This page is also available in / Cette page est également disponible en:
Francais (French)
Le Mont Analogue, an unfinished adventure novel by René Daumal, has philosophical and mathematical overtones, says Hubert Tanguay-Labrosse, co-artistic director and musical director of BOP | Ballet Opéra Pantomime. It was at the initiative of choreographer Wynn Holmes that author Clara Prévost and the composer embraced the intangible and infinite notions that inspired Daumal and the artists who idolized him—not least of which singer-songwriter/poet Patti Smith.
The base of Mount Analogue is accessible to all, while its summit is hidden from view. Symbolic or not, its ascent would provide access to the highest spiritual secrets, and a group of researchers is on the lookout for this theoretical mountain.
The sound of another world
To create the sound of a world whose very existence remains to be proven, Tanguay-Labrosse didn’t want a string quartet. “I was looking for certain timbres and textures that would enable me to play in harmonics that were square but easy on the ear,” he says, “and to invent them, I assembled a motley crew of musicians, like the team of scientists who set off in search of Mount Analogue.
“My music supports the text and the movement, it’s relatively simple on a harmonic level. I want to leave room for both movement and imagination,” continues the composer, adding that the show features dance, text and music in equal proportions.
“The text will mostly be delivered by the character portrayed by Jean-François Casabonne, but there will be songs and moments of pure improvisation in the show as well.” The idea is to emphasize the voices: Gabriel Dharmoo, vocalist and improviser, Jeanne Laforest, trained in jazz, and Janelle Lucyk, folk and baroque singer, will all lend their colour to the performance.
The composer is also enthusiastic about the instruments invented by Tom Jacques, a brilliant Rimouski-based instrumentalist. “I love his twisted instruments, they perfectly complement my scores and are also visually startling, which is perfect, because I wanted it to be impossible to identify an instrument even from a distance.
“The atmosphere is very good, I lead the rehearsals as artistic director, but without a conductor’s baton.” Hubert Tanguay-Labrosse is first and foremost a clarinetist, and he will be making his return to the stage at Espace Go. Based on the cult novel, Le Mont Analogue is an initiation quest that fits in well with the difficult times we’re living through, and audiences will find in it what they want to read.
BOP Ballet Opéra Pantomime makes its debut at Espace Go with Le Mont Analogue, a dance-music show freely inspired by René Daumal’s unfinished work. www.bopbop.ca/en
Espace Go, Feb. 27-March 10. www.espacego.com
Playlist
This page is also available in / Cette page est également disponible en:
Francais (French)
