Notre Dame de Paris - Live Arena di Verona

Gypsy Esmeralda is the object of desire of Febo, Captain of the Guard, Frollo, the priest and Quasimodo, hunch-backed bell ringer. Cast is rounded out with Gringoire, the poet, who guides the story, Clopin who leads the gypsies, and Fiordaliso, Febo's fiancée who wants Esmeralda out of the picture.

Luc Plamondon's production, in Italian, is actually an operetta, with modern staging, dance and rather abstract, minimalist sets. Staging a riot with dance is reminiscent of West Side Story. Frollo the priest's anguish is particularly well done. Some oddly cast dancers in one of Febo's songs are a distraction.

See also the French version of this musical(1999) with identical production and costumes. Singers are different, of course, and French lyrics and different views and angles add interest.

Sorry but my opinion, Italian version is better than French Version. I don't like somebody said the French better because it's original! Yes, French version is original but Italian give it the passion and emotion. Ex, in the song "Belle", I disagree some comments said Italian version Frollo is only evil, cruel and not torment. Wrong, because Frollo is between the Christians moral and the passion of lust. Two ways of that is showed perfect by Vittorio Matteucci. You can look at the arms of him, his eyes and his voice decisively desire to own Esmeralda's body, not her soul. The French version Frollo is quite timid and not show the power of the vice archbishop. His torment in this version, yes, you can see that in his face, very expressive and change follow the sentences of the song (French version Frollo is only torment not passion, not desire. Hidding his emotion? Not in this song because this song for the love and the passion). That's my opinion, thanks French wrote and introduced this play but thanks to Italian give it strong passion and love. This play simple is perfect! Just see it and feeling that by your emotions! 10/10.

I have seen both the french and Italian versions of this shows, and I must say that this one blew me away. Although I have a soft spot in my heart for the original, I think that this version was much better. Giò Di Tonno was so convincing as the lovable hunchback, and he tried to stay true to Garou's original portrayal of him, and succeeded. And Lola Ponce...what can I not say about her. She's beautiful, has a wonderful voice, and is passionate in her role as Esmeralda. Claudia D'Ottavi wasn't too convincing for me as Fiordaliso (Fleur de Lys), but only because she couldn't pull off the falsetto that she tried; I'm a huge Julie Zenatti fan anyway. But, I think, that was the only drawback to this production. See this one!