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THÉÂTRE FELIX-LECLERC INAUGURATING CONCERT
In October 1983 Celine Dion performed at a special concert, to celebrate the opening of the new Théâtre Felix-Leclerc in Montreal, Canada. Several top artists were invited, including Celine. The theater was named after Felix Leclerc, a singer-songwriter, writer and poet from Quebec, Canada. Celine´s manager Rene Angelil knew that the intellectuals and cultural types who would patronize that theater didn´t have much respect for Celine because she was too commercial and too popular for their taste. They distrusted her success and found it had come too easily. In other words, they were jealous. She would be performing for an openly hostile audience, one that thought she was too corny. They said as much too, in magazines and newspapers. They didn´t think she fit on the stage of a theater like that one. "That´s fine with me", Rene decided. "She has to broaden her appeal". Financially, the performance wasn´t very rewarding. But artistically, it was. Celine sang a Felix Leclerc song called "Bozo". It was the story of a poor, simple-minded guy who falls desperately in love, and who´s caught in a web of impossible dreams. That night, she revealed a new and surprising side of her talent and personality. Not only could she sing songs expressly written for her, she could also do justice to the more difficult classics. In reference to this show, Celine has said "In the meantime, Rene was working to expand my audience as much as possible. When he found out, for example, that the Quebec Department of Cultural Affairs was preparing a big show for the inauguration of the Felix-Leclerc Theater, he got it into his head that I ought to be there". According to Celine, Rene told her "You´ll sing a Felix song", he said. "That´ll surprise them. You´ll see". Celine remembered "At the time, however, the Quebec show-business world was divided into two major clans who were often at odds with each other. There were the intellectuals, and there were the others. Obviously, I was part of the second group. And the others hadn´t been invited to participate in the show inaugurating the Felix-Leclerc Theater. Nevertheless, Rene arranged for me to be there". Rene told Celine "You´re going to show them that you´re capable of singing not only songs that are tailor-made for you but also classics". "He had me sing Bozo in a very slow tempo, very soberly, practically without gestures. And we practiced it together for several days", Celine said. "Think of him", Rene told Celine. "Think of Bozo. He´s a poor nut who loves a girl who doesn´t exist". But actually she just thought of herself. "I wanted to love and be loved. But I was alone, a poor loveless nutcase, like Bozo. When I finished my song the evening of the inauguration, a tear rolled down my cheek and I didn´t bother to wipe it away. The next day the critics were full of praise and frankly astonished, all of them saying I´d sung with a great sense of inner meaning. Of course I did: I was singing my life, my pain. Bozo was me" (from an extract of the book "My Story, My Dream").
CFCF TELETHON OF STARS
In December 1983 Celine Dion was invited to perform at the annual CFCF Telethon of Stars, aired on CFCF channel in Quebec, Canada (now identified on air as CTV Montreal), during the first weekend of December of each year, consecutively since 1977. Celine performed the famous English song "Up where we belong" in duet with the famous singer and songwriter, Peter Pringle.
CONCERT IN QUEBEC
In 1983 Celine Dion performed in a church, somewhere in the province of Quebec, Canada. This show was part of the performances she gave in Quebec, between 1981 and 1984, to help promote her albums and to help establish herself as a stage artist, before her real concert tour ever in 1985. On this show, Celine paid tribute to the religious communities who came to settle in Quebec in the early settlements and the religious who were also there. Celine sang "Vivre et donner" and "Et puis un jour", among other songs. Footage from both performances, was shown as part of the TV special titled "Sur Les Chemins De Ma Maison", aired in 1984 in Quebec, Canada.
CONCERT IN QUEBEC
In 1983 Celine Dion performed at the Place Laurier, one of Canada´s largest shopping malls, in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada. This show was part of the performances she gave in Quebec, between 1981 and 1984, to help promote her albums and to help establish herself as a stage artist, before her real concert tour ever in 1985. On this show, Celine performed some of her songs and she also signed autographs for her fans. After the show, Celine met with Francois Reny (television and radio host), who interviewed her. Celine also had a dinner after the show. Footage from this appearance was shown as part of the TV special titled "Sur Les Chemins De Ma Maison", aired in 1984 in Quebec, Canada.
CONCERT IN RIMOUSKI
In 1983 Celine Dion performed at the Centre Commercial in Rimouski, a city in the central part of Bas-Saint-Laurent region in eastern Quebec, Canada. This show was part of the performances she gave in Quebec, between 1981 and 1984, to help promote her albums and to help establish herself as a stage artist, before her real concert tour ever in 1985. On this show, Celine performed "D´amour ou d´amitié" and "Du soleil au cœur", among other songs. Footage from those performances was shown as part of the TV special titled "Sur Les Chemins De Ma Maison", aired in 1984 in Quebec, Canada.
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