Violaine Corradi

“In circus, the music envelops the audience. It makes the audience feel the difficulties, the danger, the lightness or dizziness, and, sometimes, it can even reassure.”

Violaine Corradi (b. 1959 in Trieste, Italy) is the composer for the Cirque Du Soleil’s shows Dralion, Varekai and the 2008 show ZAIA at the Sands Venetian in Macao, China.

I worked with her in Montreal, Canada on the Zaia score (keyboardist) and will also be working with her in China. She makes it very clear that the musicians are the “soul of the show”. We are responsible for creating the blanket of energy that the athletes rely on to cue and motivate their acts.

I can’t tell you much about the show or music until after it’s opened in China – but I really love the music for our show. Violaine creates a soundscape with palettes of musical colors that are hypnotic and emotional. It definately has the magical “Cirque” feel.

We are currently in the “creation period” for the new China show. There is a well known documentary that shows the creation period for Varekai (Violaine Corradi composed the music for Varekai). The documentary is called “The Fire Within” – you can order it online. It’s fascinating and most of the Cirque artists I’m working with have watched it. It’s pretty intense.

What’s Violaine like? In Montreal it’s normal for girls to greet people with the double kiss on either cheek. Being American I don’t quite have that down naturally. Violaine greeted me and I was very clumsy and said, “Darnit, I always mess that up” (trying to make light of my social inabilities). Violaine looked at me and said “Conrad, there is no right way or wrong way, there just is.” Or something close to that. I’ve been thinking about that one sentence for a couple months now.

That’s Violaine. She conveys a lot in few words. She knows what she wants.

Violaine is one of those people that affirms in me that it is permissable for art to be the most important thing that exists for some people.

UPDATE 06/18/08 – Violaine has been here for a couple months now working with us. We have gotten to know her on a more intimate basis as we fine tune the emotional impact of the music. The thing that really impresses us is how Violaine understands musicians and the working process. She is always looking out for and protecting the musicians. Of course it’s demanding – but she understands the artist temperment and our natural quirks. The best word to describe her approach might be “organic”. The music, musicians and interpretation must all flow and not be artificial or forced. It must be sincere. It’s really such a nice surprise that someone of her experience takes the time to really know and pull the best from each of us. She is something of a musical shaman I think. She is a great example of what makes up part of the “magic” of Cirque Du Soleil.

VIOLAINE CORRADI AND VAREKAI

With Varekai, Violaine Corradi is revealing a new side of her musical universe, already familiar to Cirque du Soleil audiences thanks to her work on Dralion. Since this initial collaboration, in 1999, she has composed, arranged and assumed the musical direction of the soundtrack for the IMAX films Bears and Great North, recipient of the grand prize at the 2001 Festival du film de la Géode, in Paris.

Violaine Corradi was born in Italy and arrived in Montreal at the age of four. Her father was a composer and conductor and her mother was an opera singer. In keeping with family tradition, she received classical training in singing, piano, clarinet and flute. At the age of seven, she joined the children’s choir that accompanied the Bolshoi Opera, the Milan Scala and the Opéra du Québec during performances at the Place des Arts in Montreal. She later studied drama, chose piano as her principal instrument and discovered alternative rock. Her music gradually evolved into a fusion of musical styles, drawing inspiration from folk music around the world.

VAREKAI
Since it began in 1984, Cirque du Soleil’s unique fusion of theatrical arts elements has enraptured more than 33 million spectators on four continents, with the show Varekai representing the 14th live production. Composed by Violane Corradi and produced by Natin Sawhney, this trippy, operatic, classical-new age flavored recording is the soundtrack to that show and invites the listener into the visual experience by way of musical diversity and wide emotional landscapes. “Rain One” is a bit on the avant garde side, mixing vocal samples, exotic female whispers, and rain soundscapes with Eastern music textures. “Le Reveur” blends soaring foreign voices with an ominous wall of electronic sounds and groove. “Vocea” mixes this same type of percussive foundation with a melancholy string section and a violin solo. Overall, it’s a fascinating mélange of world music and electronica that takes more than one listen to fully appreciate. ~ Jonathan Widran, All Music Guide

VIOLAINE CORRADI PARTIAL DISCOGRAPHY

2000 Cirque Du Soleil: Dralion
BMG/RCA Victor 09026 63559 2 United States CD
Cirque du Soleil Musique CDSMC 20022-2 United States CD
Cirque du Soleil Musique CDSMCJ 20016-2 United States CD
2001 Bears
Silver Wave Records SD 930 United States CD
2003 Cirque du Soleil: Varekai
Cirque du Soleil Musique CDSMC 20017-2 United States CD
Cirque du Soleil Musique 40000 503805 1 Canada CD
Cirque du Soleil Musique CDSMC 20022-2 United States CD
2004 Cirque Du Soleil
Cirque du Soleil Musique CDSMC 20019-2 United States CD
Cirque du Soleil Musique CDSMC 20022-2 United States CD
Cirque du Soleil Musique CDSMCD10021-2 United States CD
2006 Cirque du Soleil: Delirium
Cirque du Soleil Musique CDSMCJ 20026-2