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preparations
set ofLive from the universe It consists of six singers and five musicians who can be seen every week in the show hosted by France Beaudoin. Due to their tight TV schedules, they manage to organize a mini-tour of about ten dates, which takes them to different cities around Montreal.
Photo by Catherine Lefevre, special collaboration
Jason McNally, who has just arrived, is talking to his colleagues who are in the boxes.
“When we planned this last year, we were still in a pandemic, and we didn’t know if it would work! We hope we can roll it out for several years,” explains Corester Roxanne Fillion, who is technical director of the project.
But in fact, everyone does their part. We learned it from an amazing Captain, France, producer and host who brings people together. We come from that school, it couldn’t be otherwise.
Roxanne Fillion
If there is one word to describe the troops they all repeat, it’s the word “family.” “It’s the family we’ve chosen,” says Roxanne Fillion.
Photo by Catherine Lefevre, special collaboration
Virginia Cummins has been with the show since its inception 14 years ago, and the other five singers have been there for 10 years.
“We’re all different, but everyone adds something and loves each other’s sound,” Virginie Cummins assures. When we’re all together, it’s magic. For this album, for this series of shows, everyone really got dirty. Everyone has a strong point besides singing.”
sound test
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Photo by Catherine Lefevre, special collaboration
Monday’s show was only the third in the series, so soundchecking is prime time for lots of little tweaks. The atmosphere remains light, but focused: after the first mixing, while the musicians work on other aspects of the show, the six choristers spend a very long minute refining a single harmony – and they talk little about everything and nothing.
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Photo by Catherine Lefevre, special collaboration
“We have such great attention to detail, we’re super sneaky,” says Virginie Cummins. We do it all the time, finding the best formula, the best possible recipe for a song that climaxes. »
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Photo by Catherine Lefevre, special collaboration
Jason McNally signs off the majority of the vocal arrangements, but the six singers know each other so well that things fall into place almost naturally. “This blending of our voices, gives color to this program. After 10 years, it cannot be invented. My gift is to always go above and beyond in harmony work, to challenge myself.”
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before the show
Photo by Catherine Lefevre, special collaboration
The singers meet in the locker room (still) mastering parts of the songs. Here, Jason McNally, Emilie Janvier, and Roxanne Fillion.
After the sound test, some young parents will do a little confrontation time with their children. It’s time for dinner, the pizza has just arrived, people are scattering everywhere to eat. “We already know where we’re going to eat in each city,” says music director Jean-Benoit Lasante. This is the idea of making this Christmas show together. We are a family, that says it all. Everyone wants to be there. »
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Photo by Catherine Lefevre, special collaboration
It’s time for dinner, Caroline Cotet greets Valerie Polian’s children.
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Photo by Catherine Lefevre, special collaboration
Musical director Jean-Benoit Lasante spoke with guitarist Peter Kislenko. “The five musicians in the band, we’ve been working together for 12 years. Our great strength, I would say, is listening.”
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When the singers began to put on their stage clothes, Jason McNally ironed his shirt. “I like doing it, it calms me down. On the night of the premiere at L’Assomption, he says, everyone was so nervous.
We are not at home, on the set, we come to people. Circumstances are different. But we’re a family and it’s just one big party. And if anything, we will help each other! We are here to help and love each other.
Jason McNally
“Every member of the group takes care of the others. That’s what makes our strength,” Roxanne Fillion believes.
Photo by Catherine Lefevre, special collaboration
Roxanne Fillion, Virginie Cummins, Jason McNally and Caroline Kott before they took to the stage
Monday night was the first time the band performed the show without a note organ: with 66 songs around the clock – sung in whole or in part, including a traditional mix of no fewer than 22 tracks! – There are many, many texts to learn.
“But we trust each other a lot,” says Roxanne Fillion. It is our mandate Live from the universeTo be a safety net for everyone. So if one of us gets into the void, we’ll catch it. »
Width
“I think if people love us, it is because through television we have been able to show that we are 100% authentic,” Jason McNally believes. This complicity is indescribable. »
Photo by Catherine Lefevre, special collaboration
The six singers are always on stage, even during others’ solos.
We are here for the singers, explains musical director Jean-Benoit Lasante. We are part of the team, but it is their show. However, the musicians are introduced from the very beginning of the show: it is clear that the team spirit prevails.
Jean Benoit Lasante amazed at the talent of the singers, perhaps more than the show. “Because I hear them individually. I discovered the dancers’ soloists.”
What is remarkable, in fact, is the beauty and subtlety of the voices of these shadow performers, whom we also get to know over the course of the performance. That friendly side — there are many knowing looks and smiles — and humility is one of the charms of the show, as is the choice of songs. We’re not here into an exclusive Christmas list, but more into atmosphere, themes and musical styles.
Photo by Catherine Lefevre, special collaboration
Chorus in action
“We picked songs that we like,” says Jason McNally. It’s more personalized than we usually do, ”notes Jean-Benoit Lasante. And we think of everyone: like people who like to party and have a drink like those whose Christmas makes them sad or melancholy.
“We stick to the values of the holiday season,” says Roxanne Fillion. But it’s refreshing to talk about something other than the little red-nosed reindeer. And to see six people giving each other so much love and sowing happiness around them.
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