Notre-Dame de Paris (musical)

This article is about the French musical. For the Disney-produced German musical, see Der Glöckner von Notre Dame.

Notre-Dame de Paris
Music	Riccardo Cocciante
Lyrics	Luc Plamondon
Basis	Victor Hugo's novel The Hunchback of Notre-Dame
Productions	1998 in Paris 2000 in London 2010 in Belgium

Notre-Dame de Paris is a sung-through French-Canadian musical which debuted on 16 September 1998 in Paris. It is based upon the novel Notre-Dame de Paris (The Hunchback of Notre-Dame) by the French novelist Victor Hugo. The music was composed by Riccardo Cocciante (also known as Richard Cocciante) and the lyrics are by Luc Plamondon.

Since its debut, it has been played in Canada, France, Belgium, Russia, Switzerland, Italy, Spain, China, South Korea, Haiti and Taiwan. A shorter version in English was performed in 2000 in Las Vegas, Nevada (USA) and a full-length London production, also in English, ran for seventeen months. Popular songs from the show, such as Belle and Le temps des cathédrales have also been translated into Belarusian, Catalan, Czech, German, Lithuanian, Polish, Russian , Dutch and English.

Notre-Dame de Paris, according to the Guinness Book of Records, had the most successful first year of any musical ever. The score has been recorded at least seven times to date (2007): the original French concept album, which featured Israeli singer Achinoam Nini (aka Noa) as Esmeralda was followed by a live, complete recording of the original Paris cast. A complete recording of the score in Italian was made, along with a single disc of highlights in Spanish from the Barcelona production. The original London cast album featured several of the original Paris stars, but only preserved a fraction of the score in English. The orchestral group I Fiamminghi recorded a CD of melodies from the score. A complete set of instrumental backing tracks has also been released.

Casts

Original Paris Cast

• Hélène Ségara : Esmeralda
• Garou : Quasimodo
• Daniel Lavoie : Frollo
• Bruno Pelletier : Gringoire
• Patrick Fiori : Phoebus
• Luck Mervil : Clopin
• Julie Zenatti : Fleur-de-Lys

Original Barcelona Cast

• Thais Ciurana and Lily Dahab : Esmeralda
• Albert Martínez : Quasimodo
• Enrique Sequero : Frollo
• Daniel Anglés : Gringoire
• Lisardo Guarinos : Phoebus
• Paco Arrojo : Clopin
• Elvira Prado : Fleur-de-Lys

Original Italian Cast

• Lola Ponce and Rosalia Misseri : Esmeralda
• Giò Di Tonno and Fabrizio Voghera : Quasimodo
• Vittorio Matteucci and Fabrizio Voghera : Frollo
• Matteo Setti and Heron Borelli : Gringoire
• Graziano Galatone and Heron Borelli : Phoebus
• Marco Guerzoni and Cristian Mini : Clopin
• Claudia d'Ottavi and Chiara Di Bari : Fleur-de-Lys

Original North American Cast

• Janien Masse : Esmeralda
• Doug Storm : Quasimodo
• Francis Ruivivar, T. Eric Hart : Frollo
• Deven May : Gringoire
• Mark W Smith : Phoebus
• David Jennings : Clopin
• Jessica Grové : Fleur-de-Lys

Original Canadian Cast

• Nadia Bel : Esmeralda
• Matt Laurent : Quasimodo
• Jérome Collet : Frollo
• Richard Charest : Gringoire
• Laurent Ban : Phoebus
• Roddy Julienne : Clopin
• Marie-Eve Janvier : Fleur-de-Lys

Original London Cast

• Tina Arena : Esmeralda
• Garou : Quasimodo
• Daniel Lavoie : Frollo
• Bruno Pelletier : Gringoire
• Steve Balsamo : Phoebus
• Luck Mervil : Clopin
• Natasha St-Pier : Fleur-de-Lys

Female artists who later assumed the role of Esmeralda include American vocalist Patti Russo and Australian singer Dannii Minogue.

