Press releases information and photos from MIDEM

NOTRE DAME DE PARIS MAKES A TRIUMPHANT RETURN TO MIDEM
Paris, 09 December 1999.

On January 25, 2000 the international music industry event MIDEM, for the second time, played host to a musical phenomenon when Columbia Records launch the English adaptation of Notre Dame de Paris. A unique showcase featuring some of the original performers took place in the Grand Auditorium, Palais des Festivals at 6:00 p.m. and was followed by the full original French version at 8:30 p.m. in the same venue.

Two years ago, on January 18, 1998, MIDEM attendees bore witness to the debut performance of this musical sensation that has gone on to break box office and CD sales records in Europe and Canada. Notre Dame de Paris, a traditional musical using the newest techniques of modern staging, returns to Cannes once again to launch the new English version of the show and the accompanying soundtrack.

Based on Victor Hugo's timeless 1831 novel, about the lonely hunchback Quasimodo and his love for a beautiful gypsy girl Esmeralda, Notre Dame de Paris is set to hit London next spring and become the biggest musical event in London's West End. The powerful and emotionally charged soundtrack of the musical will be released in March.

The original French version of Notre Dame de Paris was written by Luc Plamondon (words) and Richard Cocciante (music), new English lyrics have been brilliantly adapted by Grammy, Academy and Oscar winning writer Will Jennings. Among the many songs written by Jennings to have acquired world-wide fame is Celine Dion's recent smash hit, 'My Heart Will Go On', taken from the film, Titanic's, soundtrack.

The new English soundtrack features stunning new performances by some of the show's original stars (Garou, Daniel Lavoie, Bruno Pelletier and Luck Mervil) and inspired new rendition by Celine Dion, Australian star Tina Arena, newcomer Natasha St Pierre and Steve Balsamo, the latter took the West End by storm in the title role of 'Jesus Christ Superstar'.

The original Notre Dame de Paris soundtrack was launched at MIDEM in 1998 to an overwhelming and rapturous response. Since then the album has sold over 3.5 million copies in France, Belgium, Switzerland and Canada and remained at No.1 in the French charts for 17 weeks. In addition, the two singles taken from the album 'Belle' and 'Le Temps des Cathedrales' have sold 3 million copies in France alone.

The show opened in September 1998 at the Palais des Congrès in Paris and has since toured throughout Canada, France, Switzerland, and Belgium. By the time it reaches London, over 2 million people will have witnessed the show's breathtaking dance routines and acrobatics. There is no doubt that the UK production will continue the phenomenon and that the British audiences have an incredible piece of compelling theatre accompanied by a simply mesmerising soundtrack coming their way.

25 January 6.00pm
Palais des Festivals Le Grand Auditorium

Notre Dame de Paris - presentation of the English version with:

Bruno Pelletier - Canada - as Gringoire

Daniel Lavoie - Canada - as Frollo

Garou - Canada - as Quasimodo

Luck Mervil - Canada - as Clopin

Natascha Saint Pierre - Canada - as Fleur de Lys

Steve Balsamo - UK - as Phoebus

Tina Arena - Australia - as Esmeralda

Two million tickets and four million album sales later, Notre Dame de Paris, which was originally launched at Midem 1998, will be making a triumphant return to Midem 2000 with a full cast performance on the evening of Tuesday January 25. This will be proceeded by a unique hour-long showcase of songs from the new English version of the show, which features new lyrics, by "Oscar winning writer" Will Jennings. The stars born out of the original French recordings; Garou, Bruno Pelletier, Daniel Lavoie, Luck Mervil and Natasha St Pierre joined by international star Tina Arena and Steve Balsamo, will sing a selection of songs from the new album to be released by Sony on February 21st 2000 in the presence of original writers Luc Plamondon and Richard Cocciante.

The above repeated in French:

Deux millions de places et quatre millions d'albums plus tard, Notre Dame de Paris, lancée à l'origine au Midem en 1998, fait un retour triomphant le mardi 25 janvier au Midem 2000 avec la troupe au grand complet. Un spectacle d'une heure présentera la nouvelle version anglaise dont les nouveaux textes ont été écrits par Will Jennings (Oscar du meilleur auteur). Les artistes révélés par la version originale française : Garou, Bruno Pelletier, Daniel Lavoie, Luck Mervil et Natasha St Pierre accompagnés des stars internationales Tina Arena et Steve Balsamo chanterons des morceaux extraits du nouvel album dont la sortie est prévue pour le 21 février 2000 chez Sony en présence de Luc Plamondon et Richard Cocciante (auteurs et compositeurs de la version originale).

