Who is this singer who attracted crowds while she sang out of tune?

That lunchtime, on the Little TTO stage, Cosme McMoon and Florence Foster Jenkins are Achille Ridolfi and Julie Duroisin. The duo is rehearsing the first scene of the musical show Mrs Jenkins and her pianistby Stephen Temperley (2004) (adapted into French by Stéphane Laporte). Cosme McMoon delves into his memories and recounts his first meeting, in 1927, with this poor singer.

For now, two weeks before the premiere, the room is still devoid of any decor or lighting, and there are no costumes or makeup. Under the watchful eye of Emmanuel Dell'Erba, the director, and Daphné D'Heur, the musical director, the two actors concentrate on their interpretation, as much theatrical as musical and vocal, because everything is live. “Once all the numbers are well understoodannounces Emmanuel Dell'Erba, we're going to have fun, with Julie [Duroisin] to choreograph everything a little more and to work on the gestures, because it is very important in his character”.

Hoax and syphilis

Convinced of being an exceptional soprano, Florence Foster Jenkins, who inherited a large fortune on the death of her parents, did not, in fact, skimp on the means to pursue the career she had always dreamed of: prestigious concert halls, official pianist, great tunes from the classical repertoire, eccentric dresses, etc. “I love characters that are a little monstrous, a little bigger than life, sourit Emmanuel Dell'Erba. In this, I really like Florence Foster Jenkins, because she dares everything”.

In her “deception”, she involves Cosme McMoon who, over time, gets caught up in the game and becomes a true accomplice and a faithful friend. “What touched me is that, from his first meeting with Florence Foster Jenkins, he is not aware of what this link will give himanalyse Achille Ridolfi. He is a somewhat failed artist and, through this meeting, he will, despite himself, make his dreams come true. Not like he expected, but he's going to be surprised thanks to her. Their meeting will also become more and more public (he played for her for twelve years, Editor’s note)which will pose a problem for him, because he is aware of participating in this lie. But he stays, because he is touched by this woman”. Emmanuel Dell'Erba complete: “If we just base it on the funny fact of hearing Florence Foster Jenkins singing out of tune, the first two songs will make the audience laugh. What is interesting is the relationship that will develop over several years between Cosme McMoon and Mrs Jenkins.

Given the ridiculousness and enormity of the situation, was Florence Foster Jenkins aware that she was singing out of tune or not? “Opinions differ.”replies the director. While the hoax hypothesis is circulating – Florence Foster Jenkins would have created one of the first bad buzz of History –, “another version is linked to his illness, syphilis, which alters neuronal connections, nerve endings and the ear”notes Daphné D’Heur. “Also, treatment for syphilis affects the ear. So some experts think she could hear herself singing in tune.” However, “when we listen to the recordings, we notice major accuracy issues and terrible rhythm problems; it is difficult to imagine that she was not aware of anything as much as she was a musician (pianist)”.

Learn to sing out of tune well

The whole challenge was therefore to teach Julie Duroisin to sing well out of tune, that is to say to sing without breaking her voice. “To play the role of Mrs Jenkins, I didn't want an opera singersays Emmanuel Dell'Erba, because the game's booklet is strong, so I needed a solid actress”.

A great voice technician, Daphné D'Heur performed one of her vocal coaching sessions here “the most exciting”. “Julie can sing, but is not a singer. So, we first had to teach him, in record time, the lyrical cover, which is very different from the variety song”she explains. “Then, she had to learn to sing well so she could sing out of tune without hurting herself. To do this, she had to learn and become aware of a whole series of technical faults so that the tone of her voice became a little ugly, that high notes 'go through the wrong hole', etc., which required an enormous amount of work. .” And all the more so since Florence Foster Jenkins loved great opera arias like The Queen of the Night, Lakmé, The Air of Jewelry In Faustetc., “which require a lot of treble velocity”specifies Daphné D’Heur.

Julie Duroisin confirms: “With this role, I find myself in a position in which I have never been, namely a singer, and which puts me in a fragility which is not at all the same as that of the game. say that I have to sing lyrically out of tune while having vocal mastery. Which requires me to be very determined, very professional and to work a lot because I have to be convinced, and convince, that my character sings in tune”. In this, the actress's investment joins that of Florence Foster Jenkins: “She worked like crazy, because, even if she was in denial, she wanted to do things well.”. In her defense, the singer did not hesitate to retort: ​​“People will always be able to say that I can't sing, but no one will ever be able to say that I haven't sung.”.

→ Brussels, TTO, from December 5 to January 11. Info and res. at 02.510.05.10 or on www.ttotheatre.com