After three years of intense research with specialists in the Cardiology field, Rhodnie Désir’s ‘Symphonie de cœurs‘ presented by RD Créations, was held from April 4th to the 6th 2024, at Montreal’s Place des Arts’ Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier.
This large-scale production, involving 11 performers and the 60 musicians of the Orchestre Métropolitain, was a breathtaking fusion of dance, music and science, that left the audience breathless and with thunderously pounding hearts!
Désir, hailed as the 2020 Danse Grand Prix winner as well as an esteemed associated artist with La Place des Arts, has orchestrated a monumental piece complete with larger than life props and stunning costumes for the 11 dancers performing alongside the illustrious 60 musicians of the Orchestre Métropolitain, under the baton of maestra Naomi Woo, a rising star of the Canadian classical music scene.
Symphonie of Hearts boldly intertwines arts and sciences, exploring the complexities of the cardiovascular system. Rhodnie Désir collaborated with the Montreal Heart Institute and the Istituto Cardiocentro Ticino to craft a choreographic-documentary fusion, supported by the Fonds de recherche du Québec. Inspired by testimonials from patients and collaborators, Désir intricately wove the heart’s rhythms and societal reflections into her movements.
The pounding of the heart is greatly exemplified in the piece’s epic finale where all dancers stomp their feet in unison repetitively until exhaustion..
This multidimensional performance delved into the heart’s tumultuous journey through dance, music, video projections, and Afro-contemporary rhythms.”
Music-wise, a skillfully woven bridge between two distinct worlds emerged, creating a harmonious fusion of sounds and styles. French-Canadian singer and cellist Jorane’s music was performed live by the Montreal Metropolitan Orchestra, alongside Afro-contemporary elements (featuring beatmaker and sound designer Engone Endong, alongside talented flutist Lasso Sanou, both sharing the stage with the dancers.
This collaboration delivered an unforgettable experience that resonated deep within the soul. The synergy between movement and melody was unified, weaving a tapestry of emotions that captivated the audience from start to finish.
‘Symphonie de cœurs’ was not merely a performance; it was a heart-pounding hour and fifteen minutes journey that showcased the pinnacle of artistic prowess, the limits of the human body and the beauty of human expression in its purest form.
Congratulations to Rhodnie Désir and all involved for delivering such a transcendent, heart throbbing masterpiece.”
Symphonie of Hearts –
Choreography by Rhodnie Désir
APRIL 4. 5. 6, 2024 / 8:00 PM
Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier, Place des Arts
LENGTH : 1 H 15
https://www.dansedanse.ca/en/shows/rhodnie-desir-symphonie-de-coeurs
Tour dates:
MAY 30, 2024 / 8:00 PM: National Arts Centre in Ottawa with the National Arts Centre Orchestra
JUNE 2024: LAC Lugano Arte et Cultura (Switzerland) with Orchestra della Svizzera italiana