At 9 p.m. on September 26 at the Rialto Theatre, A Winged Victory for the Sullen immersed the audience in a vast soundscape where serenity, melancholy, and light coexist. Composed of Adam Wiltzie and Dustin O’Halloran, the duo was joined on stage by two cellists and a double bassist, forming an ensemble that lent an orchestral dimension to their neoclassical ambient music.
At the far left of the stage, O’Halloran alternated between piano, synthesizer, and recorded tracks, while Wiltzie, on the right, wove his layers of guitar and synthesizer. In the center, the three string players faced one another, as if gathered at the heart of the composition. For nearly an hour, the music unfolded almost without interruption or applause, leaving the audience suspended in rapt attention. This collective silence finally burst into a standing ovation before the group returned for a few more pieces.
The music of A Winged Victory for the Sullen is as captivating as it is an invitation to an inner journey. Majestic harmonies and orchestrated melodies gradually emerge from a hypnotic tapestry of processed strings, synthesizers, and piano. Their compositions create vast soundscapes—melancholic, luminous, and suspended in time. The lighting, which was particularly well-crafted, reinforced this impression by bathing the musicians in backlighting that skillfully complemented the drama of their music.
Drawing from a discography ranging from their self-titled album to The Undivided Five and Invisible City, the band offered a meditative and lush journey. Fifteen years after their first performance at the Casa Del Popolo, their return concluded with a third standing ovation—a collective echo of this timeless experience.
photo LLongpré pour Pop MTL
