1976, an Olympic year!
Those who read me regularly undoubtedly remember that 1967 was decisive for Nana and Quebec. If we had to mention another year that marked a new stage, we could refer to 1976. Then Nana took her career in hand. From London where she recorded a new TV series, she went back on tour and presented new albums. Following her visit in our homeland, two major events marked our topicalities and retained the attention of foreign media. Let us review the outlines of that Olympic year.
FROM LONDON...
1976 starts in an unexpected way. Indeed, on January 13, the London daily newspapers Daily Mirror and Evening News announce the separation of Nana with her husband Georges. According to them, they spent Christmas with the family but they are living separately for several months. Obviously, it has consequences in her professional life since he always accompanied her on tour. Besides being a guitarist, Georges was her Band Leader. He also saw about the arrangements and the song selection. For her recordings, Nana now appeals to Alain Goraguer. On television and on stage, the conducting is assigned to Nikos Lavranos and then to Giorgos Kokkinos. The Olympians, her new ensemble, is mainly composed of Greek musicians.
AT THE BBC
From January 14, the English fans see her again on the small screen for her new bi-monthly BBC TV series. During seven broadcasts, the program includes some of her hits but also several new songs and unreleased ones. There are among others "Time in a bottle" by Jim Croce that she sings at the beginning and at the end of each program. During these variety evenings, Nana has the honour to present and to sing with several big names: Albert Hammond, Demis Roussos, James Galway, Morris Albert, Lulu, Roger Wittaker, Caterina Valente and the King's Singers. Once more, the series is an Yvonne Littlewood production. |
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IN QUEBEC AND IN ONTARIO After a short tour in Europe in March, Nana returns to Quebec and Ontario to present her latest albums. On the French-speaking side, there are "Que je sois un ange..." and "Toi qui t'en vas". On the English-speaking side, "Nana's Book of Songs" and "Songs of the British Isles". Depending on the location, Nana opens the evening by performing a capella "Le temps des cerises" or "Amazing Grace". For the audience, it is a surprise because her concerts always begin with a Greek song. Some of her great successes and new releases follow. There is in particular a Quebec folk song, "Le curé de Terrebonne", which Nana performs in duet with one of her musicians. |
Because of a tracheitis, she must interrupt and defer her first concert in Montreal. As the hall is not available the other nights, she will give it again four days later at 23.00, after her other concert. Nana will keep a precious memory of that performance. Despite the circumstances, the public is present. During the same journey, she gets a gold record for the album sales of "Comme un soleil" that exceeded 80,000 copies.
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Sunday |
Monday |
Tuesday |
Wednesday |
Thursday |
Friday |
Saturday |
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1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
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Utrecht
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Rotterdam
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Groningen
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The Hague
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Breda
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Tilburg
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7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
11 |
12 |
13 |
Amsterdam
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Hamburg
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Bielefeld |
Munich |
Düsseldorf |
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14 |
15 |
16 |
17 |
18 |
19 |
20 |
Cologne |
Frankfurt |
Vienna
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21 |
22 |
23 |
24 |
25 |
26 |
27 |
28 |
29 |
30 |
31 |
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Montreal |
Sunday |
Monday |
Tuesday |
Wednesday |
Thursday |
Friday |
Saturday |
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1 |
2 |
3 |
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Montreal |
Montreal |
Montreal |
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4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
Montreal |
Montreal |
Quebec City |
Quebec City |
Quebec City |
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11 |
12 |
13 |
14 |
15 |
16 |
17 |
Quebec City |
Quebec City |
Hamilton, ON |
Hamilton, ON |
Hamilton, ON |
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18 |
19 |
20 |
21 |
22 |
23 |
24 |
Toronto, ON |
Ottawa, ON |
Ottawa, ON |
Ottawa, ON |
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25 |
26 |
27 |
28 |
29 |
30 |
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Ottawa, ON |
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Concert recorded at the Grand Théâtre de Québec and broadcasted on CFGL-FM on April 11, 1976:
First part:
01- Le temps des cerises
02- Stin potamia sopeni to kanoni
03- Quelqu'un sans toi
04- Sweet surrender
05- Pour mieux t'aimer
06- To tragoudi tis simeas
07- Comme un soleil
08- Voici le mois de may
09- L'oiselet a quitté sa branche
10- Choros zeimbekidon
11- Toi qui t'en vas
12- Kathe trello pedi
Second part:
01- Roses blanches de Corfou
02- L'histoire de nous
03- Le curé de Terrebonne
04- Le ciel est noir
05- Instrumental (The Olympians)
06- Plaisir d'amour
07- Milisse mou
08- La vie, l'amour, la mort
09- Soledad
10- The three bells
11- Enas mythos
12- Ave Maria (Gounod)
13- Un Canadien errant
ON THE RADIO AND THE CANADIAN TV On 11 April, the concert given at the Grand Théâtre de Québec is broadcasted on the radio by CFGL-FM. At the end of the summer, the CBC network presents in two parts the Royal Albert Hall concert of 1974. That broadcasting contributes to develop her success on the English-speaking side, in Ontario and in Western Canada. This will be felt during her coming tours in these areas. The Quebecers are not forgotten as during the fall Radio-Canada presents a TV special recorded during her last visit. |
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SEVEN COUNTRIES AND SEVEN ALBUMS
During that year, Nana performs in seven countries and releases seven albums. She creates a new contact with the Germans presenting her concerts in their language. The British make of her the second best record seller. And to thank her Dutch fans, she sings a folkloric song of their country.
In 1976, seven new albums are released; two in English, two in German, one in French and two lives.
FOCUS ON QUEBEC TOPICALITIES
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THE SUMMER OLYMPIC GAMES Nine years after the world exhibition, Montreal becomes the host of the Games of the XXI Olympiad. On this occasion, athletes from 92 countries take part in various sports competitions. In all, Canada collects 11 medals. Nadia Comaneci, a Romanian gymnast of fourteen year of age, is considered as the Queen of the Games. On seven occasions, she gets the perfect score of 10. Following her exceptional performances, all young girls dream to go into gymnastics. |
A NEW GOUVERNMENT On 15 November, Quebec lives an historic event; the election of a separatist government. The Parti Québécois earns 41.4% of the votes and get 71 elected deputies at the National Assembly. René Lévesque, the new Prime Minister, says: «I never thought that I could be so proud to be Quebecer». He adds: «We are not a small nation, we are maybe something like a big nation!» During its mandate, that party adopts among others the Bill 101 which protects the French language as well as in the posting than in the instruction. |
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BEHIND US
1976 is behind us for 40 years. That year was a turning point in Nana's professional and personal life. But her artistic productivity ensured her a beautiful continuity with her public. In the meantime, the media attention was turned towards Quebec; we attended the Summer Olympic Games and the election of the Parti québécois. As much for Nana as for Quebec a new episode just had started.
