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THE Stage
Performances REVIEWS
From a Jazz trio to a Symphony Orchestra, from an intimate supper club
and Cabaret to Performance Halls and theatre around the world, the critics have said: |
"Bitton Delivers Touching Tribute to Piaf "
Edith Piaf was obviously not present at the Wilshire Theater
Saturday
night for Raquel Bitton's show, "Edith Piaf . . . Her Story . . . Her Songs,"
But she was definitely there in spirit.
Performing with a full orchestra, the French Moroccan-born Bitton
was
garbed, as Piaf often was, in an unadorned black dress; her dramatic hand
movements were also modeled after Piaf. And, above all, her precise vocal
articulation, with its rolled Rs and crisp Parisian enunciation, was a
virtual mirror-image of the legendary French artist's approach to the
language.
That said, however, Bitton's performance never verged into
mimicry or,
for that matter, into an impression. The timbre of her voice is actually
quite different from that of Piaf (who died at 47 in 1963), and what Bitton
had to offer was her own, uniquely personal tribute to the woman often called
the Little Sparrow. Singing with consummate vocal control and a musicality
that blended her affecting twists and turns of phrase into perfect vehicles
for the often touching lyrics, Bitton delivered a performance that would
surely have been touching even to someone who'd never heard of Piaf.
Bitton further illuminated her warm and loving presentation with
a
between-songs narrative describing the often distressing circumstances of a
tragic life. The rich program of 26 songs encompassed many numbers not
especially familiar to American audiences. But classic pieces such as "Sous
le ciel de Paris," "Milord," "Non, Je ne regrette rien" and, of
course, "La
vie en rose" triggered ecstatic applause from a packed crowd.
By DON HECKMAN, Special to The Times
|
"Dear Raquel, your singing is superb, and I
was so happy to find out to which extent you possess the "Climat" PIAF. Your
voice, your heart, your talent would have pleased her so much, I assure you.
HENRI CONTET
(Author of more than 40 of Piaf's songs..Le Vieux Piano, T'es beau tu sais...) |
"Wonderful!!! I received this morning your
CD "In A Jazzy Mood", you can't imagine how I felt, your interpretations are
sublime! and the Orchestrations by BOB HOLLOWAY quite original! Hurrah! A million thanks
my dear Raquel, Joy! Joy! Joy! -
PAUL MIsRAKI
(author and Composer of "In A Jazzy Mood").
|
| "RAQUEL BITTON turns Krannert
Theater into a Parisian Cafe. In her three sold out performances singer RAQUEL BITTON
promised to take the audience to Paris, and she managed to do just that. She sings with
passion. Between songs, she displays humour and grace. That BITTON has a special
attachment to this music is evident in the emotional depth with which she speaks and
sings." Tim Barnes
News Gazette, Illinois |
| "Portland Symphony Orchestra delights audience with a
musical trip to Paris. Raquel Bitton's well conceived program was unforgettable, she moved
from the Brechtian "Boulevard du crime" to more introspective songs of love and
loss, more and more in the breathy, subtly erotic Piaf style.." Jane Lamb
Portland Maine News |
| "Raquel Bitton is everything
that she presents herself to be , and more. Truly a world class talent (what a voice!),
experienced and extremely professional. Needless to say, the audience agreed completely.
She played to full houses both nights. Encores and ovations followed each show..Raquel's
performances were stunning. She had the audience laughing and crying and calling out for
more. Music to a producer's ears!". Meg Stevenson,
Director
Broadway Performance Hall, Seattle |
| "A phenomenally good singer, BITTON can
rasp with the best, and on the softer tunes be crisply, sensationally Rhapsodic". Peter Stack
San Francisco Chronicle |
| "Perfection in a Cabaret show. If life is a Cabaret, BITTON is
heavenly. Her Fairmont's Venetian Room debut was an astonishing triumph. Her voice is
powerful and emotional. The presentation is exquisite. BITTON is superb in sight and song.
I could listen to her combined English/French renditions for hours, not minutes. Her
intensity and authenticity are utterly overwhelming. She loves to sing, she loves the
songs she has selected and loves the crowd that shares her delight in the songs she does
so brilliantly. One wishes along the way to come up for air, to shout and clap and whistle
in tribute to the glorious music and to the captivating BITTON." Philip Elwood
San Francisco Examiner |
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