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June 10, 2005
A reminder, years later
New Isabelle Longnus show in memory of liberation.
EVA COHEN
It had been hot and humid for a few days, but the morning I woke
up to meet Isabelle Longnus, the weather was wet and dreary. The
rain's grey mood didn't last long, though. It disappeared as soon
as we sat down for coffee and Longnus began to speak about herself
and her music.
"I'm a songwriter," said Longnus. "That's what I
do – that's what I like."
Longnus – who will perform a show based on the liberation of
the death camps at the upcoming Francophone Festival d' été
– describes her art as "rock and punk music" and
her passion as hard rock. A mainstay of the Francophone music scene
in Canada for the past eight years, she also mixes in elements of
traditional French songwriting.
Longnus was born in Marseilles, France, and moved to Quebec in 1992.
Two years later, she ventured across the country to Vancouver, where
she now lives. Longnus said she thought she wouldn't be able to
stay in English Canada because she writes in French. But the conditions
were right in Vancouver and she has been able to write and record
CDs here. She's also gone on tour in Canada and overseas to Europe.
Longnus's shows are mostly solo-based – with other singers
joining in at different intervals to tell a story. The songs themselves
may be about love, but as expressed by current social issues.
In the 60th anniversary year of the liberation of the death camps,
Longnus's focus has shifted to create a show different than all
of her previous work. She will present the show "War Songs
for Peace" in conjunction with Festival d'été
Francophone de Vancouver at the Norman Rothstein Theatre June 16.
"It is the perfect year because of the 60th anniversary,"
said Longnus. "And personally, I now know how and am ready
to express myself."
The show will include a repertoire from various origins, including
"Yerushalayim shel Zahav" ("Jerusalem of Gold")
and songs in other languages from different eras.
"Every song is a fragment of history," said Longnus.
Longnus has not previously been involved with the Jewish community
in Vancouver, but this show will include the Jewish Men's Choir.
Longnus said she didn't want a professional choir for this show
because she wanted real voices. She said that the Jewish choir provides
unique tones and textures, adding to the show's theme.
"It was not humanity in the camps," said Longnus. "This
shows humanity in man."
It was the stories behind the frontlines – of mothers, families
and death camps – that Longnus wanted to express in this show.
She has collected images over the years in the form of drawings,
paintings and pictures, which will be shown throughout the performance.
"When you come from Europe ... you've been touched by the war,"
said Longnus. "Whatever your origin is, when you've been to
Europe you see war all the time. When you go to a little village
– just like I remember beside my school when I was young –
there was a monument for the dead from the war. You're always surrounded
by the war all the time and here you don't see it that much."
Longnus said her role as an artist is not to moralize. But she is
hoping to make a difference and impression on people through her
music.
The poster for "War Songs for Peace" shows Longnus with
her 21-month-old daughter, Nova. Longnus said it symbolizes the
future and with music as her platform, she has the opportunity to
express her history and bring it to a new generation. Then, she
said, she can feel she is doing her part for peace.
Longnus said she hopes that the audience for her show come with
hope and determination.
"But it is also a reminder," she said.
For more information about the Festival d'été, go
to www.lecentreculturel.com.
Eva Cohen is a freelance writer currently living in Vancouver.
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