The 29th Festival des Arts de Saint-Sauveur: A Shared Solitude, 20 artists, 20 creations, 1 voice

Guillaume Côté is a principal dancer with the National Ballet of Canada and Artistic Director of FASS
Photo: Aleksandar Antonijevic

Faced with constraints the current pandemic, Artistic Director Guillaume Côté and his team at the Festival des Arts de Saint-Sauveur (FASS) have created an innovative way to present a unique and memorable FASS 2020 edition. This year’s festival will be online and aptly titled A Shared Solitude. Guillaune, principal dancer with The National Ballet of Canada, said at the beginning of our conversation; “Once we accepted the reality that we had to do something completely different, we saw online performances as something we could add to future festivals. Plus, it’s a way to reach audiences all over Quebec, Canada and internationally. After considerable thought, we could stay relevant online. ”

Conceived as a collaboration between Guillaume Côté, Yannick Nézet-Séguin, the Festival des Arts de Saint-Sauveur and the Orchestre Métropolitain, this 29th edition of FASS has enabled organizers to commission 20 new, original creations in dance and music.

Each Sunday, starting July into September 2020, and accessible on digital platforms, FASS will present 10 original solos designed by 10 choreographers on the music of 10 Quebec composers.  “20 artists, 20 creations, 1 voice”.

“People say that we’re all in the same boat.
In reality, we’re all in the same storm” … Guillaume Côté

Yannick Nézet-Séguin has helped organize the festival and will play piano for Guillaume Côté’s performance
Photo: Hans van der Woerd

Guillaume continues, “Yannick and I know each other well, and he was immediately enthusiastic about the concept. Each performance will have a original piece of music played by a musician from the Orchestre Métropolitain, The dancers work closely with the choreographers. Each performance with be performed at a different location in St-Sauveur, and shown online. By filing it live – we’re able to keep a ‘live’ component that you would normally see on one of our stages.”

“Each composer had a month to create their music, and each choreographer had a month to work with their assigned dancer. While we are filming, Yannick and I will have a conversation with the performers to discuss how they came to produce their performance. It’ll be a look behind the scene at how artists prepare.”

● Daina Ashbee on a score by Alejandra Odgers performed by flautist and piccoliste Caroline Séguin

● Marie Chouinard on a score by Louis Dufort performed by percussionist Alexandre Lavoie

● Guillaume Côté with Yannick Nézet-Séguin at the piano on a score by Éric Champagne

● Anne Plamondon on a score by Cléo Palacio-Quintin performed by trombonist Patrick Richer

Crazy-Smooth will perform on a score by Marc Hyland performed by
clarinetist Simon Aldrich
Photo: Becki Peckham

● Crazy Smooth on a score by Marc Hyland performed by clarinetist Simon Aldrich

● Virginie Brunelle on a score by Roozbeh Tabandeh performed by violist Marcelle Mallette

● Vanesa G.R. Montoya, on a score by Francois-Hugues Leclair performed by oboist Mélanie Harel

● Margie Gillis, on a score by Marie-Pierre Brasset performed by violinist Elvira Misbakhova

● Eva Kolorova on a score by Maggie Ayotte performed by horn player Louis-Philippe Marsolais

● Andrew Skeels on a score by Isabelle Panneton performed by trumpeter Stephane Beaulac.

Each week, vignettes produced by director Louis-Martin Charest will offer a window into the progress and work of the artists.

To learn about the dates and times, please visit the festival’s website: www.festivaldesarts.ca

Margie Gillis will dance to music by Marie-Pierre Brassett with
violist Elvira Misbakova
Photo: Desdemona Burgin

Andrew Skeels will dance to a score by Isabelle Panneton with trumpeter Stéphane Beaulac
Photo: Allen Birnbach