Original Russian Cast

• Teona Dolnikova, Diana Savelyeva and Svetlana Svetikova : Esmeralda
• Vyacheslav Petkun  : Quasimodo
• Alexander Marakulin : Frollo
• Alexander Postolenko : Gringoire
• Anton Makarsky : Phoebus
• Sergey Lee : Clopin
• Ekaterina Maslovskaya : Fleur-de-Lys

Original Flemish cast

• Sandrine Van Handenhoven : Esmeralda
• Gene Thomas : Quasimodo
• Wim Van Den Driessche : Frollo
• Dennis ten Vergert : Gringoire
• Tim Driesen : Phoebus
• Clayton Peroti : Clopin
• Jorien Zeevaart : Fleur-de-Lys

Original Korean Cast

• Choi Sung-hee (Bada), Oh Jin-yeong, and Mun Hye-won : Esmeralda
• Yun Hyeong-ryeol, Kim Beop-rae : Quasimodo
• Seo Beom-seok, Ryu Chang-woo : Frollo
• Kim Tae-hun, Park Eun-tae : Gringoire
• Kim Sung-min, Kim Tae-hyeong : Phoebus
• Lee Jeong-yeol, Mun Jong-won : Clopin
• Kim Jeong-hyeon, Gwak Sun-young : Fleur-de-Lys

Original Russian parody Cast

• Anastaсia Kudrashova: Esmeralda
• Michael Kulikov  : Quasimodo
• Michael Lyalenkov : Frollo
• Nicholas Yudin : Gringoire
• Alex Trefilov : Phoebus
• Dmitry Morzavchenkov : Clopin
• Catherine Pochomova (Dobrohotova) : Fleur-de-Lys

Musical numbers

Acte I 1. Ouverture - Orchestra 2. Le temps des cathédrales (The Age of the Cathedrals) - Gringoire 3. Les sans-papiers (The Refugees) - Clopin & Chorus 4. Intervention de Frollo - Frollo & Phoebus 5. Bohémienne (Bohemian or Gypsy) - Esmeralda 6. Esmeralda tu sais (Esmeralda You Know) - Clopin 7. Ces diamants-là (These Diamonds Here) - Fleur-de-Lys & Phoebus 8. La fête des fous (The Feast Of Fools) - Gringoire & Chorus 9. Le Pape des Fous (The Pope Of Fools) - Quasimodo 10. La sorcière (The Sorcerer) - Frollo & Quasimodo 11. L'enfant trouvé (The Child Looks) - Quasimodo 12. Les portes de Paris (The Doors Of Paris) - Gringoire 13. Tentative d'enlèvement (Kidnap Attempt) - Phoebus & Esmeralda 14. La Cour des miracles (The Court Of Miracles) - Clopin, Chorus & Esmeralda 15. Le mot Phoebus (The Word Phoebus) - Esmeralda & Gringoire 16. Beau comme le soleil (Beautiful Like The Sun) - Esmeralda & Fleur-de-Lys 17. Déchiré (Torn) - Phoebus 18. Anarkia (Anarchy) - Frollo & Gringoire 19. À boire! (A Drink) - Chorus, Frollo & Quasimodo 20. Belle (Beautiful) - Quasimodo, Frollo & Phoebus 21. Ma maison, c'est ta maison (My Home is Your Home) - Quasimodo & Esmeralda 22. Ave Maria païen (The Pagan Ave Maria) - Esmeralda 23. Je sens ma vie qui bascule - Frollo 24. Tu vas me détruire (You Will Destroy Me) - Frollo 25. L'ombre (The Shadow) - Phoebus & Frollo 26. Le Val d'Amour (At Val D'amour) - Gringoire, Chorus & Phoebus 27. La volupté (Volutputesness) - Phoebus & Esmeralda 28. Fatalité (Fatality) - Gringoire, Frollo, Quasimodo, Clopin & Fleur-de-Lys

