45 years ago, the popular French-Quebec rock opera was born. On the occasion of the new production of Starmaniawhich will be presented in Quebec starting August 6, here are some little-known facts about the creation of the show.
At the beginning, Starmania was to tell the story of Patty Hearst, a wealthy heiress who was kidnapped before siding with her captors. Michel Berger began to imagine this story around 1975. The show was to be called Angelina Dumas.
It was after listening to the record Opera-Circusa mini rock opera performed by Diane Dufresne based on lyrics by Luc Plamondon and music by François Cousineau, that Michel Berger (prompted by France Gall) had the idea of contacting the lyricist.
The first draft of the song The world is stone began with: “Alone, I walk alone, I seek the sun in the middle of the night.” Berger was disappointed to read this. He told Plamondon that he expected better from a North American lyricist. That’s when the word “stone” appeared.
Michel Berger and Luc Plamondon began to write and compose Starmania during a stay at Cap d’Antibes in the spring of 1977. While Berger was working at a frantic pace, Plamondon gave the impression of taking it easy. Berger became angry and ordered Plamondon to write.
The production of the first disc Starmaniareleased on September 20, 1978, cost 1.3 million francs (around $257,000 CAD), a considerable sum for the time, which panicked the big boss of Warner International.
PHOTO JEAN GOUPIL, LA PRESSE ARCHIVES
Producer and impresario Gilles Talbot, presenting a certification disc to Luc Plamondon and the team of Starmania (including Nanette Workman, pictured), in January 1979
Luc Plamondon demanded that the distribution of the first production of Starmania be composed of an equal number of Quebec and French artists. The first singer to be chosen was Fabienne Thibeault. It was the latter who suggested Claude Dubois in the role of Zéro Janvier.
An unhealthy atmosphere settled within the team during rehearsals. Jealousy and pettiness were on the agenda. A real Franco-Quebecois struggle reigned. Exasperated, Diane Dufresne shouted one evening to Daniel Balavoine: “You, the French, with your little high-pitched voices, you sing like feet!”
American director Tom O’Horgan (Jesus Christ Superstar, Hate) slammed the door three days before the premiere, scheduled for April 10, 1979 at the Palais des Congrès in Paris. Suddenly, the tensions disappeared.
Sources: the book The Starmania Adventureby François Alquier, and France Inter
Also read our column “Plamondon and its many summits”