British soprano Sarah Brightman kicked off the holiday festivities on Tuesday evening before 1,900 people at Place Bell in Laval with a stellar performance of her acclaimed show A Christmas symphony.
It may have been the first date of A Christmas Symphony’s new North American tour – which also made its first stop in Canada after its success in several countries – but it certainly wasn’t the first round of the world’s most popular soprano.
Surrounded by a choir and an orchestra on a stage dotted with candle-like lights, the very confident Sarah Brightman began her singing performance with the superbly performed Ave Maria. It was time for solid interpretations between “Walking in the Air”, “Silent Night” and “I Believe in Father Christmas”.
Accompanied by countless changes in the 63-year-old soprano’s glittering dresses and the festive lighting, the show sometimes looked like a pretty snow globe.
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With its “family audience”
“Good evening, ladies and gentlemen, I am very pleased to be with you this evening! Welcome to A Christmas Symphony!” Sarah Brightman shouted in French to applause before alternating with English throughout the evening.
MARTIN ALARIE / LE JOURNAL DE MONTRÉAL
By sharing anecdotes here and there about the meaning of Christmas for her, the artist opened a very traditional celebration that does not ignore audiences of all ages: “Unfortunately I won’t be with my family this year, but luckily I’ll be with my “public family”!
A big party
Far from being alone on stage, Sarah Brightman could count on several talents, including the opera-pop trio LYRICO, with whom she sang Belle nuit, ô nuit d’amour, and Jay Dref, with whom she also sang Sogni sang as Anthony Ormsby (Little Singers of Mont-Royal), partner of Pie Jesu. Great duo.
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In addition to Christmas classics, the soprano also didn’t shy away from revisiting some songs that are less associated with the holiday season, such as “Colder Than Winter.”
In addition, it is impossible to leave the audience without having performed the song “The Phantom of the Opera”, a musical comedy in which she played the role of Christine, as well as “Time To Say Goodbye” (Con te partiò), which She has already sung a duet with Andrea Bocelli in one episode, provoking shouts and “Bravo!” in the room.
After more than one standing ovation, Sarah Brightman offered a worthy encore before the end of the show, especially singing “Amazing Grace.”
Towards the end of the concert, Place Bell turned into a sparkling sky thanks to the lights of mobile phones that moved to the rhythm of the songs. Full of magic, sweetness and the incredible talent of Sarah Brightman, A Christmas Symphony lived up to expectations.
- The trip A Christmas symphony has 22 stops in North America in November and December.