Résonances Boréales

Beneath the Northwest Territories' northern lights, let yourself be carried away by the mesmerizing piano of Roman Zavada during an immersive live performance

With an upright piano anchored on the rock of the Canadian Shield, at the edge of the taiga, Roman Zavada created compositions inspired by one of the most spectacular and majestic phenomena on Earth: the aurora borealis of the Northwest Territories. Acclaimed by both critics and audiences for its beauty and originality, Boreal Resonances is a 360° immersive dome show featuring Zavada’s live piano performance. This experience transports audiences beyond the 60th parallel, where the piano enters into dialogue with the vibrant energies of the northern lights.

Roman Zavada is a self-taught pianist of Québécois and Ukrainian heritage, whose creative practice is rooted in instinct, spontaneity, and improvisation. Introduced to the piano at an early age, he later developed a strong passion for performance through silent film accompaniment, improvising live musical narration that becomes inseparable from the images on screen. He eventually returned to his original compositions with an ambitious project: Boreal Resonances.

Inspired by northern landscapes and the splendour of the aurora borealis, Zavada composed nine evocative pieces from twenty hours of improvisation in the boreal forest of Prelude Lake in the Northwest Territories, each reflecting the sensibility of the northern regions.

Aurora imagery: Bruno Colpron, Dominic St-Amant
Produced by Les Productions Figure 55 and Roman Zavada
Music composed and performed live by Roman Zavada.

ROMAN ZAVADA

Roman Zavada is a pianist and composer of Québécois and Ukrainian heritage. From an early age, he developed a singular musical approach shaped by rich and diverse influences. Considered a “field pianist,” he pushes the boundaries of creation in each of his projects. His unique artistic process is inspired by the environments in which his pianos are installed in nature, from the Canadian Far North to the forest surrounding his home. Nominated at the ADISQ Awards for Résonances Boréales (2016) and Forêt pour deux pianos (2024), Zavada has drawn attention for the creative originality and distinctive nature of his projects. He is also renowned for his Ciné-Piano performances, in which he brings silent film classics back to life through his electrifying piano improvisations.