Acte II 29. Florence (Florence) - Frollo & Gringoire 30. Les cloches (The Bells) - Gringoire, Frollo, Quasimodo & Chorus 31. Où est-elle? (Where Is She) - Frollo, Gringoire & Clopin 32. Les oiseaux qu'on met en cage (The Birds They Put in Cages) - Esmeralda & Quasimodo 33. Condamnés (Condemmed) - Clopin & Chorus 34. Le procès (The Trial) - Frollo & Esmeralda 35. La torture (Torture) - Frollo & Esmeralda 36. Phoebus (Phoebus) - Esmeralda 37. Être prêtre et aimer une femme (To Be a Priest and Love a Woman) - Frollo 38. La monture (my heart if you will swear) - Fleur-de-Lys 39. Je reviens vers toi (To Get Back To You) - Phoebus 40. Visite de Frollo à Esmeralda (Frollo's Visit To Esmeralda) - Frollo & Esmeralda 41. Un matin tu dansais (One Morning You Danced) - Frollo & Esmeralda 42. Libérés (Free) - Quasimodo, Clopin, Esmeralda, Gringoire & Chorus 43. Lune (Moon) - Gringoire 44. Je te laisse un sifflet (I Leave You With a Whistle) - Quasimodo & Esmeralda 45. Dieu que le monde est injuste (God, You Made the World All Wrong) - Quasimodo 46. Vivre (Live) - Esmeralda 47. L'attaque de Notre-Dame (Attack On Notre Dame) - Clopin, Frollo, Phoebus, Esmeralda, Gringoire & Chorus 48. Déportés (Deportation) - Phoebus & Chorus 49. Mon maître, mon sauveur (My Master, My Saviour) - Quasimodo & Frollo 50. Donnez-la moi (Give Her To Me) - Quasimodo 51. Danse mon Esmeralda (Dance My Esmeralda) - Quasimodo 52. Danse mon Esmeralda (rappel) (Dance My Esmeralda [Reprisal]) - Orchestra 53. Le temps des cathédrales (rappel) (The Age of the Cathedrals [Reprisal]) - Gringoire & Ensemble

Synopsis

Act I

The story is set in Paris in the year 1482. The poet Gringoire, who throughout the story acts not only as a participant but also as a sort of commentator, enters to set the scene for the story; he relates how Man has written his history in the building of the cathedrals ("Le Temps des Cathédrales").

The homeless and refugees, led by Clopin, swarm before the entrance to the Cathedral of Notre Dame begging for help and asylum ("Les Sans-Papiers"). Frollo, the Archdeacon of Notre Dame, orders Phoebus, the Captain of the King's Archers, to have his men disperse the crowd. As his men are driving off the refugees, Phoebus catches sight of the beautiful gypsy Esmeralda (in later productions, the scene changes to have him see her while she is dancing before Notre Dame) and seems entranced by her. Esmeralda tells him (and the audience) about herself, her life as a gypsy and her dreams ("Bohémienne"). Instead of arresting her, Phoebus leaves her alone.

Clopin, who has watched over Esmeralda since she was eight years old after the death of her parents, tells her that she is no longer a child and that she has reached the age where she will discover love ("Esmeralda, Tu Sais"). He warns her to be extremely careful, since not all men are to be trusted.

In the next number, the audience is introduced to the nobly-born and beautiful yet child-like Fleur-de-Lys, to whom Phoebus is engaged to be married ("Ces Diamants-La"); her love for him is like that of Juliet for Romeo.

Now begins the wild and gay Festival of Fools, presided over by Gringoire ("La Fete des Fous"), the climax of which is the choosing of the King of Fools from among the group of people who can make the ugliest face; the King will be crowned by Esmeralda. Hiding in the shadows is a monstrous figure who is dragged out into the light; it is the bell-ringer of Notre Dame, the hunchbacked and facially deformed Quasimodo. By unanimous decision, Quasimodo is chosen and crowned as the King of Fools, but he knows that for all the power he has this one day nothing can make a woman (especially Esmeralda) care for him ("Le Pape des Fous").

