45 Years Of Starmania: An Anniversary Evening On France 2

Starmania, the musical created by Michel Berger and Luc Plamondon, has touched entire generations with its legendary songs. On the occasion of the 45th anniversary of the famous rock opera, France 2 invites you to rediscover these tracks through performances by great artists and the new troupe of Thomas Jolly.

An eventful birthday

The rock opera Starmania was born 45 years ago from the artistic collaboration between French composer Michel Berger and Quebec lyricist Luc Plamondon. To properly celebrate this anniversary, France 2 is organizing a special evening on Saturday, November 16, 2024, at 9:05 PM.

Fans of all generations, get ready to embark on a journey to Monopolis, the dystopian capital of the West! This program promises us nearly two and a half hours of music and will bring back to viewers the most beautiful moments of this musical, which has become a classic of Francophone song.

At the same time, this evening will be an opportunity to delve into the behind-the-scenes creation of the rock opera thanks to exclusive archival footage. It will thus pay a beautiful tribute to the prominent figures of this musical adventure, notably the late Daniel Balavoine and France Gall...

Prestigious guests

The musical Starmania was written between 1975 and 1978, the release date of the very first eponymous album. The rock opera imagined by Michel Berger and Luc Plamondon was first performed on April 10, 1979, at the Palais des Congrès in Paris. Yet, the lyrics of the songs still resonate with our society in all its excesses and flaws.

The themes addressed in this musical, such as the thirst for power, media manipulation, gender identity, the loneliness of big cities, and the fleeting glory of artists, are more relevant than ever today.

Nearly half a century after their creation, songs like "Le monde est stone" or "Le blues du businessman" continue to touch all generations because this visionary work remains strikingly relevant in 2024...

To perform these legendary pieces, France 2 has invited great names from French and Quebecois music. Artists like Patrick Bruel, Garou, Hélène Segara, and Shy'm have accepted the invitation and came to perform these songs on the stage of the Agora du Port de Québec in Canada. Jenifer, Isabelle Boulay, Diane Tell, Fabienne Thibeault, and Daniel Lavoie are also announced in the lineup for this grand musical evening.

A new version unveiled

To properly celebrate this anniversary in prime time on the public channel, France 2 has also decided to give a gift to fans of the rock opera Starmania! The new version of this musical will be unveiled for the first time on television. The troupe led by Thomas Jolly is participating in this anniversary evening by bringing a fresh breath to the timeless work of Michel Berger and Luc Plamondon.

Thanks to new performers, currently touring throughout France, this mythical rock opera is experiencing a second youth and a resounding success. For this recreation, director Thomas Jolly and Raphaël Hamburger, the son of Michel Berger and France Gall, asked the artists not to think about what had been done before but to consider this show as a new creation with already known songs.

To bring this new version of Starmania to life, the director of the opening and closing ceremonies of the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games collaborated once again with Victor Le Masne. The latter, who was the musical director of the four Olympic ceremonies, is overseeing the musical direction of this "new Starmania."

While waiting to discover this new version on stage throughout France, longtime fans will be able to sing along to SOS d'un terrien en détresse and Besoin d’amour on Saturday evening at 9:05 PM on France 2.