Ethan Bortnick Interviews with Celine Dion - Part 3 2013/2014

Ethan Bortnick Interviews with Celine Dion - Part 2 2013/2014

Celine Dion "Quand on n'a que l'amour" (Celine Dion: Live à Paris 1996)

'Live à Paris' was recorded at the renowned Zenith Theatre in Paris in October 1995 before an audience of over 6000 devoted fans. The album contains songs from the highly successful French language album, 'D'eux.' In fact, 'D'eux' is the most successful French album by an artist in the history of recorded music. And 'Live à Paris' captures the songs from this popular creative work in a live performance.

Quand on n'a que l'amour 

Quand on n'a que l'amour 

À s'offrir en partage 

Au jour du grand voyage 

Qu'est notre grand amour 

Quand on n'a que l'amour 

Mon amour toi et moi 

Pour qu'éclatent de joie 

Chaque heure et chaque jour 

Quand on n'a que l'amour 

Pour vivre nos promesses 

Sans nulle autre richesse 

Que d'y croire toujours 

Quand on n'a que l'amour 

Pour meubler de merveilles 

Et couvrir de soleil 

La laideur des faubourgs 

Quand on n'a que l'amour 

Pour unique raison 

Pour unique chanson 

Et unique secours 

Quand on n'a que l'amour 

Pour habiller matin 

Pauvres et malandrins 

De manteaux de velours 

Quand on n'a que l'amour 

À offrir en prière 

Pour les maux de la terre 

En simple troubadour 

Quand on n'a que l'amour 

À offrir à ceux-là 

Dont l'unique combat 

Est de chercher le jour 

Quand on n'a que l'amour 

Pour tracer un chemin 

Et forcer le destin 

À chaque carrefour 

Quand on n'a que l'amour 

Pour parler aux canons 

Et rien qu'une chanson 

Pour convaincre un tambour 

Alors sans avoir rien 

Que la force d'aimer 

Nous aurons dans nos mains 

Amis le monde entier 

-- 

(Jacques Brel)

Ethan Bortnick Interviews with Celine Dion 2013/2014

In this behind the scenes, never before seen interview between Celine Dion and a young Ethan Bortnick (Age 12). Ethan and Celine chat about the heart behind their music and what obstacles they had to over come in life to do what they love most... Music! Ethan discusses how he believes "Anything is Possible", and that's why he wrote the song Anything is Possible. 

Celine Dion & Ethan Bortnick

One celebrity encounter that does stand out to the young pianist though is meeting Celine Dion backstage at a show in New York when he was just six years old.

Though Ethan says Celine was really nice, he didn’t recognize her at first when she said hello.

“I had no idea who that lady was,” Ethan remembered. “She had some weird mask on for vocal breathing or something.” As Celine walked away to go get into costume, people just stood in the hallway with their  jaws dropped over what had just happened. Ethan managed to lighten the mood though. “I asked, “Who is that lady?” he said. “I had no idea, my parents didn’t tell me.”

Ethan Bortnick was the youngest artist on the Recording of "We are the world 25 for Haiti" Recorded on February 1st, 2010, in the same studio as the original 25 years earlier (Henson Recording Studios, formerly A&M Recording Studios) "We Are The World 25 For Haiti" to benefit the Haitian earthquake relief efforts and the rebuilding of Haiti.

Celine Dion: ‘Rene wanted me to be here. He’s fighting and working really hard’

Superstar Celine Dion flew a round-trip flight of 6,000 miles within 12 hours between Boston, where her husband, Rene Angelil, is hospitalized for life-saving cancer treatment, and Las Vegas to fulfill a promise to sing with Andrea Bocelli at our 19th Annual “Power of Love” gala for Keep Memory Alive on Saturday night at MGM Grand Garden Arena.

“I wouldn’t let anybody down after making the promise,” she told me in an exclusive backstage interview after her sound-check rehearsal with Andrea minutes after she had landed here at McCarran International Airport. “Rene wanted me to be here. He’s fighting and working really hard. The reality is hard, but we have the ticket to live today. Today, we’re alive, and we’re going for it.”

Celine paid all the expenses of gas and crew for the flight as a donation to the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health fundraiser. Her flight was a poignant act of courage and bravery.

On Saturday morning, she was at Rene’s hospital bedside, and he urged her to “go sing your best in Las Vegas.” Mid-afternoon, she landed at McCarran, and a limousine sped her to MGM Grand Garden Arena. She rehearsed in a simple brown-and-white blouse and jean skirt.

