If the simple fact of evoking the name of Michel Louvain provokes a happy memory, spending an evening revisiting the work and the memory of the iconic interpreter of “La dame en bleu” can provoke a certain euphoria.
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A year after his death, the memory of the charm singer was still present on Tuesday evening in the show “Un certain souvenir” which pays tribute to him and which premiered at the Cabaret du Casino de Montréal.
Presented in cabaret format, the show tells the story of four artists from another generation who discover Michel Louvain’s office full to bursting with personal archives. By revisiting his great successes, they rediscover at the same time his musicography, his era and the man he was.
A real journey through time, “Un certain souvenir” is full of songs popularized by the charming singer, sometimes compartmentalized in potpourris relating to the key moments of his career, in particular his beginnings, the era of first name songs and rhythms. of the South, to name a few. In the latter, we obviously heard “Adieu”, “Auprès de ton cœur”, but also “Sylvie”, “Lison” and “Louise”, as well as “Sway” and “Besame Mucho”.
Bringing together the magnificent voices of Suzie Villeneuve, Matthieu Lévesque, Joëlle Lanctôt and Bryan Audet – divine in a capela on “Buenas noches mi amor” -, the show directed by Joël Legendre, under the artistic direction of Pierre Plante, was well received. designed. Of the order of the theatrical musical show, “Un certain souvenir” is at the same time funny, touching, instructive, dancing, but above all singing.
The public also had trouble hiding their enthusiasm, despite wearing the mask still in force, on “The most beautiful tango in the world”, “Why did you break my heart” and “The lady in blue” , humming each lyric.
Between the songs, the four performers notably read excerpts from his personal diaries while archival images were projected on a giant screen for almost the entire duration of the show. Michel’s voice also resounded many times during the evening, confiding in an interview or pushing the note himself on “The umbrellas of Cherbourg”, performed in duet with Joëlle Lanctôt, and on the piece “You who pass without seeing me”, in duet with Suzie Villeneuve.
This year, Michel Louvain would have blown 84 candles on his birthday cake, in addition to celebrating his 65-year career there. The media premiere was originally scheduled to take place on April 14, the first anniversary of the singer’s death. However, the sixth wave of COVID-19 decided otherwise.
“Un certain souvenir”, the texts of which were signed by Pierre Huet, is presented at the Cabaret du Casino de Montréal for a second evening, this Wednesday, then will be presented throughout Quebec afterwards.
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