After a first version more than 10 years ago, Catherine Sénart returns with a “luxury version”. Love according to Vennewhich highlights the very rich work of the songwriter Stéphane Venne.
And it’s not over yet, the time is good, the beginning of a new time… Stéphane Venne, born in Verdun in 1941, is the founder of many local classics and has written for several greats of the song: Renée Claude, Isabelle Pierre, Emmanuelle , Michel Louvain, Pierre Lalonde, Donald Lautrec…
“He is an important songwriter from Quebec. His music touches me very much,” Catherine Sénart, 53, recalls with emotion her encounter with the artist’s work. “I had the impression that I had stumbled upon a gold mine,” adds the woman who we met on screen in “Marguerite Volant” and on stage as Eliza Doolitle in “My Fair Lady,” among others.
The love that Catherine Sénart wanted to address in the broadest sense in this piano part proposal, presented for the first time in 2009, runs through the work of Stéphane Venne in countless forms. In this show we deal with “the meeting, the honeymoon, the argument, the separation, the possible return, the fidelity… Stéphane Venne really enjoyed the theme of love with his pen full of finesse, humor and depth,” says the artist .
Pierre-Paul Poulin / Le Journal de Montréal / Agence QMI
“Stéphane Venne never rested at his work table,” explains Catherine Sénart admiringly. He was always looking for new melodies, new approaches to lyrics. And at the same time he has a signature. We recognize the Venne sound.”
Love, a decade later
There are some songs that don’t have many wrinkles. Stéphane Venne’s repertoire is certainly one of them, especially between the covers of Et c’est pas fini as the theme song for Star Académie and Le temps est bon by several artists, including the electronic collective Bon Entendeur in France.
What motivated Catherine Sénart to return to Love in Venne today? “The pandemic has led to a lot of reflection. I thought we were going through a difficult time. This show feels good… And I realized it would be good for me to find these songs again.
However, there is no mention of the submission of the first version of “Liebe nach Venne”. “In my opinion the show was unfinished. I wanted to see this project through to the end. I approached Martin Leclerc, who immediately agreed to join and produce the show,” says the artist, who dreams of touring Quebec with this project. “We leave in beautiful surroundings. It’s a luxury version!”
Pierre-Paul Poulin / Le Journal de Montréal / Agence QMI
To do this, among other things, she shortened “Liebe nach Venne” and slightly retouched the texts that form the dramatic central thread. “My voice is 12 years older,” the interpreter adds. I approach songs more maturely. The first version was much more nostalgic and melancholic. Today I have more perspective. I approach this show with a big smile.”
At the Théâtre du Rideau Vert, the audience can discover “Love According to Venne Revamped”, where Catherine Sénart reunites with her followers from the beginning, Marc-André Cuierrier on piano and arrangements and Marie-Ève Gagnon on stage. “People will have it for their eyes, their ears and all their senses.”
Love to Venne, from November 9th to 11th at the Théâtre du Rideau Vert and on February 11th at La Chapelle Spectacles in Quebec. An album will also be available on digital platforms and in physical format after the shows from November 9th. For full details and show dates click here.