FRENCH VERSION

"Where the speech of man stops short, then the art of music begins."
Richard Wagner (1813-1883)

George Michael's Symphonica: The Orchestral Tour 2011/2012
PALAIS GARNIER: AN ALMOST UNREAL CONCERT!

Fanny Walters English Adaptation Glynis Woollgar

 

During SYMPHONIC: THE ORCHESTRAL TOUR, George Michael will give over 60 performances across Europe. This incredibly sophisticated and extraordinary tour starts at the State Opera House in Prague, capital of the Czech Republic. Opened in 1888, this opera house is considered one of the most beautiful theatres in Europe.

Who could've imagined that one day George Michael would tour with a classical orchestra? Anything and everything is possible, and this
new adventure is more than astonishing.

After his triumphant performances during "25Live" George Michael has regained his self-confidence, and renewed his belief in his capacity as an artist to surprise his audience. And his audience is no longer made up of only young teenagers or the teenagers of the 80s. That generation has grown up and evolved, to become mature and responsible adults who've never forgotten those well-known Wham! lyrics. Gradually, George Michael has won other fans along the way, and now has a wide and diverse audience. Despite the dark periods of the past decades, the sadness, melancholy and loss, there has been much joy and creativity, and no matter what hits him, he gets up every time.

"If music be the food of love, play on."
Shakespeare (1564-1616)

SYMPHONIC: THE ORCHESTRAL TOUR proves the artiste's desire to please his audience. He could very well attract a new audience as, in these new shows, he explores an other artistic dimension: arrangement, orchestra, acoustics, voice, venue, and the gift of self.


The gift of self to promote the causes most precious to him is something George Michael has no problem with, such as the fight against AIDS. The charity concert planned for 6 November, 2011, at the legendary Royal Opera House (London) for Sir Elton John's Foundation , in memory of Elizabeth Taylor is part of this personal campaign. Seats for the performance were sold out in just minutes. Those lucky Lovelies (the pet name George Michael has given to his Twitter followers) will share the magical atmosphere of this very special concert.

"Music is the language of emotions."
Emmanuel Kant (1724-1804)

The Royal Albert Hall in October, 4 dates sold out! Some of the biggest names in popular music have performed at this mythical venue, a jewel of London architecture, which opened in March 1871. The Royal Albert Hall has showcased Frank Sinatra, Liza Minnelli, Jimi Hendrix, The Beatles, The Who, Led Zeppelin, Eric Clapton, Sting and Elton John... followed by the new generation like Jay Z, the Killers... and now, George Michael.

George Michael will also play more traditional venues, beginning the French leg of his tour at the Nikaia Arena in Nice on 22 September, 2011. He'll be the inaugural pop artist to play The Silo (2000 seats) in Marseille on 28 September. On 30 September, he's at the Zenith in Toulouse, then at Montpellier's Park &Suites Arena on 1 October, followed by two initial Paris appearances at Bercy on 3 and 4 October before heading for the Zenith Strasbourg on 23 November. The Symphonica Tour then returns to Paris for a grand finale at the magnificent Palais Garnier on Sunday, 29 April, 2012. This concert will be dedicated to an association... According to Twitter, the artiste has made a wonderful new acquaintance...

The Palais Garnier... Who could've imagined for one moment that George Michael - 'a pop artist'- would perform on this sacred stage steeped in history, in the heart of one of the most beautiful capitals of the world: Paris !

The Palais Garnier is the Opera National de Paris - a monument dedicated to theatre and music designed by Charles Garnier from 1861 to 1875. It's a place of awesome beauty and gives visitors immense pleasure as they discover its jubilant architecture, its vastness and detail. Raise your eyes heavenwards and adore those frescoed ceilings with their cherubs on either side. Climb the magnificent staircases that for centuries gave the feted and the famous an opportunity to parade their latest fashions as they rose above the waiting crowds. The Grand Escalier takes you to the orchestra entrance of the "Francaise" hall (1,900 seats), with the nostalgia of its boxes and red plushchairs that transport us to another time. The hall features sculpted decors glorifying the arts, like the ceiling painted by Chagall.On this stage have appeared the world's greatest artistes, musicians, operas, ballets... And audiences from around the globe have come here to live their dreams.

 

The tour continues, revealing the world of Charles Garnier -foyers through which the audiencecan stroll during the interval, the vast Lune and Soleil Salons (the Moon and Sun), the ante foyer with its mosaics and sculptures, and the splendour of the Baudry paintings, strangely reminiscent of MichelAngelo's. Then to La Loggia which runs from the inside to the outside, between La Vallée de Larmes and Le Pays des Fées(Valley of Tears and Fairyland). Unique, breathing history and beauty, it has been described as a "theatre masterpiece", designed by Garnier as a 35-year old unknown architect. Inspired by the Parthenon during a visit to Athens in 1851, he won the competition for the design of Paris's new opera house and it was inaugurated on 15 January, 1875.

"Add two letters to Paris and you will get paradis (paradise)"
Jules Renard (1864-1910)

In 2000 the main façade of the Opera was completely renovated, bringing an original dimension to this Parisian landmark to which tourists flock every day. In July 2011, George Michael tweeted his joy at being in Paris, and specifically at the Palais Garnier. So perhaps this is an other dream come true - that of a 7-year old boy, already playing the violin and who, watched over by his mother Lesley, contented himself with singing in his garage, as legend has it.

Nothing is impossible, everything is possible. George Michael's passion for the music, his ability to communicate through his music, the communion between him and the audience that has remained faithful all these years, is no dream, it's all real.

And you can discover the real George Michael, born Georgios Kyriacos Panayiotou, during this special moment in time when the music carries you to pure pleasure!

22 aôut 2011

 

Fanny Walters
Author of George Michael Unique (2004) www.fannywalters.com
Pictures FW Palais Garnier (2011)

Following Twitter Fannywalters
Following Symphonica The Orchestral Tour in Live Special Report GMINFOS for Marseille, Bercy, ROH (London), Glasgow (Scotland).

 

More Informations:
SymphonicaTour
Official site George Michael www.georgemichael.com

Twitter officiel George Michael

Don't miss the Official TourBook of SymphonicaTour, a beautiful collection of photos: www.carolinetrue.com , some of which were taken at the Palais Garnier in July 2011 -

Tournée Française
22/09 Nikaia Arena - Nice

28/09 Le Silo - Marseille

+ infos www.marseille.fr


30/09 Le Zénith - Toulouse

1er/10 Park &Suites - Montpellier

3/10 et 4/10 Bercy - Paris

28/11 Le Zénith - Strasbourg

29/04/12 Palais Garnier - Opéra de Paris

Site Palais Garnier
www.operadeparis.fr


Information book of Palais Garnier - Opéra Nationale de Paris - Monum - Editions du Patrimoine - Auteur Gérard Fontaine - www.monum.fr

Original quotes from French version Cards from Editions www.desastre.com

Publié le 5 septembre 2011 - GMINFOS FRENCH VERSION