FRANCIS LAI STORY: JAPAN TOUR 2023
Music composed by Francis Lai
Performed by the Francis Lai Orchestra
Music director and piano by Jacky Delance
Guest singers: Clementine, Reina Kitada, Anne Sila, Lorene Devienne and Katia Plachez
Special appearance by Claude Lelouch
October 16, 2023
Tokyo International Forum
Tokyo, Japan
PART 1: DISCOVERING FRANCIS LAI
I’ve previously written about how important and special it is to hear and see a film’s original composer perform or conduct their own music in concert. There’s just something missing when someone else is that podium – there are tiny but noticeable differences in tempo and phrasing, the orchestra does not play in line with the emotional intent of the composer, and so on.
And so it is with deep regret that I admit to never having seen Francis Lai live in concert. To be fair, as a child growing up in Australia in the 80s, I was never exposed to any “foreign” films nor did I watch any adult-oriented films like LOVE STORY.
It was only in my early 30s that I discovered Francis Lai thanks to a piece of music that I remember hearing when I was a child, “Where do I begin?” by Andy Williams. My parents used to play this song constantly at home, but I never knew the name of the piece nor who composed it until much later in life. However, I do remember liking the song despite its melancholy tone.
It actually took a close of friend of mine, who is a huge soundtrack enthusiast, to immediately point out to me that it was composed by Francis Lai for the film LOVE STORY.
I was completely shocked by this revelation as I had heard the name “Francis Lai” before but had never actually bought any of his soundtracks.
So, I immediately got a copy of the original MCA Records release of LOVE STORY on Amazon and the rest as they say is history!
PART 2: CONCERT REVIEW
Now, fast forward to the year 2023 and I have just come back from seeing the wildly successful Francis Lai Orchestra Japan Tour 2023. And despite the absence of Francis Lai, as he sadly passed away in 2018, this was a beautifully staged and joyous tribute to Francis Lai and his long and storied career. I needn’t have worried that he wasn’t there to perform as the Francis Lai Orchestra and guest vocalists did a tremendous job bringing Lai’s musical themes to life and embodying them with pure warmth and joy.
There were just too many highlights to mention so let me name a few.
I was enraptured by the vocal version of “La chanson de Melissa” from BILITIS performed by the incredible Lorene Devienne. I just love the mysterious and passionate longing of this piece; it just gets me every time.
Reina Kitada, the famed Japanese violinist, gave a deliciously seductive performance of the melody from “La valse du mariage.” The piece began with her singing the theme and then switching to violin to carry the remainder of the piece. It was a fun performance that left a smile on all our faces.
When Anne Sila took to the stage, she absolutely blew the audience away with her gorgeous, crystalline voice. The audience was completely spellbound by her stunning performance of “13 jours en France,” which started with her sole vocals accompanied by her delicately plucking the strings of the bass. It then smoothly segued into the most heavenly rendition of the theme I have ever heard. It was truly perfect and I am certain that not a single person in the audience that night would disagree.
The iconic theme from LOVE STORY, which I had first heard so long ago, was performed beautifully by Katia Plachez and Lorene Devienne, with one singing English and the other French. They played off each other so perfectly and so in synch with the orchestra. When the trumpet took over in the lead up to the climax of the theme, my heart melted.
The night ended with a festive rendition of PARIS DES AUTRES which had the audience joyously clapping along and truly enjoying the moment.
It is then that Claude Lelouch and the family of Francis Lai graced the stage to receive the applause, warmth and loving appreciation of Lai’s many adoring fans in Japan.
I just wish Francis Lai was there himself to see it.
PART 3: CONCERT MERCH
Two newly released Japanese “best of” CDs were being sold at the venue. With every CD purchase you received two things: one, an A4-sized “clear file” with an image of Francis Lai’s handwritten score for “Un homme et une femme,” and two, a chance to get things signed by the guest vocalists at the end of the concert.
A lengthy and beautifully designed program (in Japanese) was also on sale.
PART 4: CONCERT FLYER
Here are scans of the original concert flyer.
PART 5: OVER TO YOU
Did you also go to this concert? How did you like it?
And what did you think of my report? Feel free to comment below or reach out to me directly in the “Contact Me” section.