Viviane Houle

The heights of Houle’s vocal folds are stratospheric. We get grand opera, French chanteuse, and arcane contemporary classic singer capable of anything deeply vocal.
Vancouver Observer

Possessing a rare combination of skill and artistry, singer, improviser and composer Viviane Houle is one of Canada’s most gifted and respected vocalists and improvisers. She is widely recognized for her beautifully fluid and dynamic voice, a remarkable palette of extended vocal techniques, a sensitive lyricism and a fearless spirit.

Houle has been a featured performer in internationally celebrated festivals such as FIMAV, San Francisco’s Soundwave Festival and The Vancouver International Jazz Festival, and has performed with Vancouver Opera and the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra. She has also been recognized on the national and provincial levels by being awarded numerous grants, including major project and development funding from Canada Council for the Arts and the BC Arts Council.

Houle has performed and collaborated with many of the brightest figures in contemporary and improvised music, including Anthony Braxton (US), Louis Andriessen (NL), Didier Petit and Sylvain Kassap (FR), Sissel Vera Petersen (DK), Paul Plimley, Peggy Lee and Torsten Müller.

She has also released two critically acclaimed recordings. Treize, a collection of improvised duets produced by Jesse Zubot and released on the Drip Audio label, and La Belle et la Bette, with violist/composer Stefan Smulovitz.

Viviane Houle lives and works in Vancouver, BC, Canada.

This page was last updated in July 2023.