Florence Foster Jenkins at the theater: "Colorature" recounts the rise of a legendary soprano

With Colorature, Stephen Temperley plunges us into the funny and touching story of Florence Foster Jenkins, the soprano who sang out of tune, through the eyes of her faithful accompanist. To be seen at Théâtre de la Bruyère until April 27, 2025.

New York, 1930s. Florence Foster Jenkins, a wealthy American heiress, decides to embark on a career as a coloratura soprano. Her enthusiasm far outstripped her talent, and her interpretations of opera arias became notorious for their falsetto and rhythmic liberties. Yet, buoyed by unshakeable confidence and a circle of fascinated admirers, she enjoyed an improbable success that took her all the way to the legendary Carnegie Hall. That's what Colorature is all about.

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Years after this singular ascension, Cosme McMoon, Florence's pianist and fellow traveler, looks back on their twelve-year collaboration. Seated at the piano of a fashionable jazz club, he recounts their shared journey, between musical eccentricity and sincere friendship, with tenderness and irony. Colorature explores the contrast between illusion and reality, between an artist's dream and the world's view of her.

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Florence Foster Jenkins remains an emblematic figure in musical history. Her audacity and lack of doubt have inspired numerous adaptations, including the films Marguerite and Florence Foster Jenkins starring Meryl Streep. Her recordings continue to captivate the curious, bearing witness to her incredible artistic adventure.

Colorature will appeal to opera fans and fans of unusual stories alike. Between laughter and emotion, this plunge into the extravagant world of Florence Foster Jenkins questions the very notion of talent and the power of dreams.

This article is based on available information and does not constitute a review of the show.

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