At 10 p.m., she was backstage in an elegant, black, floor-length gown. Celine chatted with actress Sharon Stone (“Basic Instinct,” “Casino”), who had just introduced Andrea to the 1,500 dinner guests. Our thanks to Denise Truscello for the intimate photo gallery onstage and backstage at the “Power of Love” gala.

Andrea invited her to join him onstage for their duet of “The Prayer.” As they finished the sensational and highly emotional song, thousands of rose petals showered on the teary-eyed crowd and stars onstage. Sharon carried Andrea’s 3-year-old daughter Virginia to him as Celine and he acknowledged the cheers and standing ovation.

After posing for photographs backstage with the Bocelli family and Sharon, Celine changed, and her waiting limousine took her back to the jet ready for takeoff from McCarran. On Sunday morning after the red-eye flight, she was safely back at Rene’s hospital bedside.

Here’s our conversation. It was emotional and teary. Sentences didn’t quite get finished, and a couple of times our hands reached out to strengthen each other.

This reunion with Andrea Bocelli is very special.

It’s been a long time since we’ve sung together, but it doesn’t feel like the time passed because it’s memorable. I’m not saying this pretentiously. You sometimes create a reunion, a friendship, and it’s special. You do a lot of things in show business, you encounter a lot of people, you do lots, as you know.

But some of the duets are memorable, and sharing what you love with somebody who knows beyond what I do, the classical part of the music, and that takes a special talent who wants to sing with a pop singer and who does this so friendly, so professionally.

I thought singing with him once was a gift of life; singing with him again was a privilege — and now our friendship because time after time it still happens.

Did it click immediately today?

Instantly. Like I said, the time from last time did not pass. That’s special. I told him, “OK, we’ve got “The Prayer,” and I don’t think we can hit better than that because “The Prayer” is so beautiful.

Everybody in the arena was crying. You were even tearing up.

It’s a wonderful song. Sometimes the meaning of it has more importance. Sometimes you think you receive a song, and sometimes you think you’re singing a moment that’s going to last forever.

And of course at this moment with Rene’s fight, this is a very precious song with additional meaning?

It is a very special song and precious. Rene is fighting very hard, and he’s a trooper. I’m amazed; I’ve always been because I married him. I know he could support and create a career for me, but as my husband and the father of my children, he’s done so much more.

And you said he was proud of you and wanted you to come today.

He wants me to be here. He wants me strong, he wants me back, he wants to see me again. Before he goes, he wants me to make sure that …

Is that a reality now?

He’s fighting, he’s fighting, and he’s working really hard.

And you are, too?

Yes. We’re not sleeping, we’re working on the health, we see doctors, we have treatments. It’s hard, the reality is hard, but we have the ticket to live today. We’re not dead; we’re living. Today, we’re alive, and we’re going for it.

And you’re still going for it to reopen at Caesars Palace on Aug. 27.

That’s right. Tonight, though, I’m only thinking for tonight. I’m living a day at a time, but I’m going to be ready, as well, Aug. 27. I can’t wait.

It’s going to be hard, it’s going to be emotional because I know that the type of career and friendship I’ve had with the fans, if I may say, is beyond music. I think they will be there for me.

When the curtain opens, I don’t know how strong I will be that night.

It will be as emotional as you get when singing “Ne Quitte Pas (Don’t Leave Me)”?

Probably.

A long, 6,000-mile, round-trip journey in less than a day. It shows your love for Las Vegas, shows your love for Andrea, shows your love for Keep Memory Alive.

And shows my love for my husband because he wanted me to be here. That was the first OK for me to come because I would have stayed with him for sure all my life, but he wanted me to be here, and because I love Andrea, and I think it’s a wonderful benefit.

We can’t thank you enough for coming, and we admire you, we love you. You are brave and courageous. Please give our love to Rene, and tell him he is in our prayers.

Thank you.

RobinLeach

Celine Dion & Andrea Bocelli Keep Memory Alive Gala June 13,2015

Last night Celine participated in the 19th Power of Love Gala at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas to benefit "Keep Memory Alive." The evening paid tribute to Andrea and Veronica Bocelli. One of the most memorable moments of the event was a touching performance of "The Prayer" by Celine and Andrea. Celine reconnected with the many celebrities in attendance, including Gloria and Emilio Estefan. 

For the fashionistas, Celine wore a Stella McCartney dress during her performance. In the backstage photos you will see her sporting a white Louis Vuitton top, Frame jeans and Saint Laurent shoes. For the afternoon rehearsals she can be seen wearing a Gucci shirt and a Current Elliott jean skirt.

