Johnny Hallyday symphonic (France 3) – Yvan Cassar: "With Johnny there were always 10,000 projects to complete…"

How did this project start?

Yvan Cassar: After the success of two symphonic albums, Johnny (Published in 2019, sold 500,000 copies, editor’s note) and Acte II (2021), I wanted to share on stage. I realized that a single concert would be too reductionist and decided to travel with my orchestra. There are a hundred artists on stage, we reflect Johnny’s videos. I have many archives. We see Johnny as an actor, singer, but also in his daily life. The idea is to spend two hours with him, get emotional and party…

How did you do it technically?

We had to sync and edit images. I only used live footage when we saw him sing on screens. For I promise you, I found it interesting to show it several times. With prison, Like Johnny loves westerns and Sergio Leone, and I’ve discovered that these are the same in chords.Golden Ecstasy (The track on The Good, the Bad and the Ugly) We’ve unearthed pictures of clips Ennio Morricone shot in the West.

Did you ever discuss this project with him?

We have always said that we must bring our two worlds together. For him it was orchestral cinema, great music, westerns but also Hans Zimmer (Lion King soundtrack, Inception, Dune…) and big blockbusters. As I said at the show, he was returning from the premiere of the movie when I was in Los Angeles for rehearsal. Gladiator (2000) and was impressed by the power of music. So I made an entrance in that spirit for his concert at the Parc des Princes in 2003. With Johnny there were always 10,000 projects to complete…

You played this show for two evenings at the Salle Pleyel in Paris in June 2022. How did you feel?

Especially the first time I was paralyzed. I will never forget this date. When conducting the orchestra, I am like a spectator, I look at the screens and I see Johnny. And when I play the piano, it’s in front of me. Pretty annoying.

ends with the show No, I don’t regret anything, by Edith Piaf. Why this choice?

This is a tradition. Johnny always had the idea to interpret a classic at the end of his shows. I played him publicly for the first time at the Stade de France in September 1998 and we ended the show with: In my lifeby Charles Aznavour. Finishing with recovery was a must for me. No, I don’t regret anythingis a public declaration of love. For what it symbolized, this song naturally imposed itself.

You just finished a black and white tour with Louis Chedid and continue with the Johnny Hallyday symphony. Do you find time for other projects?

I gave a concert in Montreux, Switzerland, to pay homage to Claude Nougaro, whom I worked with. Instant boarding. You know, making music every day is a gift of life. And then, with the release of Johnny’s albums and this show, I feel like I’ve been relieved of a weight. Now I can enjoy…

Johnny Hallyday symphonic, Friday 24 March at 21:10 on France 3

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