collectif9 and VC2 Cello Duo

Montreal string nonet collectif9 presents Rituæls, a grand artistic ceremony bringing together works dating from the Middle Ages to the 21st century with music by Hildegard von Bingen, Arvo Pärt, Michael Tippett, Nicole Lizée, Bryce Dessner, and Jocelyn Morlock. The performance is accompanied by the choreography and dance of Stacey Désilier, a supreme presence in a contemplative and spiritual universe.

Throughout the show, the musicians occupy several spaces in a way that echoes the grandeur and the depth of the pieces on the program. The lighting, scenography, and staging contribute to creating a succession of moments that transport and invite contemplation, creating a moment of connection and introspection. The music begins with a murmuring drone, from which the monodic chant of medieval composer Hildegard von Bingen slowly appears. From there, seamlessly into the music of Arvo Pärt before experiencing the serene, yet intensely detailed world of Nicole Lizée inspired by stop-motion animation, within which “the impossible becomes possible—souls emerge from where once there were none.” The journey between and beyond darkness and light guides us through the music of Bryce Dessner.

Michael Tippett’s “Lament” expresses grief using Purcell’s aria “Ah! Belinda,” during which a solo violin comments with a barely recognizable variation on an Irish popular tune of the Renaissance, while Jocelyn Morlock’s “Exaudi,” also an expression of grief, includes hope: “the music moves us from an inability to comprehend our loss to passionate cries of anguish, to acceptance and angelic reassurance.”

VC2 Cello Duo

VC2 Cello Duo is an innovative cello duo ensemble that captivates audiences through their performances of classical masterworks, unknown gems, and boundary-pushing music. Comprised of cellists Amahl Arulanandam and Bryan Holt, CBC Radio says VC2 is “a tight unit, with excellent intonation and expression.” They present artistically challenging yet accessible programs in venues ranging from intimate cabarets to Roy Thomson Hall.

Program

Rituæls by collectif9
Drone – collectif9
O vis æternitatis, Hildegard Von Bingen (12th century)
Psalom: Arvo Pärt (1985)
Another Living Soul: Nicole Lizée (2016) (a,b)
Lament: Michael Tippett (1952)
Aheym: Bryce Dessner (2009)
The Beatitudes: Arvo Pärt (1990)
Summa: Arvo Pärt (1977)
Exaudi: Jocelyn Morlock (2004) (a)
Tenebre: Bryce Dessner (2011) (a)

(a) arrangement by Thibault Bertin-Maghit
(b) written for Kronos Performing Arts Association’s Fifty for the Future: The Kronos Learning Repertoire