Bruno Pelletier hung up Gringoire’s frock coat around the turn of the millennium, but the figure never really left him. He had proof of that a few days ago when he rejoined the troupe of the musical show Notre Dame of Paris for one last round. “The gestures, the facial expressions…everything came back to me in a few seconds,” he says.
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For many, the names Gringoire and Bruno Pelletier are forever inseparable, even though the singer stopped performing them 22 years ago. It must be said that it was he who brought it to the stage for the first time in 1998 when he performed the words of Luc Plamondon. Since then, the time of the cathedrals has stuck to his skin, since it is on the program of each of his shows. .
In short, his identity is welded to that of the poet and narrator of Notre Dame de Paris. He had tangible proof of this a few days ago when he slipped back into this role for the first time in more than two decades.
“People started clapping when I got on stage before I even had time to sing a single note. It is extremely touching – even moving – to see all this love. But it shows me that I have to live up to this memory,” says Bruno Pelletier.
colossal work
And he’s been working on that for a few months now, diligently studying the video footage of recent productions in anticipation of his big comeback. Because the show has changed since Bruno Pelletier left.
The story, inspired by the work of Victor Hugo, remains the same, that of three men (Quasimodo, Phoebus and Frollo) fighting over the love of the gypsy Esmeralda. However, the form gradually evolved over the years, during which time the spectacle of Notre Dame de Paris was applauded by more than 15 million spectators around the world.
“It’s the same show … but at the same time it’s not the same. Having a show that has been running like Notre Dame de Paris for almost 25 years means having the chance to perfect it, to refine it night after night,” says Bruno Pelletier.
His current Gringoire, for example, is somehow different from the one he performed back then. Why? Because the character has inevitably aged just as much as its interpreter, who will blow out 60 candles tomorrow. Because of this, Bruno Pelletier insisted on changing his approach and appearance with a costume with altered colors and an overhaul of makeup.
“I wanted him to have a slightly different look to show that it was a reimagining of the character,” he explains.
Go on
Bruno Pelletier, who is expected with the Notre Dame de Paris troupe on the stages of Montreal, Quebec, Sherbrooke and Trois-Rivières until September 14th, remains categorical: he will definitely hang up the Gringoire frock coat at the end of this series of shows. There’s no question of extending the adventure beyond these dates.
“It’s a very, very demanding role. I never thought I would return to that role, especially at 60. In fact, after doing it a few times, I wondered how I was able to do it 7 times a week for so long. So it’s really a last round before moving on to future projects,” he explains.
True, he will be particularly busy in the coming months.
Ahead of the release of a vinyl reissue of the album Miserere to mark its 25th anniversary, Bruno Pelletier will present a biography and an album of original songs in September, the first excerpt of which, Dans ma tête, will be released tomorrow.
But the singer remains very clear nonetheless, knowing that Gringoire will never be far away.
“He will never quite leave me; I will continue to sing his songs for the rest of my life,” promises Bruno Pelletier.
The music show Notre Dame of Paris takes place at the Place des Arts in Montreal from Tuesday and at the Grand Théâtre de Québec from August 25th. Bruno Pelletier will take over the role of Gringoire there, alternating with Gian Marco Schiaretti.