When the talented Krystel Mongeau took the stage at the Théâtre Capitole de Québec on Friday night, the conclusion quickly became clear: the Quebec public made an educated decision by crowning their Grand Champion of the 2022 season Star Academy.
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Like a fish in water on the boards and not shying away from any vocal challenge, the 26-year-old Sherbrooke resident, who is set to release her debut album in 2023, showed her star was ready to shine during the premiere of the finalists’ tour for the final season of TVA’s popular musical talent show.
Alongside the one the public had adopted to the point of rescuing him whenever he was in danger, Madelinot teenager Éloi Cummings, Krystel was blameless.
MARCEL TREMBLAY / QMI AGENCY
Twice the audience stood up to applaud him, and rightly so. As on TV, his interpretations of two pieces not accessible to all vocal cords, Encore et encore and Je n’est qu’une chanson, were amazing.
The one who took her classes in Quebec Issime in particular is a chameleon. Just sensitive enough to the commands of Rascal Flatt’s touching I Won’t Let Go, this country fanatic then shifted to a more rocking register with ease by tackling Ce soir on danse à Naziland.
MARCEL TREMBLAY / QMI AGENCY
Over the years, Star Académie winners have rarely been those who have had the most glorious careers. Think of Marie-Mai, Andréanne A. Malette or Mélissa Bédard, all of whom have surpassed the champions of their year.
Krystel Mongeau could reverse the trend.
Not at the same stage
In the circumstances, comparisons to Éloi Cummings, whom she calls her little brother, are bound to be unfair. The two artists are just not at the same level of development.
MARCEL TREMBLAY / QMI AGENCY
At 17, the lovely young man who’s about to tame the scene has had good times and bad.
He performed best in his solo songs. His Justin Timberlake Say Something was well rendered, as was his re-imagining of When Men Will Live on Love.
His inexperience showed with the duets, especially the now inevitable Shallow and Un peu plus haut. More reclusive, we were able to appreciate the path he still has to travel to reach Krystel’s artistic maturity.
Let’s give him time.
Too many classics
However, this fast-paced show avoids low points. However, it would have been interesting to go for, shall we say, a more contemporary music selection.
Piaf, Trenet, Aznavour, Cash, Parton, Harmonium, Piché: the obligatory potpourri of this type of show (country, Quebec, French, duets) consisted mostly of classics from the last century.
Why not offer them a chance to pit themselves against other achievements of their generation, as they have done by covering Chris Stapleton and Sia, among others? Secret.
****Krystel and Éloi are back on stage at the Théâtre Capitole on Saturday night. All tour dates can be found at musicorspectacles.com.