Wonder, others to launch Paris-Las Vegas

Paris-Las Vegas said today its Sept. 1 opening will feature performances by artists including Michel Legrand, Line Renaud and Charles Aznavour.

Three days later, legendary singer and songwriter Stevie Wonder will present a concert at the $790 million French-themed resort on the Las Vegas Strip.

Opening-night ceremonies will begin with a medley of French songs by Legrand, a multi-talented French musician with 150 musical scores to his credit and Oscar awards for his work on the original "Thomas Crown Affair" and "Yentl."

The medley will be sung by Legrand and French actress Renaud, accompanied by a 35-piece orchestra. Performed for a private audience at the base of the resort's Eiffel Tower replica, the concert also will be projected to the public via specially installed large screen video and sound equipment in front of the property.

Legrand and Renaud's performance will segue into a performance by Aznavour, whose career has included a Country Music Award as Best Composer and a place in the National Songwriters Hall of Fame, followed by a medly of songs written and performed by Legrand.

Next will come a preview to "Notre Dame de Paris," the musical bypassing Broadway to open at Paris-Las Vegas in January. Cast members will perform selected highlights from the show, a pop/rock adaptation of Victor Hugo's classic French romance "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" that is the most successful musical spectacle in French history.

The acrobatic performers of Project Bandaloop will use their skills to transform the Eiffel Tower into a 500-foot vertical stage, after which a fireworks show will mark the official opening of the resort to the public around 10 p.m. Sept. 1.

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