“An Overview of the 2007 ‘Poster Art’ Calendar”
By: Ricky Russo – Orlando, Florida (USA)
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Cirque du Soleil 2007: Poster Art from 1984-2006
Design by: Ziga Design, LLC
Published by: Barnes & Noble Calendars, June 2006
ISBN-13: 978-0-7607-8144-9
ISBN-10: 0-7607-8144-3
UPC: 9-780760-781449-01495
$14.95 USD / $19.95 CAD
Believe it or not, the “Poster Art” calendar is but one of three Cirque du Soleil-themed schedules available for your enjoyment next year and their proliferation comes as quite a surprise to us.
The first two are of the wall variety – this one by Barnes & Noble and another by Tide-Mark press, featuring photos from Cirque’s archives (we’ll review this one at a later date) – and a third (also by Barnes & Noble) in the desk calendar format with Quidam’s “Boum-Boum” character on the cover.
You’ll recognize the “Poster Art” calendar by its dark blue cover montage of three easily identifiable Cirque du Soleil characters: a Nymph from Alegría (top center), the Lizard from Varekai (middle left), and the Green Bird from La Nouba (bottom right).
The first two pages inside contain poster art and monthly panels for the last four months of 2006 – September, October, November and December – with poster images of the first four Cirque du Soleil themed shows: Cirque du Soleil (1984), Le Magie Continue (1986), Cirque Réinventé (1987) and Nouvelle Expérience (1990). Here we find exact replicas of the mini-poster set released for Cirque du Soleil’s 20th Anniversary celebration rather than true poster representations, but it’s a start.
The rest of the book unfolds normally with one monthly panel per page and a different poster-art image accompanying. Each month is also complimented with a caption about the show it depicts, which we’ve included in our overview below:
September/October 2006 – Cirque du Soleil/Le Magie Continue
Cirque du Soleil (1984): A colorful band of street performers organized by Gilles Ste. Croix and Guy Laliberte, toured 11 Quebec towns as part of the 450th-anniversary celebration of Jaques Cartier’s discovery of Canada
Le Magic Continue (1986) recalls the transformation of magical character such as “les sociaux (the Socials)” and “Reine de la nuit (Queen of the Night)” who transform into acrobats and circus artists.
November/December 2006 – Cirque Réinventé/Nouvelle Expérience
Cirque Reinvente (1987): Youth and magic are at the heart of Cirque Reinvente (We Reinvent the Circus). An open door to fantasy, a voyage to the heart of an imaginary world, the ringmaster is your own imagination expanded to its outer limits.
Nouvelle Experience (1990) is a colorful, wide-eyed, emotional fantasy – a carnival odyssey that combines the traditions of circus and theater. The elements of the human condition are explored in magical transformations under a fluid sky.
January 2007 – Saltimbanco (The 2005 Green Poster)
Saltimbanco (1992) is a daring celebration of life that offers up a new vision of the city, overflowing with optimism and joy. Here, at the crossroads of humanity, the unexpected is commonplace and the mythical is true reality.
February 2007 – Mystere (The 2005 “Firebird” Poster)
Mystère (1993) is the story of the universe, a rich voyage from the dawn of humanity to the end of time. In tracing the journey of life from infancy to adulthood, Mystère combines music, dance, mime, metaphor, and acrobatics in a surrealistic celebration of life.
March 2007 – Alegría (The 2005 “Nymph” Poster)
Alegría (1994) is a hymn to life and youth; evokes a time when fantasy and magic were integral parts of everyday experience. From the Spanish word for elation, exhilaration and jubilation, Alegría is a celebration of vitality.
April 2007 – Quidam (The 2002 “BlueSky & Brick” Poster)
Quidam (1996) celebrates the nameless passerby, in an intense and imaginative journey that transforms an alienated world into a place of hope and connection. Its theme is the mutual joys and sorrows of everyday life.
May 2007 – O (The 1998 “Original” Poster)
“O” (1998) – inspired by the concept of infinity and the water that is essential to life – tells the tale of theater through the ages and frees us to lose ourselves in a limitless world. Here anything is possible, as the drama of life plays itself out in, on and above the water.
June 2007 – La Nouba (The 2005 “Green Bird” Poster)
La Nouba (1998) is an unforgettable journey in which everyday objects propel us into a world of dreams and nightmares. Dazzling choreography, opulent set design, mesmerizing high-wire and trapeze acts – all combine to tell a fable of two simultaneous worlds.
July 2007 – Dralion (The 1999 “Original” Poster, tinted Red instead of Green)
Dralion (1999) is the fusion of ancient Chinese circus tradition with the avant-garde spirit of Cirque du Soleil. It celebrates life and the four elements – air, water, fire, earth – which take on human form and rule worlds defined by their vivid individual colors.
August 2007 – Varekai (The 2005 “Lizard” Poster)
Varekai (2002) is the story of the universal wanderer. Deep within a magical forest, at the summit of a volcano, is an extraordinary universe of fantastic creatures who seduce the traveler into newfound wonder at all that is possible.
September 2007 – Zumanity (The 2003 “Original” Poster)
Zumanity (2003) – The creative climax of sensuality, humanity, and art. This edgy, provocative exploration of the senses and creativity reveals another side of Cirque du Soleil, in which intense emotion arouses desire.
October 2007 – KA (The 2004 “Original” Poster)
KA (2004), the unprecedented new theatrical show from Cirque du Soleil, combines acrobatic performances, martial arts, puppetry, multimedia and pyrotechnics to illustrate the ambivalent power of fire to create and destroy.
November 2007 – Corteo (The 2005 “Original” Poster)
Corteo (2005) (“Cortge” in Italian) is a joyous procession imagined by a clown. It fuses the actor’s passion with the acrobat’s grace and power to plunge the audience into a spontaneous world poised between heaven and earth.
December 2007 – Delirium (The 2005 “Original” Poster)
Delirium (2006) – Cirque du Soleil’s music in motion! The Delirium Tour is multifaceted event of unprecedented proportion featuring Cirque du Soleil music remixed. Driven by this urban tribal beat and awe-inspiring visuals, musicians, singers and dancers transform the arena into joyous frenzy.
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You can purchase the 2007 “Poster Art” calendar directly from Barnes & Noble – < http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbnInquiry.asp?z=y&isbn=0760781443&itm=10 > or through the La Nouba boutique at the Cirque du Soleil Theater, Downtown Disney West Side.
