Notre Dame de Paris (musical)
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- This article is about the French musical. For the Disney produced German musical, see Hunchback of Notre Dame (musical).
Notre Dame de Paris is a French musical which debuted on 16 September 1998 in Paris. It is based upon the novel Notre Dame de Paris by the French novelist Victor Hugo. The music was composed by Richard Cocciante and the lyrics are by Luc Plamondon.
Since its debut, it has played in many towns and cities across France, Belgium, Switzerland and Canada. A shorter version in English has played since 2000 in Las Vegas (USA) and an English version (available on CD) has been performed in London where it has had some success.[citation needed] It has also been translated into Italian, Russian, Catalan and an amateur production in Belarusian. It has also been translated independently into (but never performed in) Swedish and Armenian.[citation needed]
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[edit] Intrigue
The musical takes from the book mainly the love and tragedy that befalls the intriguing Esmeralda and the repression that the guards impose on the "cour des miracles."
The gypsy Esmeralda has been under the protection of Gypsy Leader Clopin since the death of her mother. The gypsies are chased out of Paris by the King's soldiers after they tried to claim sanctuary in the cathedral of Notre Dame. In the struggle, Esmeralda catches the eye of the Captain of the Guard, Phœbus de Chateaupers, who is already engaged to 14 year old Fleur-de-Lys.
At the Feast of Fools, the hunchback bellringer of Notre Dame Quasimodo is watching Esmeralda, whom he is in love with, when he is dragged centerstage and crowned King of Fools by the poet Gringoire. Frollo, the priest of Notre Dame, tears Quasimodo's crown off and warns him away from Esmeralda, and outlines his plan to have Quasimodo help him kidnap Esmeralda (whom Frollo is secretly obsessed with) and imprison her in one of the cathedral towers.
Gringoire is following Esmeralda through Paris when she is attacked by Frollo and Quasimodo. However Phœbus was keeping watch, and protects her. Frollo remains unnoticed, but Quasimodo is arrested. Esmeralda refuses Phœbus, but accepts an assignation with him at the cabaret Val d'Amour for the following evening.
Gringoire sneaks into the Court of Miracles where he is caught and condemned to death unless one of the gypsy women will marry him, making him one of them. Esmeralda accepts at the last moment, saving Gringoire. He offers to make her his muse, but she is only interested in knowing more about Phœbus.
When Quasimodo is put to the wheel for attacking Esmeralda, Frollo joins in the general condemnation, but Esmeralda gives Quasimodo a drink of water when he begs for it, and he invites her to take refuge in the cathedral whenever she wants. Having her within reach drives Frollo wild with lust, and he follows Phœbus to his rendez-vous with Esmeralda, where he stabs Phoebus with Esmeralda's knife, leaving him for dead and her to be accused of the crime. Phœbus, meanwhile, has returned to his fiancée Fleur-de-Lys without a backward glance.
Clopin, Quasimodo and Frollo all wonder where Esmeralda has disappeared to, and Gringoire reveals that she is awaiting trial at the prison La Santé. Frollo acting as the juge accuses Esmeralda of witchcraft, prostitution, harassment and wounding Phœbus. Under torture, she confesses, and is condemned to death by hanging the following morning.
In the dark hours before dawn, Frollo goes to Esmeralda's cell, confesses his love and offers her freedom in exchanged for sex. When she refuses, he attempts to rape her. Quasimodo released the imprisoned gypsies who rescue Esmeralda, and they all take refuge within Notre Dame. The guards attack the cathedral to evict the gypsies, and Clopin is killed. Frollo turns Esmeralda over to Phœbus who has her hanged, and while the gypsies are exiled. Quasimodo finds Frollo watching Esmeralda's execution, and Frollo confessed to having set Esmeralda up because she refused him. Quasimodo kills Frollo by pushing him down the cathedral tower steps, and dies of a broken heart with the dead Esmeralda in his arms.
[edit] Original Cast
- Hélène Ségara : Esmeralda
- Daniel Lavoie : Frollo
- Bruno Pelletier : Gringoire
- Garou : Quasimodo
- Patrick Fiori : Phœbus
- Luck Mervil : Clopin
- Julie Zenatti : Fleur-de-Lys
[edit] Commentary
Notre Dame de Paris made musicals fashionable in France, and since its inception, has spawned a number of other notable productions. The success is due to the love interest, but also due to the release of a number of songs as singles and their diffusion by both radio and television in the lead up to the opening night. Indeed, the English version of the song Vivre (Live for the One I Love) was sung by Celine Dion, even though she didn't participate in the musical.
Three songs were released as singles:
- Vivre - The video showed Notre Dame de Paris animated by computer.
- Le Temps des cathédrales, the opening song of the musical.
- Belle interpreted by Garou, Daniel Lavoie, and Patrick Fiori.
This musical allowed some of the cast to go on to successful solo careers in France, such as Patrick Fiori, Garou, Hélène Ségara, Julie Zenatti and Natasha St-Pier (Fleur-de-Lys in the West End production).
On the recording of the soundtrack of the musical, Segara does not sing the role of Esmeralda, instead being replaced by Noa.
