Wanmansho

for baritone soloist and chamber orchestra__11'__2015

Jules Léger Prize 2017 - Canada Council for the Arts

PROGRAM NOTE

Wanmansho is the greatest ambassador of his culture's form of sung theatre. Tonight, you are privileged to observe his celebration of preparatory rites, as well as his remarkable rendering of the Shreu and Djonr myth.

• Warm-up
• Preparatory rites
• The myth of Shreu and Djonr
  • Shreu's Contemplation
  • Djonr's Interference
  • Combat
  • Shreu's Spell
  • Djonr's Agony and Death
• Final Blessing

PERFORMANCES

July 26, 2015 OTTAWA (Canada) Ottawa Chamberfest / École secondaire publique De La Salle
Vincent Ranallo (baritone) and ECM+ (conductor: Véronique Lacroix)

May 22, 2015 TORONTO (Canada) 21C Festival / Koerner Hall
Vincent Ranallo (baritone) and ECM+ (conductor: Véronique Lacroix)

April 29, 2015 MONTRÉAL (Canada) Illusions / Salle Pierre-Mercure WORLD PREMIERE
Vincent Ranallo (baritone) and ECM+ (conductor: Véronique Lacroix)

REVIEWS

Dharmoo's Wanmansho was, I believe, the most successful of the new compositions. The title is a play on the phrase "one man show," and the piece almost defies description: try to imagine Dr. Who performing Schoenberg's Pierrot Lunaire with a kabuki ensemble. Dressed in a goofy red jacket, Ranallo leapt on stage, singing (also grunting and squeaking) in an unintelligible language, his vaudevillian antics bringing the piece to life. And there was also plenty of grunting and squeaking from Ensemble contemporain de Montréal, as they played their way through Dharmoo's colourful, percussive, wacky score.
Colin Eatock – Illusions : An Astonishing High-Art Experience, Wolfgang's Tonic – May 25, 2015

Gabriel Dharmoo's Wanmansho was too inventive not to like. Baritone Vincent Ranallo, sporting a funky Indian jacket, whooped his way confidently through various rituals about which we could know nothing. Orchestral effects included a round of flamenco clapping.
Arthur Kaptainis – 21C Music Festival : Gryphon Trio and the Ensemble Contemporain de Montréal, Musical Toronto – May 24, 2015

It was followed by an astonishing performance by baritone Vincent Ranallo and the ensemble in Gabriel Dharmoo's Wanmansho. Ranallo grunted, sucked and harrumphed at the orchestra like a patient coming out from anesthesia. The ensemble made some plaintive musical gestures in response but it was the baritone's show.
Lev Bratishenko – Illusions satisfying, like a hearty new music sandwich, Montreal Gazette – May 1, 2015

[…] l'évocateur Wanmansho de Gabriel Dharmoo, superbement défendu par Vincent Ranallo qui, dans son splendide costume inspire de ceux des maîtres de piste des temps oubliés, nous a fait voyager dans un imaginaire foisonnant.
Lucie Renaud – Illusions : Magique, Clavier bien tempéré, May 5, 2015

De quelle culture s'agit-il? Celle toute fabriquée par l'imagination débordante et débridée de Gabriel Dharmoo! Un folklore imaginaire dans lequel se mélangent dramaturgie, personnages, univers baroque et orientalisme, bref un monde merveilleux et tout à fait original. Une des grandes prouesses de Dharmoo est celle d'arriver à communiquer une histoire qui nous tient captifs même si elle est racontée dans un langage inventé. […] l'écriture musicale est très bien menée : elle est rythmée, vivante, originale, festive et même parfois inquiétante. […] Le duo Dharmoo-Ranallo est une réussite et les applaudissements chaleureux de la foule l'ont prouvé.
Marie-Pierre Brasset – Illusions à l'ECM+ : La fébrilité d'une ambiance de fête, Cette ville étrange – May 19, 2015

CREDITS

Commissioned by Ensemble contemporain de Montréal, with support from the Canada Council for the Arts