Rituæls
A spiritual experience that brings together works from the Middle Ages to the 21st century.
Rituæls is a grand artistic gesture that recalls the human tradition of passing on knowledge and practices in culture and art, one that connects us to each other and embraces the beautiful and painful of our coexistence.
Each tableau is tied to the next by continuous sound, whether introduced as a drone, a chord that imperceptibly transforms, or a group of continuously repeated notes, creating a common thread that accompanies us through a succession of emotional phases: the spiritual, the intimate, the fragile, the dismayed, the grandiose, the humble, and many more. Throughout this journey, we follow the commanding performance of Stacey Désilier (dance) in an impassioned choreography; a supreme presence who embodies all of the above.
This show was the subject of an album (Analekta/Outhere Music, 2024), receiving a Juno Award in 2025 as well as nominations at the 2025 ADISQ Gala and at the 2026 Opus Awards. Initially, this project took the form of a film-concert released in 2021.
Music program
Hildegard von Bingen (1098-1179):O vis aeternitatis
Arvo Pärt (born in 1935): Psalom and Summa
Nicole Lizée (born in 1973): Another Living Soul*
Bryce Dessner (born in 1976): Aheym and Tenebre*
Michael Tippett (1905-1998): Lament
Jocelyn Morlock (1969-2023): Exaudi*
*arranged by Thibault Bertin-Maghit
Creative team
Concept and artistic direction: Thibault Bertin Maghit
Video production (film-concert): Benoît Fry and Lucas Harrison Rupnik
Dance and choreography: Stacey Désilier
Scenography: Joëlle Harbec
Lighting design (concert): Renaud Pettigrew
Lighting design (film-concert): Alexandre Péloquin
What they said
“A sensory landscape that evokes timelessness... the real, the important.”
- Pan M 360
“Whenever we make something, especially something new, we may not always know what we’ve made. It’s therefore quite marvelous to discover something displaying genuine mastery, created with a deep understanding of the issues facing the audience.”
- Barcza Blog
“Moved, moved to tears, shivers, hairs standing up, the spine straightening on its own, the heart tightening, a smile forming, tenderness received, all senses on alert ... in the end, I just want to say thank you.”
- Audience member
Rituæls in concert
Nov. 25, 2023 - BARRIE ON - Hiway Church
Nov. 23, 2023 - TORONTO ON - George Weston Recital Hall - with Maïka Giasson
Sep. 30, 2023 - CLINTON NY - Hamilton College Performing Arts Series
Sep. 28, 2023 - GRANVILLE OH - The Vail Series, Denison University
July 27, 2023 - OTTAWA ON - Ottawa Chamberfest - with Stacey Désilier
July 22, 2023 - ORFORD QC - Festival Orford Musique
July 14, 2023 - MIDLAND ON - Brookside Music Association
July 13, 2023 - COLLINGWOOD ON - Collingwood Music Festival
Nov. 18-19, 2022 - MONTRÉAL QC - Église St-Pierre-Apôtre - with Stacey Désilier
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