Le Vol de l’Oiseau mécanique, new large-scale summer activity

An adventure that could set the path for a new generation of shows, an audacious artistic and technical endeavour with a quadraphonic sound system and light effects, such is the feat that Atelier Occhio, formed by Stéphane Mongeau, Yves Aucoin, Martin Labrecque and Olivier Kemeid, as well as Le Massif de Charlevoix and its executive producer Daniel Gélinas, have achieved with this original creation. A true ode to the splendour of nature, this show is both contemplative and interactive and will reveal the invisible to all its visitors.

For Daniel Gauthier, cofounder of Le Cirque du Soleil and owner of Le Massif for the past 20 years, this project marks a return to his first love and will allow him to work with former colleagues to showcase the mountain's natural wealth. It is a source of great pride for him to be able to count on the expertise of Quebecers to carry out a project of this scale. 

" Le Vol de l’Oiseau mécanique allows us to pursue our objective of diversifying the mountain's four-season family programming and develop a world-class nature-based recreation and tourism center, " explains Daniel Gauthier, Chairman of the Board of Groupe Le Massif.  

Creative director and lighting designer Yves Aucoin who has been traveling the world for more than 35 years and regularly collaborates with world-renowned artists, such as Céline Dion. In 2013, he founded the visual design company 4U2C that was responsible for the lighting design of major ceremonies like the closing ceremony of the Pan Am Games in Toronto and the Asian Games in Jakarta. He was also the lighting designer for the Cirque du Soleil’s show Love. 

Stéphane Mongeau, who acts as Executive Producer, has been producing shows all over the world. In addition to directing the productions of Kà, Totem, Amaluna and Cirque du Soleil's Michael Jackson: The Immortal World Tour, he has overseen the immersive experiences based on the Netflix TV series Stranger Things and Bridgerton. Co-founder of 4U2C, he played a key role at Lune Rouge. 

Author and director Olivier Kemeid is a prominent figure on the Quebec theater scene and is the artistic director of the Théâtre de Quat'Sous for several years. He has written more than 15 plays, several of which have been translated abroad, as well as two novels, and has collaborated with many major creators such as Robert Lepage for the Riopelle Project. 

Martin Labrecque, creative director and lighting designer, is without a doubt one of the most talented and renowned lighting designers of his generation. Well known in the theater industry after having signed more than 200 lighting designs, he has, for nearly 20 years, been the lighting designer for Cirque du Soleil's Cortéo, Kooza, Kurios, Luzia, and Drawn to Life.

Drawing on their individual and shared experiences in various fields such as theater, opera, circus, music and events, the creators behind Atelier Occhio are pleased to present their latest creation on the slopes of Le Massif. They have surrounded themselves with composer Philippe Brault, who will write the music, Jacques Boucher who will be responsible for the sound environment, Mariko Samejima who will oversee visitor experience as well as Robert Lemoine who will be in charge of production. Daniel Gélinas will act as executive producer and will bring his expertise after managing major events such as the festivities for the 400th anniversary of the City of Quebec and the Quebec City Summer Festival.

One of the main priorities of the Le Massif team is to grow the company in an environmentally conscious way. Therefore, when developing this new activity, it was important that the infrastructure was optimized (reception buildings, chairlifts, existing trails, etc.) and that no forest areas were cleared or converted.  "The long-term sustainability of the mountain is a core component of our plan for the coming years. This type of activity perfectly embodies our company’s vision," explains Nicolas Racine, Vice-President & General Manager, Groupe Le Massif.

This large-scale production is made possible by Le Massif de Charlevoix, Tourisme Charlevoix, the Secrétariat à la Capitale-Nationale and Destination Québec Cité through the Quebec 2022 Tourism and Economic Relief Fund and the Quebec Ministry of Tourism’s Industry Recovery Program.

" In order for Quebec to continue to be attractive, it is important that its tourism offering is unique and innovative. I am delighted that the financial support provided by my government through the Tourism Industry Recovery Program is contributing to the launch of a project that is as bold as it is promising. We will continue to be there to help our tourism entrepreneurs fulfill their ambitions and help our industry grow, " said Caroline Proulx, Minister of Tourism and Minister responsible for the Lanaudière region.

"This project meets several of our regional priorities in terms of tourism development, such as adding family activities and evening activities. Thanks to its majestic setting and unique concept, this original project stands out from other light shows and will appeal to our clientele from Quebec, Canada, and abroad," says Martin Dufour, President of Tourisme Charlevoix.