Vladimir Cosma in Paris – June 2023 [Concert summary]

Last weekend, composer Vladimir Cosma conducted 3 special concerts with his music at Le Grand Rex in Paris, France (Friday 16, Saturday 17, and Sunday 18, June 2023).

 

Our collaborator Juan Sierra García attended the concert on Saturday, and brings us a summary article about it.

 

VLADIMIR COSMA IN CONCERT

Saturday, June 17 was the second concert of Vladimir Cosma at Le Gran Rex, an emblematic venue of the Parisian nightlife, where Maestro Cosma led the Orchestre-Atelier Ostinato symphony orchestra and the Voice Messengers choir, with 180 musicians and singers on stage, performing his most emblematic music (La Boum, Diva, Le Grand Blond, Rabbi Jacob…) as well as other famous and unpublished works in new concert versions.

 

The event featured exceptional soloists and surprise guests, with names such as: Emil Bizga (trumpet), Vincent Beer-Demander (mandolin), Cezar Cazanoi (flute), Marius Preda (multi-instrumentalist), Greg Zlap (harmonica), Fifi Chayeb (bass), Hervé Noirot (piano), Sylvie Ayer (drums), Richard Sanderson (singer), Tom Novembre (singer), Irina Baiant (soprano), or the young Emma Cerchi (singer), among others.

 

The concert began with a video presentation of his music and the films for which he had composed the soundtrack. Then opened with the ‘Overture’ from ‘L’As de Ases’, followed by the theme from ‘Rabbi Jacob’ and ‘La Boum 2’ with child soloist Emma Cerchi. Great applause followed each of the pieces performed.

 

The evening continued with ‘Les Mondes Engloutis’, the beautiful main theme of ‘La Chevre’, and then ‘Le Jouet’, ‘La cena de los Idiotas-Le Dîner de Cons’ and ‘Le Chateau de Ma Mere’, ending the first part of the concert with ‘La 7eme Cible’.

 

The second part of the concert was musically more complete and perfect than the first one. As first theme we had ‘Mistral’s Daughter – L’Amour en héritage’, with a great soprano soloist, Irina Baiant, performing the love theme from the movie, who stayed on stage to perform the next piece, a theme from the movie ‘Diva’.

 

Next, we had the piece ’24 Caprices pour mandoline’ with soloist Vincent Beer-Demander, followed by the theme ‘Destinée’ from the film ‘Le Père Noël Est Une Ordure’ with singer Tom Novembre, and music from the films ‘Le bal des Casse-Pieds’ and ‘Salut L’Artiste’.

 

In the final stretch of the concert, the music of Louis de Funes’ comic film ‘L’aile ou la Cuisse’ followed by ‘La Boum’ with the participation of singer Richard Sanderson, then ‘Le Grand Blond avec une Chaussure Noire’ and finally, ‘La Course A L’Échalote’.

 

Of the concert we could highlight the quality and variety of the repertoire performed, as well as the great professionalism of the orchestra and the soloists who accompanied Vladimir Cosma giving life to his music.

 

As a negative point, indicate that right in the front row we had a small group of people who arrived drunk to the concert, and that throughout the show did not stop shouting, talking, and asking for more alcohol, which was brought to their seats by the waiter of the venue (they got to drink up to 4 bottles of champagne during the first part), disturbing all of us who were around them.

 

‘Zero starts’ for the theater management for allowing people with high doses of alcohol to enter the venue, as well as the subsequent sale of glasses and bottles of champagne during the show, which almost created a serious altercation at the end of the first part. Fortunately, and after several complaints, these people stopped occupying their seats in the second part (although I do not know if it was only a relocation or if they left the theater, which would have been appropriate).

 

In spite of this, I will keep the memory of a great musical night, and the extra: the signing session. It has to appreciated that at his age, Vladimir Cosma stayed more than 1 hour after the concert, to attend the fans and sign their records.

 

Article and photos by Juan Sierra García