Uncanny arts collide at this week’s Cabaret Numérique

Orchestre 21

The first edition of Cabaret Numérique will take place this week, showcasing a range of talented local artists and adapting technology to contemporary artistic creations. This uncanny show is the result of a collaboration between MusicMotion — an organization “dedicated to the progress of interactive arts and music through innovative events” — and Printemps Numérique, now in its fifth edition. For the occasion, the Rialto Theatre’s baroque setting will accommodate Orchestre 21, Arnoovo’s immersive virtual reality installations and a number of other musicians and performance artists.

Orchestre 21 is an orchestra with a symphonic background whose mission is to develop and awaken audiences to both contemporary music and new local and foreign creations. The orchestra’s 40 musicians (including cellist Dominic Painchaud) will perform a contemporary classical piece entitled “Tout un monde lointain” while conductor Paolo Bellomia, adorned with a specialized vest capable of producing luminous effects, will be able to control the lighting and the visual projections through the motion of his arms.

Jullian Hoff and Charlotte Layec will collaborate on Transfigured Tube, creating a dialogue between human and machine with the bass clarinetist improvising on her instrument while wearing a device generating a digital transfiguration.

eraylik, FRB and Christo Saba will perform a multi-sensory composition for dance, with choreography by Jolène Boily-Béliveau, interpreted by François Raymond Boyer, under Olivier Lalonde’s artistic direction. They promise an emotional journey comprised of light beams, optical illusions and abrasive music, dark and passionate.

Also performing will be beatboxer Lucas DiTechnologist, who’ll be improvising vocal loops in his piece Infinite Loop, and T. Gowdy, who will provide live audio and video captions via surveillance equipment during the event.

On the dance party front, expect progressive and rousing rhythms by musician Van Did (co-founder of the 8day collective) accompanied by projections on the Rialto’s huge screen by visual artists Myriam Boucher and Mélik-Alexandre Farhat. ■

Cabaret Numérique’s first edition is taking place at the Rialto Theatre on Wednesday, May 9, 7 p.m., $18/$25