JEANNE
The Joan of Arc Musical Drama
Peter Sipos’ first full-length musical grew from an ambitious Montreal premiere into a major bilingual production directed by Broadway’s Martin Charnin. Through an expansive score, Jeanne follows the courage, faith and tragic destiny of one of history’s most compelling figures.
Montreal, 1995
Peter Sipos
Vincent de Tourdonnet
Place des Arts, 1997
Martin Charnin
THE STORY BEHIND JEANNE
From Inspiration to the Stage
Long before Jeanne reached the stage of Montreal’s Place des Arts, it began with a simple but ambitious idea: could the timeless story of Joan of Arc become a modern musical?
For composer Peter Sipos, the answer lay not only in history, but in the extraordinary human story behind one of the world’s most enduring heroines. Joan’s courage, conviction and willingness to stand by her beliefs offered the emotional foundation for a musical that would combine intimate character moments with the scale and spectacle of grand musical theatre.
To bring that vision to life, Peter joined forces with playwright and lyricist Vincent de Tourdonnet. Together they set out to create an original work that would tell Joan’s story through an entirely new score, blending dramatic storytelling with music that ranged from lyrical ballads to powerful ensemble numbers.
The project quickly grew beyond its original ambitions. Producers recognised the potential of the work, and what began as a new Canadian musical developed into one of the largest original theatrical productions mounted in Montreal during the 1990s. As rehearsals progressed, the creative team expanded to include experienced designers, choreographers and musicians, all working towards an ambitious world premiere.
The result was Jeanne – The Joan of Arc Musical Drama, a production that celebrated one of history’s most compelling figures while establishing Peter Sipos as a major new voice in Canadian musical theatre.
“When I first heard a full orchestra performing my music, it felt like a miracle.”
— Peter Sipos
A TIMELESS STORY OF COURAGE AND CONVICTION
For more than six centuries, the story of Joan of Arc has inspired artists, historians and audiences around the world. Yet behind the legend lies the remarkable true story of a young woman whose faith, courage and determination changed the course of history.
Jeanne follows Joan’s journey from her humble beginnings in rural France to her extraordinary leadership during the Hundred Years’ War. Guided by an unwavering belief in her divine calling, she rallies a divided nation, inspires the Dauphin to claim the French throne, and leads an army against overwhelming odds.
But triumph comes at a price. Captured by her enemies and brought before an ecclesiastical court, Joan refuses to renounce her beliefs, even in the face of death. Her courage ultimately transforms her into one of history’s most enduring symbols of conviction, sacrifice and hope.
Through a richly varied musical score, dramatic storytelling and memorable characters, Jeanne explores not only the historical events but also the human emotions behind one of the world’s most extraordinary lives.
THE MUSIC
Peter Sipos’ score combines sweeping orchestral writing with intimate character songs, powerful ensemble numbers and dramatic choral sequences. The music reflects both the emotional journey of its characters and the scale of the historical events unfolding around them.
Music from the Original Recording
Released as a five-track promotional CD, this recording captures highlights from Peter Sipos’ score for Jeanne. Produced during the musical’s development, it features performances by acclaimed Canadian artists including Judith Bérard and René Simard, together with members of the original company. The recording offers a rare opportunity to hear the music exactly as it was presented during this important stage in the show’s journey.
