Composer's Details

Name:
Violaine Corradi
Born:
1959

Biography

Violaine Corradi was born in Trieste, Italy and arrived in Montreal at the age of four. Her father was a composer and conductor, and her mother an opera singer. In keeping with the family tradition, she received classical training in singing, piano, clarinet and side 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 Place des Arts in Montreal.

She later studied drama, and chose piano and voice as her principal instruments. Her work gradually evolved into a fusion of musical styles as she developed a strong interest in world music, which would later become pivotal in her compositions.

Violaine?s work reflects the rich diversity of her influences and interests. She has composed scores for numerous exhibitions and films. From 1993 to 1998 she composed, arranged and interpreted the music to accompany leading Quebec poets in the audio series Poésie/musique. The nine titles in this collection, which she co-produced, have enjoyed wide success in international French-speaking markets. Some of the pieces from her 1996 solo album Passages, including Illuminations, are included in anthologies alongside works by such artists as Philip Glass, Jon Anderson and Andreas Vollenweider.

Since 1999, Violaine has composed arranged, produced and served as musical director of the soundtrack of the IMAX films Bears and Great North, the Grand Prize winner of the 2001 Géode award at the Paris Film Festival.

Violaine Corradi?s music for ZAIA is her third assignment with Cirque du Soleil, following Dralion and Varekai. "At Cirque du Soleil, the creators are asked to work in a vacuum, like the acrobats. But we also engage in a collective creation: That is our safety net,? she says. ?The director, Gilles Maheu had an inspiring vision for ZAIA that greatly stimulated my creative process for the show. When I write the musical score, I first develop the themes that the characters inspire in me, because everything flows from them.?