In 2018, I saw Lara Fabian perform at the Warner Theatre in Washington, DC. I was fortunate to have a seat near the front of the theater, close enough to appreciate not only her voice but also her presence on stage.
I had listened to her music before the concert, but hearing her perform live was a completely different experience. Recordings can capture the notes, but they cannot fully convey the power, emotion, and nuance of a gifted singer standing only a few yards away. Fabian’s voice filled the theater. It was one of those performances that stays with you long after the final applause.
Lara Fabian was born in Belgium to a Flemish father and an Italian mother. She performs in several languages, including French, Italian, Spanish, and English. Although she is perhaps best known in the United States for her 2000 hit “I Will Love Again,” I am especially drawn to her French-language recordings.
Fabian’s music occupies much the same space as that of Laura Pausini, another singer whose work I greatly enjoy. The two have performed together on several occasions, and their voices complement each other beautifully. The outdoor performance below, filmed in 2002 at Rome’s Piazza di Spagna on the Spanish Steps, is one that I have watched countless times.
The interview that follows provides another glimpse of Fabian. Beyond her remarkable voice, I am struck by her warmth, intelligence, and obvious passion for life.
David Enzel