Celine Dion, looks radiant When Singing with Andrea Bocelli at Vegas Keep Memory Alive benenefit

Celine Dion stunned in a low-cut gown as she sang a duet with Andrea Bocelli, 56, in Las Vegas on Saturday. The 47-year-old made the appearance for Keep Memory Alive's 19th Power Of Love Gala at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, which also featured a performance by Robin Thicke.

Benefits such as this, which fund research into various illnesses, hit close to home for Celine, whose husband René Angélil, 73, has been battling throat cancer since 1999.

The My Heart Will Go On singer wore a floor-length black gown as she took the stage.

The flowing dress also featured a plunging cleavage, showing off her very slender frame.

The Canadian beauty looked stunning with her honey blonde hair cascading over her shoulders in gentle waves.

In 1993, Celine released a cover of Jennifer Rush's The Power Of Love, which happens to be the title of the gala.The song became one of her staples and appeared on her greatest hits compilation All The Way... A Decade Of Song.Italian tenor Andrea, who joined the Because You Loved Me singer onstage, looking suave in a black suit and bow tie. 

DailyMail

Celine Dion : Exclusive: 5 questions with Celine Dion as she prepares for her Las Vegas return

In anticipation of her return to Las Vegas in August, Celine Dion performed with Andrea Bocelli during the 19th annual Keep Memory Alive's Power of Love™ gala in the MGM Grand Garden. It was on March 25, the 12th anniversary of her first performance in Las Vegas, when Dion announced she was returning The Colosseum at Caesars Palace to resume her residency, “Celine” beginning Aug. 27.

During the rehearsal, the atmosphere was electric as Dion and Bocelli walked on stage. Wearing a silk blouse and pencil jean skirt, Dion looked stunning when she first greeted the orchestra as she confidently walked to her microphone. She was relaxed and ready to perform.

She is a professional but with a whimsical side. While staff was adjusting the sound, Dion strutted across the stage and would dance. When Bocelli said a quip to her, Dion laughed and told him to stop it, singing her own lyrics, “Can you feel it?” Even in rehearsal, she is mesmerizing as staff and gala volunteers stopped to watch her perform.

Dion spoke with AXS.com after rehearsal about her return to Las Vegas and other possible plans.

AXS.com: How do you feel about returning to Las Vegas—is it a feeling of returning home?

Celine Dion: It is my home. We live here pretty much all year long. This is where we are raising our kids. It is definitely our home and it is great to be back.

AXS: Growing up in Canada, what or who were your musical influences?

CD: My influences were pretty strange in a way because it totally is not at all what I am doing. I am the youngest of a big family and my brothers and sisters were all musicians. They were listening to Janis Joplin, Supertramp, Mahogany Rush, The Beatles, Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra and Stevie Wonder. I would also listen to French artists like Jacque Brel and French Canadian singers like Ginette Reno, who is one of my favorites.

There are many influences because we are in Canada and we are between French and English. Still the musical culture I received when I was young through my brothers and sisters is grand.

AXS: With your musical range, have you ever considered performing on Broadway in a musical?

CD: No. There are not a lot of things I am not interested in but I am not interested in Broadway. I would love to make movies, I would love to be on stage and make records and songs. Right now Broadway is not an interest and never was but we should never say no either.

AXS: Your new show will be more intimate and more engaged with the audience. Why did you choose to create this kind of show?

CD: The show we have done for two years, most of my shows are intimate. I sing ballads, talk to people, I want to have a contact with them and we share a moment so it has always been like that. It is now inevitable for me to create more intimacy.

I haven’t been on stage for a while with my husband struggling and fighting really hard since he has been sick. It is natural to come back and let the emotion take place and share that moment with my audience. It just makes it that much more intimate.

AXS: How do you feel about Andrea Bocelli?

CD: I always thought he had the voice of God and that God sent him here for us to be able to understand what God is trying to tell us but we cannot always hear him. Andrea is here for that. To sing with him is always an honor and a privilege. At first it was an honor. It is still an honor but now that I know him more and we became friends, it is such fun. The fact that I was intimidated (before) is no longer there but I am so impressed by him and will be for the rest of my life. The friendship grew and it is wonderful.

AXS

Celine Dion & Andrea Bocelli "The Prayer" (Keep Memory Alive Gala June 13,2015 )

Keep Memory Alive's 19th Annual "Power Of Love" Gala, June 13th, 2015