Member Since: 9/4/2006
Band Website: cirquedusoleil.com/CirqueDuSoleil
Band Members: THE ARTISTS
DELIRIUM showcases 44 talented and multidisciplinary artists (8 of whom have collaborated with Cirque du Soleil in the past) which include 11 musicians, 6 singers, 18 dancers, 8 acrobats and 4 main characters.
To heighten the musical experience, DELIRIUM is infused with acrobatic dances as well as classic Cirque du Soleil feats including aerial, acrosport and hand balancing acts.
Amongst the featured musicians are percussionist brothers El Hadji Fall Diouf and Pape Abdou Karim Diouf of Senegal; Gaïa, an energetic group with Brazilian and Peruvian roots dipped in funk, soul and electro jazz; keyboardist and band leader Ric'key Pageot; Italian-born percussionist Raffaele Artiglieri; Brazilian Italo-Cuban singer Dessy Di Lauro and Canada's rising star Jacynthe.
A 15 YEAR-OLD COLLABORATION
Creators, directors, multimedia and scenic designers
Michel Lemieux and Victor Pilon's careers have followed parallel paths in related fields. As such, it was inevitable that their worlds should collide. They are flawless accomplices and have evolved creatively hand in hand since 1990 through 4D Art, their highly experimental performing arts and new media enterprise begun by Michel in 1983. Their unique way of blending modern technology with original theater, performance and cinema has allowed them to produce riveting glimpses of the future of live entertainment and to conceptualize a mind-blowing collection of ground-breaking work.
These include, to name but a few, Grand hôtel des étrangers (1994), Orféo (1998), Anima (2002), Les Planètes (2003), Soleil de minuit (2004) and La Tempête (2005).
Michel Lemieux and Victor Pilon's first experience with Cirque du Soleil came in 1995 when they were invited to collaborate, along with the Montreal International Jazz Festival, on a show marking René Dupéré's 10 years of contribution to Cirque du Soleil music. In 2004 they created Soleil de Minuit, a unique musical event with over 200 artists celebrating Cirque du Soleil's 20th anniversary as well as the Montreal International Jazz Festival's 25th anniversary. Throughout that time, both Michel and Victor played important roles as consultants.
Amongst their numerous awards and distinctions, Michel Lemieux's multidisciplinary production Solide Salad (1985) earned 4 Félix Awards (Québec) for Live Show of the Year, Lighting, Sound Design and Director of the Year. For his photographic work, Victor Pilon received the Royal Order of Victoria in 1994. Together, they received a Félix for directing Naïf (1992), Michel Rivard's concert tour; the Award for Technical Merit of the Canadian Institute for Theatre Technology (2005); and the Gascon-Roux audience award for directing La Tempête at the Théâtre du Nouveau Monde (2005). As well, several of their shows have been nominated for awards honoring their innovative soundtracks and virtual projections.
Michel Lemieux and Victor Pilon are DELIRIUM's creators, directors, multimedia and scenic designers. Both attach a very personal importance to this event as it allows them a creative introspective into who they are as artists and how they have evolved personally and professionally.
Ultimately, DELIRIUM benefits from the leadership of two such individuals, whom over the years have mastered the ability to spin multiple disciplines into technological and poetic magic. Their challenge lies in redefining the way performances are experienced in an arena setting and to usher Cirque du Soleil into yet another realm of artistry.
Michel Lemieux was born on February 13th, 1959 in Indianapolis, USA and Victor Pilon, on March 19th, 1958 in Wakefield, Canada.
Influences: A MULTIMEDIA TIDAL WAVE
Along with the music and acrobatic performances, multimedia plays a key role in bringing the audience to delirious sensory folly.
Few shows can boast such a staggering amount of projections for one event. Spectators will be treated to gigantic, crystal-clear images with infinite possibilities for projections on screens, floors, and the audience.
In all, DELIRIUM has 540 square feet of projection space, the equivalent of almost 4 IMAX screens.
Projection screens include 4 state-of-the-art roll-up screens suspended from the top of the arena, 2 tulle screens that stand at the stage extremities and 4 wings.
18 25-kW projectors including one in the main character's air balloon cast images around the arena.
A unique system of pre-recorded, animated and manipulated live images keeps up with the musical tempo and insures the audience is alert.
COSTUMES, ACCESSORIES AND SPECIAL EFFECTS
DELIRIUM is filled with engaging symbolisms of life that are seamlessly entwined within the shows costumes, accessories, and special
effects.
Costume designer Michel Robidas has designed intricate structural costumes to bring the music of DELIRIUM to life, including an 80 foot volcanic dress.
5 luminous swings are used by acrobatic dancers to perform their feats.
A multipurpose planet drum measuring 15 feet by 59 inches serves as an acrobatic platform as well as a giant drum set comprised of 16 percussive instruments.
Four curve-bridges resembling small boats and made of composite material enhance the acrobatic performances. Two are suspended 15 feet above the stage; the other two remain on the ground.
Sounds Like: TURNING MUSIC INTO MOTION
For the first time in Cirque du Soleil history lyrics have been created for the instrumental tracks and real words integrated in place of invented language, bringing to the music a fresh poetic dimension. And also, for the first time Cirque du Soleil puts musicians and singers center-stage with their music as the driving force of this gigantic event.
In all, 20 of Cirque du Soleil's most memorable musical moments originally created by René Dupéré, Benoît Jutras and Violaine Corradi have been re-mixed by Quebec producer, composer and arranger Francis Collard. The result is a hyper-energizing urban tribal beat that explodes with electronic sounds, percussions and world rhythms.
Record Label: Cirque Du Soleil Musique Inc.
Type of Label: Major