Saturday night saw the Beiteddine Art Festival host one of France’s national treasures, legendary actor Gerard Depardieu, in a tribute concert to his friend Barbara.
Depardieu has starred in 170 films since 1967 and has performed under film directors such as Francois Truffaut and Ridley Scott.
He remains arguably most famous for his award-winning performance in “Cyrano de Bergerac” in 1990, for which he won the Cannes Film Festival’s best actor award that year.
As a lone light shone brightly upon Depardieu’s commanding figure in the Chouf palace, the audience came under the spell of the actor’s stage presence, despite a few musical flaws in the elegant 1-1/2-hour performance.
Joined onstage only by Barbara’s personal pianist Gerard Daguerre, the night initially provoked mixed reactions but ended in delight. Though the performance highlighted Depardieu’s musical limitations, one could not help but admire the actor’s unabashed confidence and willingness to sing, share and feel openly.
“What is intellectual has no heart. Everything must be done with love,” Depardieu uttered as he arrived onstage.
“I do everything for memory,” he stated, before breaking into song and pleasing the audience’s older crowd with nostalgic reverie.
Barbara, who passed away in 1997, was one of France’s most famous pop stars of the ’60s. She became a legend in the “chanson francaise” genre, which merges poetry with melody to emphasize the lyrical aspect of the French language.
Despite Depardieu being 18 years younger than her, the two formed a close bond when the actor rose to international acclaim in the ’80s
More than two decades after her death, Depardieu carries his lasting friendship with Barbara everywhere he goes, singing her songs to those who admire her - and those who just come for Depardieu.
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Performing classics such as “Marienbad,” “La Solitude” and “Le Mal de Vivre,” Depardieu imparted the tunes with melancholy, but also shared his affection for Barbara’s works.
Although the crowd couldn’t help but notice the actor’s difficulty in hitting high notes, the dramatization of Barbara’s songs, brought out by the actor’s famed theater background, saved the performance from turning into a dull tribute act.
As Depardieu performed an impressive 20-song repertoire of her classics, it was the little moments in between the songs, when the actor’s charisma was released, that really charmed the audience.
“This is terrible humidity,” Depardieu exclaimed at one point.
After finishing another tune, he followed a “shukran” with a “spasibo” (“thank you” in Russian), making the audience laugh. President Vladimir Putin granted the actor Russian citizenship in 2013.
Though the performance hit difficulties at times, it was clear that Depardieu’s ability to connect with his audience transcended the art form or setting.
“We do not feel pain when we sing,” Depardieu said as he invited the crowd to chant in unison with him. As everyone stood up from their seats and clapped, it was clear that the performance was not only for the nostalgic or solely for Lebanon’s myriad Francophiles, but a special event for all to enjoy.
This article has been adapted from its original source.
