“ … Carrere can miraculously capture Piaf’s soul and timbre…!”
=0D=0A=- New York Times
=0D=0A=With a million tickets sold in more than 50 countries and acclaimed reviews worldwide, PIAF! THE SHOW – a musical celebration of the life and music of the legendary French chanteuse, Edith Piaf – comes to Victoria’s acclaimed Royal Theatre as part of an extended world tour. The highlight of the American leg of the 300-performance global tour was a special presentation at Carnegie Hall on January 6, 2017, the 60th anniversary of Piaf's last performance at the famous venue.
=0D=0A=Conceived and directed by the Nice-based theatrical maverick Gil Marsalla and starring Anne Carrere, a young French performer hailed as “Edith Piaf’s legitimate musical heiress”, PIAF! THE SHOW was inspired by the award-winning movie La Vie En Rose and premiered in 2015 as a tribute to “The Swallow of Montmartre” on the centennial on her birthday. In two 45-minutes acts, the show narrates the rags-to-riches story of the Parisian singer’s career through her unforgettable music, from her beautiful early songs to her greatest hits, complemented by a visual tapestry of previously unreleased photographs and images of famous Parisian locations of the Piaf era. The audience is taken on a journey from the streets of Montmartre during the time of "La Vie en Rose”, to Parisian cafes, to the world’s great concert stages. During the show, Carrere will be accompanied by four extraordinary musicians.
=0D=0A=Gil Marsalla, producer and director of PIAF! THE SHOW, first met future star Anne Carrere in 2014, when she auditioned for another of his productions PARIS! THE SHOW. Captivated by her skills and natural charisma, Marsalla offered her the role of Edith Piaf in his new production. Equally impressed with Carrere were Piaf’s longtime collaborators, composer Charles Dumont, Ginou Richer, Piaf’s personal secretary, and singer Germaine Ricord, who described Anne’s skills as “that of Edith Piaf at the top of her career.”
=0D=0A=Anne Carrere (performer) made her debut in large-scale musical theatre as the star of PIAF! THE SHOW. A native of the South of France, she began preparing for a stage career in her early teens, studying, acting, and a variety of vocal and dance styles at the renowned art school Salon-de-Provence. She later pursued classical musical training, playing flute and piano. Before seriously pursuing her passion for the traditional French chanson, Anne participated in numerous French talent competitions and TV shows, showcasing her singing and dancing skills in diverse styles including classical, jazz and modern jazz.
=0D=0A=Gil Marsalla has been studying music since the age of 14 and had a rewarding career as a musician, music director, conductor and artistic director. He has been successfully producing musical and theatrical shows and large-scale events for the past 20 years, most recently with his own production company Directo Productions, which he founded in 2001 with the goal of supporting and presenting emerging French artists. Since 2007, he has been touring his productions worldwide and successfully presented his shows to sold-out houses in New York, Los Angeles, Washington, Tokyo, Moscow, and many other international locations on four continents. Among his recent producing credits are Formidable Aznavour (2017) and Paris, Le Spectacle (2016).
=0D=0A=Bringing glorious French cabaret music to the world!
=0D=0A=The distinctive French "cabaret" style is an aspect of French culture that’s been world famous since end of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th century, exemplified by such famous places as the Moulin Rouge, the Lido, etc. But, until recently, if you wanted to experience it fully, you had to go to Paris!
=0D=0A=Marsalla sensed a real hunger from audiences all over the world to hear the classic French songs of the 20th Century, songs made famous by great artists like Edith Piaf, Charles Aznavour, Jacques Brel, Yves Montand... He decided to produce French cabaret shows and tour them internationally, bringing this beloved material to audiences around the globe.
=0D=0A=PIAF! THE SHOW recreates the soulful spirit, the music, the magic of Edith Piaf. It is a rare experience to be enjoyed, savored – and is not to be missed.
=0D=0A=“ … Anne Carrere’s soaring voice is used to devastating effect … !”
=0D=0A=- The Guardian, London
=0D=0A=https://www.rmts.bc.ca/royal-theatre
=0D=0A=DTSTART:19691231 DTEND:19700101 END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR