The inspiration for this piece came to me after the pandemic when I had lost my connection to the creative process. Le fil d’Ariane evokes Ariadne, the heroine of mythology and her famous thread that enabled Theseus to defeat the Minotaur and escape from the labyrinth. The form of my piece is inspired by Ariane 5, the satellite-launching rocket that contributed to the creation an immense labyrinth of millions of active and inactive satellites and space debris orbiting our planet. This labyrinth conceals a new monster that no Theseus will be able to destroy, and which raises the issue of the multiple forms of debris we generate. Le fil d’Ariane is presented as a graphic score, moving back and forth between four tableaux that evoke the flight of Ariane 5: La boule de cristal (or Salle des contrôles, the locus of questions and worries); La mise à feu; L’escalade; La ronde des satellites. I directed the piece by providing the players with the necessary indications to guide their movements through these stages, where open-ended questions constantly draw them back to the starting point.

— Danielle Palardy Roger [English translation: Isaiah Ceccarelli, xi-23]

Premiere

• November 1, 2022, Zigzague & Colore, Espace orange — Édifice Wilder — Espace danse, Montréal (Québec)

Awards

• Création de l’année, Prix Opus 2022-23, Québec

Recording

• November 1, 2022, Bernard Grenon • Espace orange – Édifice Wilder – Espace danse, Montréal (Québec)

Mixing

• November 28 – 29, 2022, Bernard Grenon • Studio Resther, Montréal (Québec)

Mastering

• September 18 – 25, 2023, Ross Murray • Happyrock International, Chelsea (Québec)

Performers

• Ensemble SuperMusique (ESM) (Elizabeth Millar, clarinet; Danielle Palardy Roger, conductor; Jean Derome, flutes, objects; Joane Hétu, alto saxophone, voice; Scott Thomson, trombone; Julie Houle, tuba; Guido Del Fabbro, violin; Stéphane Diamantakiou, double bass; Bernard Falaise, electric guitar; Diane Labrosse, sampler; Corinne René, percussion)
• Marie Josée Simard, percussion, marimba (Elizabeth Millar, clarinet; Danielle Palardy Roger, conductor; Jean Derome, flutes, objects; Joane Hétu, alto saxophone, voice; Scott Thomson, trombone; Julie Houle, tuba; Guido Del Fabbro, violin; Stéphane Diamantakiou, double bass; Bernard Falaise, electric guitar; Diane Labrosse, sampler; Corinne René, percussion)
• Louise Bessette, piano