In France it almost became a sensation with a success of four hundred thousand spectators. In 2026 it lands in the United States (scheduled stops in Broadway, Boston Washington), then in Poland and Latin America.
For the Jubilee the musical Bernadette de Lourdes instead he arrives in Italy where he debuts in Rome, at the Auditorium in via della Conciliazione, on 16 January, and he will stay here for a month, and then continue the tour: on March 8th at the PalaPartenope Theater in Naples, on March 15th and 16th at the Team Theater Bari and on 28, 29 and 30 March at the Alfieri Theater in Turin.
Produced by Roberto Ciurleo and Elenoire De Galardcreators beyond the Alps of great shows such as The Three Musketeers, Saturday Night Fever And Robin Hoodtogether with co-producer Gad Elmaleh, the show has a booklet and direction by Serge Denoncourt and comes to us thanks to the Italian manufacturer Fatima Lucarini, with the lyricist’s adaptation Vincenzo Incenzo And Gaia Di Fusco in the role of the protagonist.
There is a total of 22 artists on stage in the cast David Banwho also plays his father with great temperament in the original version, and then Chiara Luppi in the mother’s shoes, Fabrizio Voghera (already in Notre Dame de Paris of Cocciante) in those of Abbot Peyramale and Christian Ruiz who is the skeptical commissioner Jacomet who investigates, and does not believe, what Bernadette, who is just 14 years old, says she saw. That is, the “lady dressed in white” who on February 11, 1858 he appears to her for the first time near the Massabielle cave, in Lourdes, on the banks of the Gave.
The musical tells, in the form of an investigation, the story of this indomitable little girl who goes straight on her own path, without hysteria or delusions of protagonism, she reports what happened to her and is not impressed by those who investigate. «His figure», states Fatima Lucarini, «is more relevant today than ever because he embodies the courage to be oneself. Bernadette was a simple girl, coming from a poor family, who had the courage to remain faithful to her experience and her beliefs despite the skepticism and pressures of society and the authorities of her time. In a world where we increasingly face challenges related to personal identity and social pressure, his figure represents a model of authenticity, encouraging us to maintain our integrity even when we are misunderstood or isolated.”
A fascinating show, expertly constructed, with rhythm and a language, that of music, capable of speaking also to young people: «Suggestive scenography and extraordinary performances make the show an artistic experience that can be appreciated by all», underlines Roberto Ciurleo«I also believe that music is an ideal vehicle to tell Bernadette’s story», «her story, in addition to being rich in spirituality, also contains universal human elements such as hope, suffering, courage and perseverance. These themes can deeply touch the hearts of young people, who often try to give meaning to their lives, and the music that accompanies this beautiful story manages to involve even secular audiences who are not familiar with religious themes.”
Those apparitions of 1858 wreaked havoc in Lourdes. «Today we see it as a city destination for pilgrimages, immersed in that spiritual atmosphere typical of the place, but once upon a time it wasn’t like that» says Cristian Ruiz, who plays Inspector Jacomet. «We must imagine 19th century Lourdes as a small mountain village, where an event such as the apparition of the Madonna could have sown chaos among the people, and the commissioner’s concern was to maintain order. Certainly he was struck by the figure of Bernadette, in particular by her absolute firmness in confirming what she had experienced. Personally, if I were to take on Jacomet’s role in real life too, I would be happy if someone were to become a sort of conduit for a message of love and peace, like the one Bernadette received. Unfortunately, there are very few of them today and we would greatly need them.”
«Unlike Jacomet, who summons the visionary to question her, Abbot Peyramale is joined by Bernadette», he says Fabrizio Voghera, called to take on the role of the French presbyter. «Although a little late, Peyramale is among the first to believe the girl. At the beginning he considers her a liar, but later he will try to protect her from the attention that has arisen in the city”, says the actor who reveals two “signs” that remained imprinted on him during the making of the show: “When they chose me to this role, I read the abbot’s story and discovered that he was the last of four children and his father was a doctor, just like me. The second thing that most impressed me happened in the Lourdes cave: while I was praying, I looked at the statue of the Virgin and noticed a kind of shadow on the rock. I was enchanted because it reminded me of the face of Jesus. That face of the Son next to the Mother is an image that I will always carry in my heart.”
TO Lourdes the show debuted in 2019 and ran for six months, subtitled in three languages. He was subsequently brought to Panama on the occasion of World Youth Day 2019.
«The arrival in Italy at the beginning of the Jubilee, of which it is one of the official events, takes on a special and symbolic meaning.or”, states Lucarini, “because it strengthens the link between faith, culture and art, offering the public a unique opportunity to reflect and intensely experience their faith through an extraordinary story”.
Taking on the role of Bernadette is Gaia Di FuscoNeapolitan, 23 years old, who has already distinguished herself for having participated in various television talent shows including the program Friends20. «I am very happy and excited to have been chosen to play this character», she explains, «during the rehearsals of recent months I was able to get into the character and prepare in more detail». Bernadette was 14 years old when she was the protagonist of the first appearance of the “Lady in white”.
From February to July of 1858 they will be in total 18 apparitions cwhich wreak havoc in Lourdes while the visionary continues to repeat to those who question her: “I am charged with telling you, not with making you believe it.” What does this figure say to the children of our time? «Being a young girl myself, I feel like a spokesperson for this generation’s thoughts towards my character», replies Di Fusco, «Bernadette encourages all young people today to carry forward their beliefs, regardless of the influence of external thoughts that they may share, but sometimes also oppose. Very often our generation, due to the continuous comparison with the previous one, is as if it cannot develop a freedom of thought which is sometimes different from that of our parents and grandparents”.
For the young actress, Bernadette’s charm also lies in this: «She is simply a girl who sees something that not everyone can see. And many kids today have a vision of things that isn’t perceived by everyone, so you still need to have the courage to carry out what you believe in and perhaps, like Bernadette, give voice to something that not everyone can see.”
Before the official debut, a special “premiere”. January 14 with around 1,600 poor people who have received tickets at the dormitories, canteens and communities in which they live and will be able to preview the show together with the volunteers who assist them. “It is very nice to think that the show will be given to the poor as a preview, after all, even in the Gospel priority is given to the poor”, said the Cardinal Konrad Krajewski, Almoner of the Pope. At the end of the performance, the missionaries of charity of Mother Teresa of Calcutta will offer anyone who wishes a bag containing dinner. Fatima Lucarini had expressed to Cardinal Krajewski her desire to offer the show to the poor of Rome; a wish immediately realized and also expressed to the Pope in the meeting that took place last December 12th.
