In 1967, the legendary Belgium singer/songwriter Jacques Brel played to an
SRO audience at Carnegie Hall. While in New York he met with American composer
Mort Shuman and playwright Eric Blau who wanted Brel's permission to translate
his songs into English in order to create an Off-Broadway musical. With approval
given that show became the legendary smash hit (2,824 perfs) Jacques Brel
is Alive and Well and Living in Paris and a movie followed. Much that English
speaking people know as Jacques Brel are Shuman/Blau translations which pale
by comparison to the originals. Here, with Infiniment, at last, is the
real thing: Brel's own poetic words exquisitely articulated in mellifluous French
and performed in his warm resonant baritone quite a difference from lighthearted
American musical comedy.