| . | 11/23/2009
Michel Legrand Live in Concert at Lincoln Center’s Avery Fisher Hall
By: Linda Amiel Burns
With Mario Pelchat and Special Guest Star Dionne Warwick
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Michel Legrand is a music legend having been honored in his long and illustrious career with 3 Oscars (13 nominations), 5 Grammys, a BAFTA and Golden Globe to name a few. This one-night-only sold out concert at Lincoln Center’s Avery Fisher Hall, following a Canadian tour, attested to his popularity. The multi-talented Michel Legrand is a masterly pianist, composer, arranger, conductor, producer and singer and has been astounding audience since the 1950’s “tearing down the barriers between jazz, classical music and easy listening and is at home in any musical situation.”
This was clear as he walked on to the stage with no introduction to a thunderous applause and sat down at the Steinway Concert Grand piano surrounded by musicians Luc Catellier on Drums, Jimmy Lahaie on Guitar, and Gregory Morency on Doublebass. They began with a jazz instrumental of some of Mr. Legrand’s most beautiful melodies including, “Watch What Happens” and “You Must Believe in Spring.” He sang a moving rendition of one of his most popular and beautiful songs “What Are you Doing The Rest of Your Life?” (lyrics: The Bergmans) from a film that was not a hit called The Happy Ending. Unfortunately, it was very difficult to understand Mr. Legrand when he spoke, as the problem seemed to be in the sound system, along with his strong French accent. I was wishing for subtitles.
A highlight of the evening was the introduction of Catherine Michel, a world-class harpist, who played a gorgeous medley of the songs from Yentl with Mr. Legrand on piano. You rarely see harp soloists these days and can understand why Ms. Michel “with her vivid stage presence, passionately confident musicianship, and extraordinary technique” is recognized as one of the most distinguished harpists in Europe. Next to be introduced was Mario Pelchat, a star in Canada with a long list of international credits who sang “The Summer of 42” and a duet with Dionne Warwick of “How Do You Keep The Music Playing” with great singing but not much chemistry between them. Dionne Warwick stood behind the piano and looked as if she was reading the lyrics while singing “Nobody Knows The Sound of My Voice” and then sang a duet with Michel Legrand of “I Will Wait For You” from The Umbrellas of Cherbourg. The concert ended with Dionne, Mario and Michel performing one of Legrand's greatest songs, “The Windmills of Your Mind” from The Thomas Crown Affair that was named one of America’s Greatest Movie Songs by AFI in 2004. All in all, it was a wonderful concert and an honor to be in attendance to hear this master of song, the legendary Michel Legrand, playing virtuoso piano of his own lush melodies accompanied by fine musicians and renowned singers.
Produced by Maestro Artist Management
http://www.maestroartist.com
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