Page "Jacques Brel" Paragraph 26

Following his retirement from the concert stage, Jacques Brel's professional life focused on film.

He would record only four more studio albums in the last decade of his life.

In September 1968, Brel recorded the songs for the album, J ' arrive ( I arrived ), which would be released later in the year.

In addition to the title song, the album included " Vesoul ", " Je suis un soir d ’ été " ( I am a summer's eve ), and " Un enfant " ( A child ).

In October 1968, Brel's L ' Homme de La Mancha ( Man of La Mancha ) premièred in Brussels, with Brel playing Don Quixote and Dario Moreno playing Sancho Panza.

Moreno would die tragically only ten days before the musical's Paris première.

From 23 to 27 November, Brel and his fellow cast-members recorded the studio album L ' Homme de la Mancha.

Brel adapted the book, translated the lyrics, directed the production, and played the lead role.

This was the only time he ever adapted songs by other writers or appeared in a stage musical.

The album contains Brel's classic performance of " La quête " ( The quest ).

Moreno was replaced by Robert Manuel, and the first performance at the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées in Paris went ahead as planned on 11 December 1968.

Brel's performance received unanimous praise.

After 150 performances of L ' Homme de La Mancha, Brel gave his final performance in the role of Don Quixote on 17 May 1969.

He was never replaced.