Frollo breaks up the festivities and orders Quasimodo to kidnap Esmeralda and bring her to him that night so that she can be imprisoned as a sorceress and a violator of public decency ("La Sorciere"). Quasimodo, who is devoted to Frollo for raising and educating him after he had been abandoned as a baby ("L'Enfant Trouve"), says he will obey.

Night falls on Paris with its dark and hidden secrets commented on by Gringoire ("Les Portes de Paris"). Quasimodo stalks Esmeralda through the dark streets and is about to seize her when Phoebus and his guards arrive and arrest Quasimodo. Phoebus introduces himself to Esmeralda. He makes a date for a rendezvous with her the next night at the Cabaret du Val d'Amour. Phoebus and his men take Quasimodo away and Esmeralda darts off into the darkness ("Tentative d'enlèvement").

At the Court of Miracles, the haven for all of the outcasts of Paris, Clopin presides over a wild revel, remarking that all are truly equal here no matter their race, religion, skin color or criminal background ("La Cour des Miracles"). Gringoire, who has wandered in accidentally, is seized and Clopin tells him that he will be hanged for his trespassing - unless one of the women will agree to marry him. Esmeralda who has arrived during this, agrees to marry Gringoire (in name only) and Clopin, as King of the Outcasts, unites them and they join in the wild revelry.

Later, when Gringoire and Esmeralda are left alone, he introduces himself to her as "the Prince of the Streets of Paris" and assures her that while he is not a "ladies' man" ("un homme a femmes" in the original French), he would be glad if she would be his Muse and inspiration. Since Gringoire is educated, Esmeralda asks him what the word "Phoebus" means; he tells her that in Latin it means "the sun" or "sun god". Esmeralda muses on the word as it romantically relates to the man Phoebus ("Beau Comme le Soleil"); she is joined on stage by Fleur-de-Lys, who also muses on Phoebus (although she seems to be more apprehensive about him), but both believe that Phoebus will love them forever.

Phoebus himself is under no apprehensions about what kind of man he is - he wants both women, one as a wife and one as a temporary mistress ("Déchiré").

The next day, Frollo summons Gringoire to Notre Dame and questions him about Esmeralda, forbidding him to touch her. Gringoire changes the conversation by asking about a strange inscription in Greek on the wall of the Gallerie des Rois in Notre Dame, the word "Ananké". Frollo tells him that "Ananké" means "Fate" in Greek. They watch as Quasimodo is dragged on stage bound on The Great Wheel as sentence for his attempted kidnapping of Esmeralda ("Anarkia").

Quasimodo endures his punishment, but cries out for water ("A Boire"), a plea that is ignored by everyone. Suddenly Esmeralda appears and gives him a drink of water from her cup, an act of kindness that deeply touches the poor hunchback. He is then released from the Wheel, and he, Frollo and Phoebus sing about their different feelings for Esmeralda ("Belle"): Quasimodo about his growing feelings of tenderness for her, Frollo about his growing fascination for her, and Phoebus (watched jealously by Fleur-de-Lys) about his wish for an affair with her before he marries Fleur-de-Lys.

Quasimodo leads Esmeralda into Notre Dame and tells her how the cathedral has been his home and sanctuary, and now it can be hers whenever she needs one ("Ma Maison, c’est Ta Maison"). In spite of her initial fear of this strange, deformed man, Esmeralda is touched by his gentleness and finds herself warming towards Quasimodo. Left alone, Esmeralda, who has never prayed before, prays to the Virgin Mary ("Ave Maria Païen"). Frollo, secretly spying on her, realizes that his lust for her will destroy him but knows that he cannot resist ... and does not really want to ("Tu vas me détruire").

That night, Phoebus is on his way to the Cabaret du Val d’Amour for his rendezvous with Esmeralda when he realizes he is being stalked by a shadowy figure. The figure (Frollo in disguise) warns him to go no further ("L’Ombre"), but Phoebus refuses to heed the threat and continues on his way.

