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21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
SHE IS SIMPLY INCREDIBLE LIVE..., June 18, 2004
And I mean truly live, not as in "live recording">I got the marvelous opportunity to see Lara live at a small music house a couple of months ago, and it was one of, if not the most splendid,moving, involving live concerts I've ever been to.Even more surprising if you consider that I've never owned a single album from Fabian, and that the only guide I had were a couple of songs which I dubbed "well-sung". Well, I gotta say, that Lara is a one in a million type of gal-and she blows those way past their prime divas mariah,whitney,celine,etc way out of the water.Because the moment she stepped out onto the stage,dressed in a modestly simple black dress,barefoot, with nothing but a grand piano, and a couple of excellent violinists accompanying her, when she stepped out onto the stage and opened her mouth to sing, it was obvious that here was a singer of the highest caliber-a real and true musician who had nothing more on her agenda but to sing her heart out and share her strong,beautiful voice through her expertise,emotive delivery.And I'll never,ever,ever forget the moment when her band walked off the stage,Lara dropped the microphone,dropped to the ground, clutching her heart, and simply SANG.I HAD tears in my eyes, my stomach hurt-I was simply wrenched.Well, I'll stop now, since I know how bad I'm making you all who have never had the chance to see Lara live feel(right), but after the concert was over, I bought this live disc.It's excellent, but it still dims when I think back to how INCREDIBLE she sounded in concert.But I guess if you never see her perform in actual concert then the impact of this live disc will be greater.Not to say that this disc isn't good-its wonderful, and she sounds spectacular(but nowhere near how INCREDIBLE how she sounded live...ok, I'll shut up now).If you love music which falls under a genre called simply beautiful music then you simply cannot fall in love with this subtley beautiful disc.Every number is sublime-Lara's delivery is wondrous-she has the voice that every diva can dream of, but unlike many other singers who shout for all its worth, Lara knows that subtlety can pay off big time; she never milks her vocals for all their worth and focuses more on trnascending emotion and meaning and feeling than showing off how many notes she can sing per minute-and believe me that she has every right to do that, with her range and prowess and whatnot. This whole CD is in French, and I don't speak a word, but,(and this is a true testament to Lara's power as a singer) I feel every word coming from her mouth-I genuinely feel lifted by her,I repeat beautiful singing, and deeply felt deliverance.And if you like fast,brash and loud music which is the equivalent of the modern American blockbuster, well, you definately will not find it here.Every song is a slow ballad with nothing more than piano, and the occational swelling string accompanying it.And even if you're not like me, and you prefer more upbeat music, I believe that you will nonetheless be able to fall in love with En Toute Entime because the music is as stunning,melodicaly lyrical and richly emotive as they come.And if you associate the word ballad with Mariah and Whitney, think again, because Lara has a much quieter,much more subtle approach.Not a single number is overblown, or melodramatic-and the accompaniment is a wonderful melodic counterpart and helps reveal the music's beauty even more.If you're familiar with Charles Aznavour or French chanson, then that should give you a clue as to how the music sounds.And even though every song is a slow tempo one, don't be fooled.Every song is different from the last; there are quite a few remakes, and even an opera number which Lara pulls of with breathtaking ease. I won't blab anymore.If you like good music, then get this album and drown in its simpleness,its beauty,it sweet sublimity and soulfulness; and Lara's awe-inspiring vocal talent/And(and I don't care if you've never heard of her in your life), if you have to sell your soul, you HAVE to see this woman live.I can't express how incredible that experience will be.Lara is so good-she serves as more proof that, just as with film nowadays, whilst some tripe gets played out,awarded, and talked about, the truly inspiring,breathtaking, and unforgettable talent that real artistic lovers are searching for are to be found far away from the mainstream world.
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12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Voice of My Soul, January 12, 2005
The first song I heard of Lara Fabian's was 'Adagio' almost five years ago--on the self-titled English debut of 2000. Since that first song, I haven't been able to find enough of Lara.
This album showcases 16 tracks, taken mostly from the 2001 French release 'Nue,' and features Lara with a simple, elegant combination of strings and piano; creating a perfect mood to stir emotion when adding her phenomenal voice.
Highlights for me on 'En Toute Intimité'are the cover of Charles Aznavour's 'Comme ils disent,' the loss in Fabian's 'Je T'Aime,' the hit duet with French vocalist Maurane 'Tu Es Mon Autre', and the impressively executed Italian aria 'Addio Del Passato' taken from Verdi's opera 'La Traviata.'
Also included on the live album is an English track 'Calling You,'--never-before-recorded, nor released til now.
In the beginning--Fabian was determined to become a recording artist after her success at the 1988 Eurovision song contest, and soon moved to French speaking Quebec. Born and raised in Belgium by a Flemish father and Italian mother--Lara learned and spoke several languages, studied dance, and was classically trained as a vocalist--though she considers herself more of a songwriter than as a vocalist. Lara Fabian is often considered a contemporary to Celine Dion. Unlike Celine however, Lara writes a majority of the music she records, which comes through in her interpretations. Thus Lara connects to her audiences' deepest cores with her voice, her uninhibited delivery, and most of all the intense performance that delivers her experiences, joys, sorrows, and more directly from Lara Fabian's mouth. She loses herself, and you will too if you listen with your soul.
If you enjoy Lara Fabian, especially her 2001 album, 'Nue,' I would most definately recommend 'En Toute Intimité.'
Lara Fabian sings with the voice of my soul, undoubtedly you will think the same after buying 'En Toute Intimité.'
Otherwise I will tell you, if you appreciate incredibly beautiful music you will add this cd to your collection as soon as you can.
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10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A fantastic live acoustic recording, May 23, 2004
To be honest this is the first Lara Fabian's album I'm buying. She used to fall in the annoying 'screaming from the top of my lungs' trap in her first recordings. Her latest studio album "Nue" was already showing a step towards more sober interpretations. This live recording is a definitive proof she has matured. She does not feel the need to prove she can sing loud anymore, which permits her to use her (incredible!) technique at the best. I first heard the guitar/voice delicate new version of "Bambina" on the radio and could not believe it was Lara. The tenderness and melancholy of the lyrics, dedicated to her granmother, are only enlighten by the new arrangements. The entire album follows the same path.
Lara brings new versions (supported by piano, acoustic guitar and strings) of her big hits: "J'y crois encore", "S'en aller", "Je t'aime", "Tout", and "Immortelle". Her beautiful duet with Maurane "Tu es mon autre" is also included. "Si tu m'aimes" and "Parce que tu pars" are presented in a medley. She throws in a couple of covers. French classic hits: Aznavour "Comme ils disent", Brel "Voir un ami pleurer", Renaud "Mistral gagnant"; the famous "Caruso", Bagdad Café soundtrack "Calling you" and the wonderful medley of "Starmania" musical classics (Le monde est stone, la serveuse automate, les uns contre les autres). She even sing an aria from La Traviata ("Addio del passato").
Lara proves here she is in full control of her art. She can sing as an opera diva, control her powerful vocals to smooth even the most irritating power ballads: what a difference between the screamed out original version of "Je t'aime" and it's much classier version here... She can play with her voice, permits herself humour. Without losing her powerful presence, Lara Fabian is gaining maturity and wisdom. Emotions are here much more important than performance. I hope she'll remember the lesson for her next studio recording.
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