Bruno Pelletier - Canada - as Gringoire

Record Company:
Pomme Music Charles Talar 61, rue de Ponthieu 75008 Paris, France Phone: +(33)1 43 59 15 78 Fax: +(33)1 43 59 66 77

Publisher:
Pomme Music Charles Talar 61, rue de Ponthieu 75008 Paris, France Phone: +(33)1 43 59 15 78 Fax: +(33)1 43 59 66 77

Management:
Daniele Molko 25, avenue d'Eylau 75016 Paris, France Phone: +(33)6 11 38 30 57 Fax: +(33)1 47 55 62 36

Agent:
Disques Artiste Paul Levresque 154 Grande Cote Rosemere, Quebec J7A 1H3, Canada Phone: +(1)450 437 7625 Fax: +(1)450 430 9751

Daniel Lavoie - Canada - as Frollo

Record Company:
Pomme Music Charles Talar 61, rue de Ponthieu 75008 Paris, France Phone: +(33)1 43 59 15 78 Fax: +(33)1 43 59 66 77

Publisher:
Management:
Robert Vinet 222, rue Dominion - bureau 20 Montreal, Quebec H3J 2X1, Canada Phone: +(1)514 931 80 99 Fax: +(1)514 931 48 80

Agent:
Robert Vinet 222, rue Dominion - bureau 20 Montreal, Quebec H3J 2X1, Canada Phone: +(1)514 931 80 99 Fax: +(1)514 931 48 80

Garou - Canada - as Quasimodo

Record Company:
Pomme Music Charles Talar 61, rue de Ponthieu 75008 Paris, France Phone: +(33)1 43 59 15 78 Fax: +(33)1 43 59 66 77

Publisher:
Pomme Music Charles Talar 61, rue de Ponthieu 75008 Paris, France Phone: +(33)1 43 59 15 78 Fax: +(33)1 43 59 66 77

Management:
Pomme Music Charles Talar 61, rue de Ponthieu 75008 Paris, France Phone: +(33)1 43 59 15 78 Fax: +(33)1 43 59 66 77

Luck Mervil - Canada - as Clopin

Record Company:
Pomme Music Charles Talar 61, rue de Ponthieu 75008 Paris, France Phone: +(33)1 43 59 15 78 Fax: +(33)1 43 59 66 77

Publisher:
Management:
Agent:
AVREP Pierre Alain Simon Phone: +(33)1 42 65 87 80

Natascha Saint Pierre - Canada - as Fleur de Lys

Record Company:
Pomme Music Charles Talar 61, rue de Ponthieu 75008 Paris, France Phone: +(33)1 43 59 15 78 Fax: +(33)1 43 59 66 77

Publisher:
Management:
Guy Cloutier Communications Guy Cloutier 4446 Bld Saint-Laurent - bureau 900 Montreal, Quebec H2W 1Z5, Canada Phone: (1)514 849 3999 Fax: +(1)514 849 8298


Steve Balsamo - UK - as Phoebus

Record Company:
Pomme Music Charles Talar 61, rue de Ponthieu 75008 Paris, France Phone: +(33)1 43 59 15 78 Fax: +(33)1 43 59 66 77

Publisher:
Management:
MW Entertainment Limited Michael White 48 Dean Street London W1V 5HL, UK Phone: +(44)171 734 7707 Fax: +(44)171 734 7727

Tina Arena - Australia - as Esmeralda

Record Company:
Pomme Music Charles Talar 61, rue de Ponthieu 75008 Paris, France Phone: +(33)1 43 59 15 78 Fax: +(33)1 43 59 66 77

Publisher:
Management:
Sony Music Corine Gros 131, avenue de Wagram 75017 Paris, France Phone: +(33)1 44 40 67 42 Fax: +(33)1 44 40 69 91

Luc Plamondon musicals