1. Medley (3:03)
Performed by: Lisa Forget, Patrick Olafson, Pierre Benard, Marc Poulin, Roxanne Potvin and René Simard
Includes:
- Mettez Fin Au Carnage
- La France et l’Angleterre
- La Bataille d’Orléans
An energetic opening medley introducing three of the musical’s principal ensemble numbers. Beginning with a passionate plea to end the bloodshed, the music moves through the conflict between France and England before culminating in the excitement and optimism surrounding the Battle of Orléans. The medley provides an excellent introduction to Peter Sipos’ dramatic, melodic writing and the epic scale of the score. Play
2. Jeanne La Pucelle (3:02)
Performed by: Judith Bérard
The musical’s signature song and one of its emotional centrepieces. Sung by Judith Bérard in the title role, it introduces Jeanne’s unwavering faith, courage and sense of purpose. The soaring melody immediately establishes the inspirational tone that runs throughout the musical. Play
3. Ta Foi En Moi (2:27)
Performed by: René Simard and Judith Bérard
A beautifully intimate duet exploring trust, faith and mutual belief. The contrast between the two voices creates one of the recording’s most personal moments, revealing the human relationships that lie behind the larger historical events. Play
4. Rien Ne M'Appelle (3:04)
Performed by: René Simard
A reflective solo for King Charles VII, portraying uncertainty and inner conflict before destiny finally begins to reveal itself. The song offers a thoughtful contrast to the larger ensemble numbers and demonstrates the score’s emotional depth. Play
5. Jeanne La Pucelle (English Version) (3:02)
Recorded in English as the production looked beyond its original French-language audience, this version illustrates the creative team’s ambition to bring Jeanne to English-speaking Canada, Toronto and ultimately Broadway. Hearing the same song in both languages offers a fascinating glimpse into the musical’s international aspirations. Play
CRITICAL RECEPTION
A bold new Canadian musical
When Jeanne premiered in Montreal in 1995, it attracted considerable attention from both audiences and critics. The production was ambitious in every respect—an original score of twenty-nine songs, a cast of eighteen performers, elaborate staging and special effects, all centred on the extraordinary story of Joan of Arc.
Reviewers consistently praised Peter Sipos’ energetic and memorable music, with several critics highlighting the score as one of the production’s greatest strengths. Maclean’s magazine noted that the composer’s “wildly energetic music” frequently stole the show, while other reviewers described many of the songs as showstoppers.
Although some critics felt the production itself still required further development before achieving its full potential, there was widespread recognition that Jeanne possessed remarkable ambition and genuine promise. Several reviews suggested that with refinement it had the potential to become a major new musical.
A bold new Canadian musical
From the outset, Jeanne was conceived on an unusually large scale. Promotional material proudly described it as an original Canadian mega-musical destined for Toronto and Broadway.
To support those ambitions, a promotional recording was produced, the score was translated into both French and English, and internationally respected theatre director Martin Charnin joined the creative team. The production represented an important milestone in Peter Sipos’ career as a composer, demonstrating both the breadth of his musical writing and his ability to create large-scale theatrical works.
Broadway interrupted
In 2001, Peter Sipos was living in New York while continuing to develop Jeanne for Broadway. Following the terrorist attacks of 11 September, Broadway entered one of the most uncertain periods in its history.
Peter later described empty theatres, productions struggling to survive and performers voluntarily accepting reduced salaries to keep shows running. Like many productions of the period, Jeanne‘s Broadway plans were inevitably delayed by events beyond anyone’s control.
Although those ambitions were never fully realised, the musical remains an important chapter in Peter’s creative journey and stands as evidence of his determination to bring original Canadian musical theatre to an international audience.
Jeanne Today
Although Jeanne never reached Broadway, its music and story continue to endure. The original recordings, production photographs, newspaper reviews and promotional material presented here preserve an important chapter in Peter Sipos’ career and celebrate the passion, creativity and ambition of everyone who helped bring the musical to life.
“When I first heard a full orchestra performing my music, it felt like a miracle.”
— Peter Sipos
Creative Team
Jeanne was brought to life through the collaboration of an exceptional creative team whose shared vision transformed the story of Joan of Arc into an ambitious original musical.
Role
Creative
Music
Peter Sipos
Book & Lyrics
Vincent de Tourdonnet
French Adaptation
Antonine Maillet
Original Director
Roger Peace
Later Production
Martin Charnin
Musical Director
John Gilbert
Musical Arrangements
Peter Mika
Vocal Arrangements
Christopher B. J. Smith
Set Design
Jean-Claude Olivier
Costume Design
Jean Blanchette
Lighting Design
Eric Gingras
Casting
Elite Productions
Executive Producer
Allan Sandler
Principal Cast
Performer
Role
Naomi Emmerson
Jeanne
André Thérien
The Dauphin / Charles VII
Marc Poulin
Pierre Cauchon
Sylvain Landry
La Hire
"Jeanne was written with the hope of bringing an enduring story of courage, faith and determination to a new generation through music."
— Peter Sipos —