International pop/classical crossover star Lara Fabian makes exquisite Chicago debut

Photos by Andy Argyrakis

Right around the time when Cher was getting strong enough to believe in life after love, Lara Fabian was giving her a serious run for her sparkles with the danceable smash “I Will Love Again.” However, that was just the tip of the iceberg when it came to the Belgian pop/classical crossover singer/songwriter’s many talents found on her 2000 self-titled debut, which also included “Broken Vow” (later redone by Barbra Streisand and Josh Groban) and “Adagio” (an ideal showcase of her three octave range).

The flawless presentation was just one more of many stunning reminders that Lara Fabian is right up there with the elite likes of Streisand, Celine Dion (probably her closest comparison) or Sarah Brightman, but now that she’s set the bar so high, the only trick is convincing her to roll through town to try and top it more often.

Though she never stopped recording or touring internationally, it took all this time for Fabian to make her extremely belated debut in Chicago (coincidentally the birthplace of her grandfather) at the gorgeous Copernicus Center, this time in support of “Camouflage” (her thirteenth studio album and fourth in English, which have cumulatively sold more than 20 million copies). With ticket prices reaching all the way into the three hundreds, it might have seemed like a deterrent to the untrained ear, but for those in the know, it appeared entirely worth the price and wait to see the superstar in such an intimate setting.

Clad in a form-fitting black dress, Fabian entered to the new “Chameleon” with a kaleidoscope of colors swirling on the screens above. Along with a five-piece band and two supporting singers, the headliner gradually built up the more than two-hour evening from fellow pop pleasantries “Growing Wings,” “Keep The Animals Away” and “If I Let You Love Me” to practically operatic status.

There was a call to take a leap of faith throughout the talkbox-seasoned “We Are The Flyers,” an entrancing, mystical adventure called “Painting In The Rain,” plus multi-lingual fluency over the beat-centric electro pop of “J’ai Zappe” and the gorgeously radiant “Je T’aime.” “Choose What You Love Most (Let It Kill You)” may have been one of the clunkier titles, but it was nonetheless a mountain top belter that served as an empowering soundtrack to a life with no regrets.

After a cinematic and captivating “Je Suis Malade,” Fabian paused for a brief intermission, then returned in a black sequined gown refreshed and ready for the chilled out “Camouflage,” the soaring ballad “Perfect” and the club stomper “Community” (amongst others). Yet it was “I Will Love Again” that had everyone on their feet, singing along as they surged towards the stage and showered Fabian with flowers, cards, CDs to autograph and even a painted portrait!

Naturally, she encored with “Adagio,” pulling up a seat as she belted out each spine tingling note, then kicked over the stool at the gripping conclusion to increase the dramatic effect. The flawless presentation was just one more of many stunning reminders that Fabian is right up there with the elite likes of Streisand, Celine Dion (probably her closest comparison) or Sarah Brightman, but now that she’s set the bar so high, the only trick is convincing her to roll through town to try and top it more often.

Click here for more photos of Lara Fabian at the Copernicus Center.

For additional information on Lara Fabian, visit LaraFabian.com.

For a list of upcoming shows at the Copernicus Center, visit CopernicusCenter.org.