Daniel Lavoie: official website

Daniel Lavoie, top of the bill in Paris, with the musical Le Petit Prince.

May 2002
By Michelle Coudé-Lord

At the end of August, Daniel Lavoie will settle in Paris for the next ten months. He carries on his shoulders the musical by Richard Cocciante, Le Petit Prince, in which he will play no other than the airman. This story has been translated in more than 145 countries. He's the only famous person in the cast which will storm the Casino de Paris from the 1st October until the end of June.

Between his trips to Paris, he has taken part in the latest English language film of Claude Fournier. The release is forecast for the next Film Festival in Toronto. Daniel Lavoie is working all the time on the release of his own album, which he hopes to present to his numerous fans in a year. Besides, he's not released a new album since 1994. "I'm very impatient but you know I've always had so many projects in hand since Notre Dame, of which the film is the one I'm most proud of. I've likewise got another "grey" project about which I can't talk for the moment."

Cyclothon

In spite of all his professional work, Daniel Lavoie finds the time to involve himself with the Foundation for Early Onset Diabetes for which the Cyclothon is being held on the 26th May. "I was brought up in a good Catholic family who involved themselves in good works, so it's natural to make such a gesture and I know that all the money raised will go towards research. Diabetes is an illness that strikes 25,000 young people in Montréal. Now I say to myself, that if each one of them brings along a family member to go on the Cyclothon of 50 km, that would strike the best blow for research. It's 14 years since I first became involved with this well-run foundation and I believe that the people at its heart have given enormously."

"I'm very proud to feel that I am doing something good and, above all, for the society which gives me a good living."

Musical shows

He played the part of Frollo in Notre Dame de Paris for nearly four years."A great theatrical experience which certainly increased my stature even if," he added, "I didn't much like living in Paris".

Daniel Lavoie didn't want to talk about the new musical by Luc Plamondon, Cindy, which will also take up billboard space in Paris next September.
"I speak instead of them complementing each other. There's not a competition, people will have the chance to see many beautiful things and that's fine. There's space for several shows, I believe that sincerely."

Daniel Lavoie tells us that Le Petit Prince will be "a beautiful show which will go well." "And I tell you that Richard Cocciante's music is magnificent with good and beautiful songs. Le Petit Prince is a story that lends itself to a marvellous production. It will not be a revolutionary show which will change the world but I assure you that it will go well. And it’s good to hear that in today's life," the artiste adds with great confidence.

Regarding the supposed “tiff” between Plamondon and Cocciante, the two fathers of Notre Dame de Paris, Daniel Lavoie in lessening its importance, preferring not to enlarge on the subject which, to him, seemed quite pointless.

Le Petit Prince in Paris

In just two weeks he found a flat in Paris and a school for his son aged 13. "It will be another experience for my family, but my home remains in the outskirts and plains here in Québec, furthermore, I will never leave here for good." Daniel Lavoie assures us after, once again, inviting people to come to the Cyclothon that is so important for those children who suffer from diabetes. "Good health, is a great blessing." Daniel Lavoie concludes with the wisdom of the Petit Prince.