From Sea To Clouds

Stéphanie Pothier, voice and prepared piano, video design

Rosalie Asselin, piano

Julien-Robert, composer and video design

Anne-Sara Gendron, set and light

Concept
Multimedia concert for voice and piano with video projections, mixing classical repertoire with electroacoustic and live electronic processing, in a continuous water-themed sound and visual thread without any stop between the pieces, like the river that flows and rolls without stopping. Both innovative and accessible, this creation will seduce specialists and spectators eager to discover new ways to present classical music as well as neophytes.

More than a recital, From Sea To Clouds is an immersive audio-visual experience on the theme of water in its different forms, on the ocean waves and in the heights of the clouds, an ode to maritime beauty and a call for the protection of water. It is built around works of water-themed French music for voice and piano, including those of Debussy, Ravel and Berlioz, in addition to an original work for voice, piano and electronics by Montreal composer Julien-Robert, in a setting of captivating video projections. Mezzo-soprano Stéphanie Pothier offers a fluid and uninterrupted stage work that transports us into a dreamlike and colorful universe.

As we race against time to save our environment, our connection to water is highlighted, both as an essential element for life and in the threat posed by the melting ice cap and rising sea levels. From Sea to Clouds is a reflection on the beauty, power, and value of water.

"The St. Lawrence River, which shaped the history of the occupation of Quebec, is at the heart of our inspiration: a marine force, a vital artery crossing the territory, invigorating its population, and nourishing flora and fauna. I followed it, from Montreal to the Gaspé Peninsula, where it becomes the sea, to bring back images and sounds that, transformed, become a work that is both concrete and abstract." - Stéphanie Pothier

This multimedia concert is structured around "Confluents," an original work in four movements for voice, piano, and electronics by Julien-Robert, seamlessly interwoven with repertoire around the theme of water. The music blends into a video scenography, creating a fluid concert where the boundaries of the works are blurred, like the confluences of rivers whose diffuse boundaries merge.

Comments from programmers and critics

“The real masterstroke is the integration of classical works with [the original music], which is so successful that one would think of a continuous flow (no pun intended), a sound flow in one piece that, coupled with the video projection, seems to never have a beginning or an end. All of it is revealed with a disarming naturalness. It is simply astounding. (…) Certainly, the artistic experience is strong, as poetic as it is committed, as captivating as it is sublime. The talents gathered and the vision of this creation make it a must-see.”
- L’Opéra, Canadian opera magazine, Éric Champagne

“From the sea to the clouds, an immersive concert that transports the spectator into a transcendent aquatic sound dimension, guided by a magnificent, free and whole voice, captivating, sometimes overwhelming video images, all in the company of a complicit pianist of great sensitivity. »
- Mylène Robillard, cultural agent, Notre-Dame-de-Grâce Cultural Center (Canada)
Comments from the audience

"This concert fascinated me and transported me elsewhere: the piano was no longer simply the instrument on which Rosalie Asselin played so wonderfully; it was a boat carrying me far away, all the way to the ocean. Thank you so much for this exceptional musical moment! There is such beautiful harmony between the three of you."

- Irène Bouillère

"From Sea to Clouds" impressed me greatly, at times even moving me to tears... Conceptually, I immediately embraced your approach and immediately appreciated your ease in crossing genres... Offering us moments of rare beauty, your multidisciplinary team, where everyone seems to be at the peak of their powers, can be proud of having contributed significantly to the development of such a accomplished work. BRAVO to all of you, and thank you for the delight and depth."

- Pauline Hamel

"It's one of the best shows I've ever seen: all that visual poetry, the music, this is incredible..." 

"The poetry in it, it's incredible how deeply it touches us."

"We feel that you've put on such a personal show, but it touches us so deeply because it's authentic and you can feel it."

"It's as much visual arts as it is contemporary music, but everything flows as if it were a single thing! It was so beautiful! I've never seen anything like it!"

Technical specifications

Stage dimensions : Ideal = 11m width x 8m depth x 5.8m height / Minimum = 9’ width x 6m  depth x 4.9m height

Requires a grand piano

Setup time : 8 hours, including two hours rehearsal; strike : 1 hour

Screens and projectors provided by the producer

Detailed technical specifications: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1BUhlXontzrf7hJRVA6ZzK9tcxe6nSBik/view?usp=sharing

Duration: 60 minutes, no intermission

Personal on the road: 4 in total : 2 artists on stage, 1 lighting technician, 1 technical director accompanying the show and operating the projections 

Booking: info@stephaniepothier.com

Optional complement to the concert - Video exhibition -  Confluent - From Sea To Clouds - indoor broadcast, possibility of outdoor adaptation https://www.stephaniepothier.com/clairobscur/confluents-exposition/