Cirque du Soleil has created a special winter show just for the Russian public – JOEL!
JOEL, pronounced “yule”, is inspired by Russian new years traditions of Father Christmas and the Snow Maiden. From what we can translate from the original Russian, the contemporary setting is a bustling metropolis in just a few hours before the turn of the new year. There’s people scurrying about for last minute gifts and preparations, a blizzard raging overhead, and huge traffic jams holding everyone at bay. This is not a populace who believes in the miracle of winter any longer, these people are lost! And out of the depths of despair comes the beauty and magic of the Snow Maiden.
UPDATE: “JOEL is inspired by the traditions of the Russian New Year and follows the Snow Maiden in a snow-shrouded, enchanting world where a myriad of cooler stars will point her way to finding love. Imagine a bustling metropolis a few hours before the New Year; the incessant hustle and bustle; glittering lights in windows; singing all over the city; and the huge traffic jams and pedestrians hurrying in all directions. Many of them no longer believe in miracles, and for many years have seen the visiting Santa Claus as someone in the next room absently fiddling with a false beard, but not her … Fascinating beautiful, brave and stylish, this evening she hurries home and is resolutely rushing on the snowy street, when she stumbles on one of the inhabitants of the Kingdom of Snow. He stretches out his hand to this young beauty on this New Year’s Eve and opens the door to the incredible world of JOEL”
The show is under the direction of Fernand Rainville and a team at 45 Degrees events. Fernand Rainville, you may remember, was also responsible for the artistic direction of the opening ceremonies of the Outgames at Montreal’s Olympic Stadium in 2006 (“Circle”), he was co-director for the opening ceremony of the Montreal 2005 – XI FINA World Championships (“Reflections in Blue”), Director of the Cirque du Soleil pre-game show at the 2007 Miami Superbowl (“One Day, One Game, One Dream”), as well as Director of Creation on both Wintuk and Amaluna.
More details as they become available. In the meantime, if you happen to be in Moscow, check out JOEL at the Barvikha Luxury Village Concert Hall from January 2nd through 10, 2016. There are two shows a day – 3:00pm and 7:00pm.
Find out more information here: http://www.cds-show.ru/joel
