For this original work to be an authentic ‘co-creation’, both musical and visual parts of the experience had to evolve in parallel. Our task was to visually amplify the orchestra’s sound without taking attention away from the subtleties of the composition. We set ourselves this challenge in honour of our hosts; the Maison Symphonique is dedicated first and foremost to the enjoyment of classical music.
Four movements, each introduced by the soulful words of Montreal poets, shape the composition’s arc: Earth, Fire, Water, and Air. This is why we also took a poetic approach to the visual elements, searching for simple but evocative effects. Generated by interactive technology, for example, we created real-time visuals from Maestro Nagano’s movements. In another scene, a dancer’s movements manipulate projections on a floor-to-ceiling curtain. The combination of human and technology offers a dreamy evocation of Montreal that plunges spectators into an immersive and multi-sensorial voyage.
