Thomas Hellman
Thomas Hellman lives at a crossroads of cultures and creative disciplines. The son of a Texan father and French mother, he was gifted with two languages and distinct heritages. He has released seven albums as a singer-songwriter and holds a master’s degree in literature. He is also a storyteller, an author, and a speaker. Combining theatre, live music, and oral literature, his unique performances have earned him international recognition.
Thomas is a radio columnist for Radio-Canada. On the show Plus on est de fous, plus on lit, he had a longstanding column, Le livre à lire en ce moment, in which he explained how literary classics remain relevant today. Also, on the show Dessine-moi un dimanche, he retold classic Greek myths in his own way, accompanying himself on guitar, piano or banjo.
In 2022, Thomas Hellman created Mythomania , a live show inspired by his radio spots on Greek mythology. The show is staged by the great musician and storyteller Michel Faubert.
A live performance by Thomas Hellman
Staging : Michel Faubert
Accompanist : Olaf Gundel
Lighting, sound and technical production : Michel Fordin
With the participation of Pascale Bussières and Fabienne Lucet
Duration: 1 hour
This live show is inspired by Thomas Hellman’s radio spots exploring Greek mythology through music and storytelling, which were aired on the show Dessine-moi un dimanche on Radio Canada’s ICI Première channel. Thomas offers his own portrayals of the famed gods and 7 goddesses, from Zeus to Athena, and from Venus to Prometheus. He is joined on stage by his friend and longtime collaborator, multi-instrumentalist Olaf Gundel. Rooted in a great oral tradition, his show offers the imagination a vivid, current, and highly musical journey to the heights of Olympus.
A live performance by Thomas Hellman
Staging : Brigitte Haentjens and Thomas Hellman
Accompanist : Olaf Gundel
Duration : 1 hour 15 minutes
Thomas Hellman tells the story of America, from the Wild West to the Great Depression, through bilingual adaptations of old-time blues, folk, and gospel songs. He also gives musical performances of literary works (Frank H. Mayer, John Steinbeck, H.D. Thoreau…) and of his own writings and songs. The concert is inspired by a series of radio columns Thomas did between 2012 and 2014 for the show La tête ailleurs, which aired on Radio-Canada.
« Un de plus beaux spectacles de ma vie. » - François Marchesseault, Radio-Canada
PODCASTS
PODCASTS
MUSIC
MUSIC
2024
2018
2015
2012
2008
2007
2005
2002
1998
CONFERENCES
CONFERENCES
For over a decade, Thomas Hellman has been a speaker at universities, colleges, museums, libraries, book fairs and the like. Each of his presentations is truly unique, and the content may vary depending on the context and requests he receives. Thomas can also host creative workshops.
Over the past few years, he has mainly been giving the following two lectures:
American Dreams
Thomas Hellman talks about his journey and the birth of his project Rêves américains, de la ruée vers l’or à la grande crise (American Dreams: From the Gold Rush to the Great Depression ). He explains the content of the live show and discusses the literary and musical works that inspired him. He covers themes such as Americanness, territory, and the American Dream, drawing parallels with our day and age. The presentation is interspersed with songs, which Thomas performs while accompanying himself on guitar.
« Chacune de ces rencontres a constitué un moment fort pour nos élèves. Monsieur Thomas Hellman sait transmettre sa passion et se rendre accessible aux élèves. Son talent nous a à chaque fois impressionnés »
« Sa passion évidente pour tout ce qui relève de l’art, ses grandes connaissances en littérature et en chanson française, québécoise et américaine de même que son éloquence saisissante s’avèrent d’excellents outils pour réussir à charmer à chaque fois les étudiants qui en redemandent. »
« Lors de ce spectacle-conférence au ton très personnel, Thomas Hellman a su raconter son parcours artistique avec beaucoup de sagesse et d’humour. L’artiste a abordé son processus de création et les influences présentes au sein de ses derniers albums, dont le plus récent, Rêves américains, est le résultat de recherches approfondies sur l’Amérique. Il a également parlé avec profondeur du rôle de l’artiste et de la quête d’identité propre à chaque être humain. Le chanteur a eu la gentillesse d’offrir quelques albums aux étudiants présents. »
« Thomas Hellman est un chercheur d’or, un trouveur de pépites qui s’est donné pour mission de partager ses découvertes… Voilà un projet hors des sentiers battus. »
Mythological Musings
Thomas Hellman reveals how his Mythomane project came to life, while reflecting on the meanings of classic Greek myths and their relevance today. He makes connections with history and the world that surrounds us, enhancing his presentation with old-time folk and blues songs.
The lecture may also be given in the form of a creative workshop, where Thomas introduces participants to “mythological” writing.
Lire aussi :
• Préface aux Rêves américains
• De tornades et de patinoires – Thomas Hellman, Revue Liberté
