Station to Station, Low, Heros et Scary Monsters of the singer who disappeared in January 2016.
If it is preferable to be a big fan of David Bowie to know and recognize the majority of the pieces composing this show with a large deployment entirely from Quebec, it is not an obligation to experience a lot of pleasure in watching this trio of Bowie interpret – visibly with their hearts – and pay homage to the father of Ziggy Stardust.
Magical moments
Among the magical and expected moments of this show imagined and directed by Claude Larivée (the man behind the show Robert en CharleboisScopeFélix ADISQ for the director of the year in 2020): the song Heros performed by Loryn Thaggart, on which the spectators finally cheered up by clapping their hands and singing through their masks.
The room Warsaw sublimated by the violin with the electric accents of Gabriella, the very rock Scary Monsters et Lust for Lifea legendary piece written by the duo Iggy Pop and David Bowie.
Then, of course, the mythical Space Oddity. A beautiful gift delivered at the very end of this impressive show, which like a train journey, allows you to find yourself for a moment and happily, as if suspended between two worlds.
Heroes/Bowie/Berlin 1976-80 will be presented in Quebec City on June 3, in Trois-Rivières on August 31 and in Ottawa on October 8, 2022. Montreal extras have been announced on October 27, 28 and 29, 2022 at Place des arts.
★ Tour dates and tickets: heroesbowieberlin.com
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