Cirque Éloize brings revised Serge Fiori tribute back to Montréal

Cirque Éloize is returning to Montréal with a revamped version of "Seul ensemble," the circus homage to late Québec musician Serge Fiori, running from August 29 to September 12 at Espace St-Denis.

The new production retains the original's core concept but has been substantially reworked. Seven years after the 2019 debut, the show features nearly a complete roster of new circus artists and dancers performing roughly 20 Fiori songs. Only two performers from the original cast return: Angelina Bongiovanni on the Cyr wheel and David Ayotte on the Chinese pole.

The creative team remains intact. Director Benoît Landry, who helmed the original, has reconstructed the show with fresh choreography, set design, and lighting while preserving the foundational vision. The three musicians credited as Fiori's "spiritual sons" — Louis-Jean Cormier, Alex McMahon, and Guillaume Chartrain — oversee the musical conception.

"It's completely different, but it's still called 'Seul ensemble,'" Landry said. "The intention is the same, but I have the impression we've succeeded in doing it better."

The show's title encapsulates Fiori's artistic legacy: the tension between solitude and collective strength. Several numbers explore the "alone" aspect — notably juggler Jimmy Gonzales performing a moment of poetic isolation on "Lumières de vie" — while a dynamic new trapeze duet with Louis-David Simoneau and Maxime Charron on "Depuis l'automne" embodies the joy of connection.

A significant addition to this version is dancer and choreographer Chantal Dauphinais, Fiori's cousin, who appears on the cover of his 1986 album. "It's an honour, and I want to pay tribute to him," Dauphinais said. "My cousin was crazy about dance. The fact that he's passed away gives this show a whole other meaning — we're honouring his legacy, the genius he was."

Fiori died in June 2025, adding weight to the project. Director Landry said the musician's presence permeates the revised production through projections and recorded interviews. "The fact that he's dead changes nothing. And it changes everything at the same time," Landry reflected. "We feel him present — he sings, he speaks, his soul is there, his spirit is there."

The show represents a rare opportunity to experience Fiori's artistic vision through the lens of live circus performance, honoring both the musician and the collaborative spirit that defined his career.