Carla Bruni cancels concerts in Canada due to poor ticket sales

Carla Bruni, wife of former French president Nicolas Sarkozy, will not be performing at the Casino du Lac Leamy after her North American tour was cancelled, the Ottawa Citizen reported, citing the concert promoter.


Bruni was to appear April 23 at the casino as part of her North American tour, which also included dates in Quebec City and Montreal. Richard Michaud said the touring company said ticket sales were weak, with about 100 tickets sold for the casino show. Refunds are available from the casino box office or from Ticketmaster.


Michaud said there are also changes to other coming casino shows. Belgian-Italian singer Lara Fabian’s Jan. 18 show at the casino theatre has been cancelled after Michaud learned the singer is experiencing “hearing problems.” Michaud said about 85 per cent of tickets were sold for the show and refunds will be issued.


“We would have been sold out but by doctor’s orders she could not perform more than three shows per week,” said Michaud, adding that Fabian is to appear as part of an all-star lottery gala lineup Jan. 12 at the casino, and later that week in Quebec City and Montreal.


Quebec actor Patrick Huard’s (Bon Cop, Bad Cop, Starbuck) show Rogatien de Retour, which was to run March 12-15, is being rescheduled until next year. “Patrick is busy with movies and he wanted to update his (theatre) show but he didn’t have time to finish it,” said Michaud.


A show titled Piano Men, featuring the music of Elton John, Billy Joel, Ray Charles and others, was originally supposed to take place in November but was bumped due to the staging of the World Series of Poker at the casino theatre. Piano Men will now take place March 21, 22 and 28, 29.