Notre Dame de Paris (1998 rock opera)

***Notre Dame de Paris*** is a French rock opera created by Luc Plamondon and Richard Cocciante. First performed in 1998, it continues to tour internationally.

## Synopsis

Gringoire tells the story, starting with Clopin and the refugees demanding asylum at Notre Dame. Frollo orders Phoebus to disperse of them, to which he meets Esmeralda, a young gypsy girl who intrigues him. Clopin warns Esmeralda of people like Phoebus, as she is not a little girl anymore. Phoebus, later with his fiancee, Fleur-de-Lys, declare their love for each other as they are to get married. At the Feast of Fools, hunchbacked bell-ringer Quasimodo is declared the Pope of Fools, to an enraged Frollo, who has raised him since Quasimodo was a foundling. On the evening streets of Paris, Quasimodo, on orders by Frollo, attempts to kidnap Esmeralda, but is arrested and taken away by Phoebus and the guards. He and Esmeralda set a date to meet at Le Val d'Amour.

At Quasimodo's public execution, he cries out for water, which is given to him by Esmeralda. The hunchback falls in love with her, as have Frollo and Phoebus already, who are all vying for her love. Later, Quasimodo shows Esmeralda around Notre Dame, and offers her protection inside the cathedral should she need it. The two develop a strong friendship, while Frollo is fearing that his love for Esmeralda will kill him. When Phoebus is making his away to Le Val d'Amour, Frollo follows him. When the two are together, Frollo stabs Phoebus and frames the gypsy, who is then taken and tried for murder.

Meanwhile, Quasimodo has refused to ring the bells of Notre Dame as he cannot find Esmeralda anywhere, who is unknowing to him in prison. Esmeralda is tortured and forced to confess she killed Phoebus. However, Phoebus has been recovering and begging Fleur-de-Lys to take him back, who only will if he kills the gypsy. Clopin and the refugees have also been imprisoned. Frollo later makes a proposition to Esmeralda that she can be free if she gives himself to him, which she refuses. As Frollo throws himself onto her, Quasimodo frees her, along with the rest of the refugees, and givers her asylum in Notre Dame. However, he is heartbroken at the fact she will only love Phoebus instead of him because of how ugly he is.

Clopin leads another siege onto Notre Dame to no avail. Phoebus strikes him and kills him, and Esmeralda leads the fight in his place, but is defeated and taken to execution. The refugees are deported and Esmeralda is set to hang. At her execution, Quasimodo finds out through Frollo's confession that he is the reason Esmeralda is to be hanged. Enraged, Quasimodo throws him fatally down the steps of Notre Dame. He demands Esmeralda's body and dies alongside it.

## Original Cast

* Garou as Quasimodo
* Helene Segara as Esmeralda
* Daniel Lavoie as Frollo
* Luck Mervil as Clopin
* Patrick Fiori as Phoebus
* Julie Zenatti as Fleur-de-Lys
* Bruno Pelletier as Gringoire

## Selected Tour History

* 1998 France
* 1999 Canada
* 2000 Las Vegas
* 2000 London
* 2001 Paris
* 2001 Barcelona
* 2002 Italy
* 2002 Moscow
* 2005 International
* 2007 South Korea
* 2010 Belgium
* 2011 Italy
* 2016 Gdynia
* 2018 Astana
* 2022 Taiwan

## Gallery

Main article: Notre Dame de Paris (1998 rock opera)/Gallery

## Version Differences

* Pierre Gringoire acts as a narrator rather than a protagonist.
* Sister Gudule is absent.
* Quasimodo frees all of the refugees from prison.
* Esmeralda is given a whistle by Quasimodo to use if she needs him, but it is never used.
* Instead of being flogged, Quasimodo is tied onto a wheel for public display.