Les 9 & Vincent Bélanger Consonance

Consonance is a classical crossover album by the cello ensemble Les 9 and cellist Vincent Bélanger, released in 2022 on the GFN Classics label. The ensemble consists of eight cellos and one double bass, creating a rich, orchestral sound built entirely from low-string instruments.

The album blends original compositions and arrangements of well-known classical works, reimagined for this unusual instrumentation. Bélanger’s goal with the group is to explore the expressive range of the cello family and highlight the “compatibility — the consonance — among differences” within the ensemble’s voices.

Recorded at the Domaine Forget de Charlevoix concert hall, the program moves from atmospheric opening and closing pieces by Étienne Lafrance to powerful arrangements of works by Ravel, Barber, Elgar, and Bizet.

Consonance — Track List (by LP Side)

Side A

1. Prologue « Rivière Rupert » – Étienne Lafrance

2. Boléro, M.81 – Maurice Ravel (arr. for cellos & double bass)

Side B
3. Exile – François Dompierre (arr. Vincent Bélanger)
4. Chant d’espoir – Christian Thomas

Side C
5. Enigma Variations, Op. 36: Variation IX “Nimrod” – Edward Elgar (arr. James Barralet)
6. Adagio for Strings, Op. 11 – Samuel Barber (arr. James Barralet)

Side D
7. Carmen: “La fleur que tu m’avais jetée” – Georges Bizet (arr. Carsten Jaspert)
8. Carmen Suite No. 1: Entr’acte – Georges Bizet (arr. Carsten Jaspert)
9. Épilogue « Le sable, la nuit » – Étienne Lafrance