At the Cabaret du Val d’Amour, Gringoire (who seems to be a regular customer) remarks how everyone, no matter the race, creed or color, comes here for a good time of one kind or another ... for a very low price ("Le Val d’Amour"). Phoebus arrives (he seems to be a regular customer here too) and meets Esmeralda in a private room ("La Volupté"). They embrace and are about to make love when Frollo rushes in and stabs Phoebus with Esmeralda’s knife (which she had placed on the floor earlier). Esmeralda collapses over Phoebus’ body, Frollo makes his escape and Gringoire, Clopin, Frollo, Quasimodo and the Chorus comment on the terrible power of Fate ("Fatalité").

Act II

Frollo and Gringoire discuss the events and scientific discoveries taking place in Florence and how some of them (such as Johannes Gutenberg’s printing press and Martin Luther’s doctrines) are changing the world forever ("Florence"). Gringoire notices how silent the cathedral is and Frollo tells him that Quasimodo has not rung the bells for three days.

Up in the bell tower, Quasimodo recounts how the cathedral bells are his only friends and loves ("Les Cloches"), especially the three "Maries": "Little Marie" which is rung for children’s funerals, "Big Marie" which is rung when ships set sail and "Great Marie" which is rung for weddings. His greatest hope is that they will ring for Esméralda to hear that he loves her.

Frollo asks Gringoire where his "wife" is ("Ou Est Elle?"); Gringoire says he does not know and answers obliquely (but he tells Clopin, who has been searching for Esmeralda, that she has been imprisoned in the prison of La Sainte and that she will be hanged if Clopin doesn’t save her).

In her cell, Esmeralda compares herself to a caged bird and calls to Quasimodo to save her, while back at Notre Dame Quasimodo wonders about Esmeralda’s disappearance three days earlier and fears for her safety ("Les Oiseaux Qu’on Met En Cage"). Clopin and a group of outcasts are arrested and thrown into the La Sainte prison ("Condamnes") as Esmeralda is put on trial for the attempted murder of Phoebus and sorcery with Frollo as presiding judge ("Le Procès/La Torture"); when she refuses to confess, she is subjected to a foot-crushing torture until she cries out "I confess!" Frollo sentences her to death by hanging, but Esmeralda still professes her love for Phoebus and Frollo is left to suffer from the emotional torment of his unrequited passion ("Être Prêtre Et Aimer Une Femme").

Elsewhere, a recovered Phoebus is confronted by Fleur-de-Lys, who tells him that he will still have her heart and love if he will swear to have Esmeralda executed ("La Monture"). Phoebus agrees ("Je Reviens Vers Toi"), claiming as an excuse that he was bewitched by Esmeralda’s "sorcery".

At five o'clock the morning of the execution, Frollo visits Esméralda’s cell and to her horror confesses to her that he knifed Phoebus out of love for her ("Un Matin Tu Dansais") and offers her a choice: death on the gallows or life by giving him love. When Esmeralda rejects his advances, he tries to rape her, but Quasimodo (who has secretly followed him) frees Clopin and the other prisoners. Clopin attacks Frollo, knocking him unconscious, and releases Esméralda and they flee the prison to Notre Dame for sanctuary ("Liberes").

Gringoire sings to the moon ("Lune") in which he describes Quasimodo’s pain and suffering because of his love for Esméralda.

Quasimodo leaves Esmeralda asleep in a safe place in Notre Dame ("Je Te Laisse Un Sifflet"), but bitterly reflects that while he will love her forever, his ugliness will ensure that she will never love him ("Dieu Que Le Monde Est Injuste"). Alone, Esmeralda hopes that she will survive for the man she loves and sings about how Love has the power to change the world even should she die ("Vivre").

With Clopin and his people occupying Notre Dame, Frollo orders Phoebus and his men to break sanctuary and attack the cathedral to drive them out ("L’Attaque de Notre Dame"). Clopin and his people resist bravely but are no match for the armed soldiers, and in the first attack Clopin is fatally wounded. Dying, he begs Esmeralda to take his place as leader. The final battle has Esmeralda and her people facing off against Phoebus and his soldiers, but the result is a foregone conclusion – Esmeralda is captured and the outcasts defeated. Phoebus coldbloodedly hands Esmeralda over to be executed, orders the outcasts driven out of Paris ("Déportés") and leaves with Fleur-de-Lys.

