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Madame Miche en Scene The Space Theatre, Sat 19 June, Season closed If you missed Mich en Scne's 'The Songs Of Jacques Brel' earlier in the festival, you had another bite of the cherry with the Belgian acoustic quartet's second show, 'Madame'. Certainly one of the highlights of the festival, the group had presented two exquisite shows that transported you to smoky cabaret halls in Paris or Berlin - or Brussels - of the time between the wars and the present. In the world premiere of 'Madame', Micheline Van Hautem leads the group comprising double bass, Spanish guitar and piano/accordion on a spiritual exhibition of the greatest cabaret chanteuse, and the repertoire for which they are remembered. Singing in French, German, English and Belgian, Van Hautem's breathy silky voice soars, croons or belts out the songs of Edith Piaf, Marlene Dietrich, Sarah Vaughan and Julie London. Some songs are introduced with synergetic classical piano arrangements. The evening's success was made on the fulsome personality of Van Hautem and the tight musical accompaniment. She appeared on stage in a casual black outfit and without make-up - her appeal was focussed on her enthusiastic interpretations, and her entreaty to the audience to participate in the emotional contexts of the songs through her simple charm which contrasted with her powerful vocal dexterity. The inclusion of Mich en Scne in the Cabaret Festival programme gives the people what they want - an award winning act from the milieu of the originals.  |
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