Daniel Lavoie in the musical show 'Le Petit Prince'

TV Mag - September 2002
By Stéphanie Raio

Although  a tenor on stage  Daniel Lavoie, in everyday life, speaks with the soft voice of those whose soul is still bathed in childhood. So it is not surprising to see  him back under the limelight as the airman in Richard Cocciante‘s new musical comedy «Le Petit Prince», at the Casino de Paris. 

It is said that Le Petit Prince has to be read several times in a life-time has new  meanings emerge everytime.
Daniel Lavoie : It’s true, the first time I read it I must have been ten years old and I was touched by the magic of the  story; it’s only later on that I understood the deep nostalgia for childhood Saint Exupery  felt. 

So, it is a feeling you share?
Daniel Lavoie :  Yes it is, so much so that two years ago I wrote «Bébé Dragon», an album for children. I wanted to  explore the universe of  very young children. I have three children, so I have  been through that childhood phase several times in my life (he laughs). I wanted to rediscover that sense of wonder you feel when you are very young but then lose as you grow older.  I try to preserve the «Petit Prince» in me when I compose and write. You have to  preserve your sense of wonder. Even if it is  difficult nowadays. 

What kind of childhood did you have?
Daniel Lavoie :  I grew up in a small village in western Canada, in a loving family. We were not rich but neither were we poor  and we were such a happy family! Nobody was there to point out to us the  things we didn’t have. It was  a happy time!  It gave me  faith in life. 

Saint Exupéry  created the airman as an extention of himself. Did you  study his life in order to understand the character  better?
Daniel Lavoie :  I read several biographies because I found it difficult at first to figure out  the character. Saint Exupéry was a complicated man. We do not share the same philosophy of life. I find him too much of a dare-devil. He loved  extreme danger, he loved life but put his own on the line far too often,  I must admit I find his recklesness rather irritating. 

 «Le Petit Prince» underlines the  split between Richard Cocciante and Luc Plamondon, who is staging «Cindy» in October too. Did you have to choose between the twp projects?
Daniel Lavoie :  Not really, I was told Luc had a part for me in «Cindy» but he never contacted me about it. Anyway, Richard had already mentioned his project to me when we were doing «Notre Dame» and  had asked if I would be interested. I said «Yes, if it’s in the distant future». After touring for a long time I needed to  go back to my piano and  some  quietness. I wrote songs for  Lara Fabian and Roch Voisine. I didn’t feel the need to go back on stage.  I had had enough success for a while and  no longer had  enough courage and energy to work for myself. As  you know, I’ve been in showbiz for twenty-five years so I don’t  feel the need to be constantly under the limelight. 

Why then did you accept a part in «Le Petit Prince»?
Daniel Lavoie :  It’s not the same type of emotional involvement. In a musical I get to play someone else and  when I remove the  costume I’m back to my peaceful self.