Quasimodo, searching Notre Dame for Esmeralda, finds Frollo standing at the top of one of the towers and begs him to help Esmeralda ("Mon Maitre, Mon Sauveur"). Frollo, finally driven insane, shows him the sight of Esmeralda being hanged and to Quasimodo's horror announces that he is responsible. As he laughs wildly, the enraged Quasimodo seizes him and hurls him down the stairs of the tower to his death. As the executioners are cutting down Esmeralda’s body from the gibbet, Quasimodo appears and demands that they give him her body. Driving them away, he kneels beside her body and mourns her, promising to stay with her and that even in death they will not be parted ("Danse, Mon Esmeralda").

After the curtain call, Gringoire leads the cast in a reprise of "Le Temps des Cathedrales".

Production history

The original production of Notre-Dame de Paris made musicals fashionable again in France and, since its inception, has spawned a number of other notable productions. As part of the publicity prior to the Paris opening three songs were released as singles: Vivre, Le Temps des cathédrales, and Belle. "Belle" became a huge hit, and was named Song of the Year in France, and nominated for Song of the Century. An English version of "Vivre" (Live for the One I Love) was released by Celine Dion, and appears on the original London cast recording, even though she did not participate in the musical.

Director Gilles Maheu staged the show in concert style, with the principal singers standing downstage center, with non-singing dancers upstage providing visual, but not dramatic, excitement. The orchestra and chorus were prerecorded; the principals wore very obvious boom mics.

Recordings

Cast Albums
1998: Concept Album
1998: Original Paris Cast, live at the Palais des Congrès
2000: London Studio Album
2001: French Studio Album
2001: Paris Cast (Live At The Théâtre Mogador)
2001: Original Barcelona Cast
2001: Original Italian Cast
2002: Original Russian Cast
2002: Italian Cast, Live at the Arena di Verona
2002: French Studio Album with Les Choeurs de France
2003: Original Russian Cast
2005: Korean Tour Cast
2008: Original Korean Cast

Instrumental Albums
1999: Orchestral version by I Fiamminghi
2000: Piano version by Alan Lapointe

Video Recordings
Live At The Palais des Congrès
Live At The Arena di Verona

Critical response

Critical reception outside of France has been mixed, with praise for the music and choreography, and general disdain for the English translation of the lyrics and the show's overall direction. For example, The Times praised the "doleful energy" of Garou's Quasimodo and the "occasional imaginative production touches: huge bells with writhing, upside-down humans for clappers" but concludes "Another Les Mis this isn't."^[1] The Daily Mail called it "concert with dance, lighting effects and a lot of French singers throwing their hair around in a collective display of gravelly-voiced pique."^[2]

See also

• Victor Hugo

References

1. ^ "ARCHIVE PAGE FOR - Notre-Dame de Paris". Albemarle of London. http://www.albemarle-london.com/Archive/ArchiveShow.php?Show_Name=Notre-Dame+de+Paris. Retrieved 29 May 2010. 
2. ^ Coveney, Michael (24 May 2000). "For Quasimodo, there is nothing like this Dame; MICHAEL COVENEY at last night's first night". Daily Mail. http://findarticles.com/p/news-articles/daily-mail-london-england-the/mi_8002/is_2000_May_24/quasimodo-dame-michael-coveney-nights/ai_n36241867/. 

External links

• [1] Notre-Dame De Paris Original Cast 2010 Special Concert
• Notre-Dame de Paris Official Web Site
• Notre-Dame de Paris USA production site (Archive)
• Official site of the Italian production
• Notre-Dame de Paris (Spain) : Official Web Site
• Notre-Dame de Paris (Russia) : Official Web Site
• Riccardo Cocciante Official Web Site
• Richard Cocciante
• Luc Plamondon
• Stacy's Musical Village