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Post by sistereurope on Oct 15, 2007 7:42:34 GMT -5
Hi all,
My budding Broadway star (otherwise known as my 15 year old daughter) is now officially obsessed with the Phantom of the Opera. She has the soundtrack, the DVD, and now (thankfully) is READING the original story. Anyway, I'm afraid that I know nothing about it and she asked me a question - could someone help me to pronounce Vicomte de Chagny? I can manage the vicomte part (I think), but is the Chagny pronounced like "chan-yee"? Thanks!
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Post by Truffaut on Oct 15, 2007 7:45:16 GMT -5
vee-caunt (nasal with no "n" sound) duh chan-yee
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Post by sistereurope on Oct 15, 2007 7:48:08 GMT -5
Thanks - that's what I thought but I wanted to make sure. I wouldn't want her messing up such an important part of the story because of my limited French! (Which is SLOWLY improving, btw, thanks to a daily dose of studying...whew!!!! It's hard work!)
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Post by geordy on Oct 15, 2007 8:36:39 GMT -5
I applaud you and your daughter for wanting to pronounce it correctly! Often when reading I just skim over things like that....probably wouldn't now with French though. Got into trouble with I think Crime and Punishment though. Made a mental note of "long R name" instead of pronouncing it, then there were a whole bunch of "long R names"! Who's who indeed! And I read an article about a non-French speaker who had his own variations of the Metro stops! I wouldn't do that now....
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Post by Shoesy on Oct 15, 2007 8:44:55 GMT -5
I commend your daughter for loving "Phantom". I could kick myself for not seeing the show again this summer, but I'll definitely go the next time I'm in the States. (It'll be my third time seeing it on Broadway.) Of course I own the DVD, but they've also shown the movie a number of times on TV, so I've seen it quite a lot, and I cry every time I see it. I love the story and I adore the music, and my one music request at my daughter's wedding was "All I Ask of You" . It was played during the cocktail hour.
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Post by sistereurope on Oct 15, 2007 8:53:44 GMT -5
Shoesy...my daughter made all of her friends watch the DVD Friday night at her sleepover. I heard her tell them "I cry EVERY time - OMG, this is the best story - it's SO emotional". She walks around the house singing the songs. Her theater club at school is going to see a Broadway show in the Spring and my daughter suggested Phantom...it's now between Phantom and Hairspray. If they choose Hairspray you KNOW where I'll be taking her sometime in the Spring
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Post by sistereurope on Oct 15, 2007 8:55:09 GMT -5
Oh, and yes Geordy - I bet that one could really butcher those metro stop names!!!!
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Post by Shoesy on Oct 15, 2007 8:59:54 GMT -5
"Hairspray" is cute and suitable for teenagers, but "Phantom" is a classic.
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Post by geordy on Oct 15, 2007 9:06:43 GMT -5
I'll be interested in her opinion of the book...since it is "darker" and somewhat different than the musical! Have you also rented the old movies? I didn't get the "hand above your eyes(level of your eyes?) lyric until I read the book. I love when an "entertainment" thing leads to more learning experiences and it is all tied up with a "French/France" bow! And I know I've written this before but seeing the movie of the musical in Paris and then walking out into the Paris night was quite special. The fact that I started weeping at the first organ cords and didn't stop until it was over wasn't!! Straight back to the Hotel for repair!!!
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Post by sistereurope on Oct 15, 2007 9:27:12 GMT -5
geordy, My daughter just "discovered" the Phantom so I'm afraid I'm a bit behind! I have yet to watch the DVD all the way through - and she just got the book out yesterday. She was reading it in the car (while I listened to my French language CD's, hence the pronounciation question). I guess I'd better get up to speed! Oh, and she already mentioned that the book is different than the movie. She'll be happy with the changes - she loves dark. This is my girl who LOVED the catacombs in Paris (and who probably would have loved the sewers!) But I know what you mean about the Paris connection - it is really neat. Actually she even tried to read the unabridged version of Les Mis...she said it was kind of boring and I think she gave up!
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Post by Jody on Oct 15, 2007 10:09:57 GMT -5
I remember we read Les Miserables in high school lit classes.
I think that might have started my desire to go to Paris someday.
Do schools nowadays still teach things like that ?
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Post by cybee on Oct 15, 2007 10:11:14 GMT -5
Huh! Coincidentally enough, I have just been on an Phantom jag too...listening to the CD (oh, what gorgeous and moving music!)...since I just ordered tickets for the production..okay not in Broadway, per se..but in Omaha! That won't be until Feb..but what good seats I snagged! I am taking my 14 year older with me as well! I have been to it before years ago...but the seats I bought tickets for where unexpectantly taken over by "lighting fixtures"..thus we had to be moved to ...a dismal spot where generally the ushers might sit.....sigh...so am happy to get up close and center!
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Post by Anne on Oct 15, 2007 11:37:58 GMT -5
Demarais, even FRENCH schools don't teach that anymore ! I guess that Victor Hugo is considered as too much a has-been . Of course, his poetry is rather pompous, and he may not have deserved the title of "greatest French writer ever" that was still given to him when I was at school, but not to make the kids read any of his books is rather shocking to me . And then it is very difficult for parents to make kids read those classic books that we used to read and usually love as kids : Victor Hugo, Alexandre Dumas (the mousquetaires stories), Emile Zola, Jules Vernes ... Most kids find these historic books boring and has-been, they are all about "Fantasy" books in the vein of the Lord of the Rings or contemporary novels . I mean, these books are OK and some are even really good, but I find it a shame that a a part of our literature is being put aside and will be forgotten by new generations .
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Post by Jody on Oct 15, 2007 11:48:39 GMT -5
I must be showing my age for sure!!!
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Post by Shoesy on Oct 15, 2007 11:52:37 GMT -5
I've never read Les Mis, but I saw the show for the second time this summer. what a masterpiece production ! I cried during that one too.
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Post by sistereurope on Oct 15, 2007 12:41:17 GMT -5
yes, that one's on the "to-do" list as well. My daughter is as addicted to Broadway as I am to Paris...she's trying to line up babysitting gigs to help PAY for her addiction at least!
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Post by geordy on Oct 15, 2007 12:45:23 GMT -5
Yeah I start crying during "I Dreamed a Dream" and rarely stop!! Again the book is more expansive and darker. Eponine basically sends Marius back to the barrricades because if she can't have him, nobody will!!! She gets softer in the show!!
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Post by Jody on Oct 15, 2007 13:08:56 GMT -5
Sister Mary Magdeline would have given us "bored"
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