French singer and impersonator Sarah Schwab was simply captivating during her first career show with us on Tuesday at the Théâtre Petit Champlain.
The 24-year-old performer had not yet set foot in the province, in anticipation of her performances at the ComediHa! Fest-Québec, which she had already expressed at Journal her desire to set up a full tour there. Judging by the quality of her imitations of the great singers of our era, during her baptism of fire, we can now say that this goal is realistic. The festival-goers were unfortunately few in number, but those who were there greatly appreciated what she had to offer.
Worthy of Celine’s songs
Let’s be clear, you have to have rock-solid confidence to imitate the great Celine Dion, in front of the audience in her native province, just after seeing her return to the stage for the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games.
“I know I’ll never be Celine Dion, but hey, I can try, right?” Sarah Schwab asked the crowd after warming up her amazing voice by brilliantly portraying singers like Madonna, Shakira and Anastacia.
The crowd had no choice but to nod. Closing their eyes, as Sarah Schwab launched into the famous My Heart Will Go Onwe really felt like we were hearing our great diva. The voice, the intonations, everything was there.
With the wind in her sails, the Frenchwoman continued her borrowings from the Quebec repertoire, notably with a magnificent imitation of another great classic, I love youby Lara Fabian, as well as a sublime, but too short cover of Coeur de pirate. Once again, there was enough to make you misunderstand.
And what about the time she ventured into I’m just a songfrom our beloved Ginette Reno, except that the standing ovation she received afterwards was well deserved?
A real Disney princess
If Sarah Schwab looked like a princess straight out of a Disney animated movie, it wasn’t just because of her gorgeous hair, chic makeup, and beautiful dress. Her great voice and cheerful personality were just as worthy of the compliment. You had to hear her sing some of the great songs from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfsof The Snow Queen and of Cinderella. All that was missing was a gathering of animals to sing with her. The audience warmly welcomed this throwback.
Sarah Schwab won’t have much time to savour the triumph of her first show in Quebec. She will take part in Billy Tellier’s ComediHa! Gala at the Grand Théâtre on Wednesday and will return to the Théâtre Petit Champlain on Thursday for another solo performance.
