======================================================================= ______ _ __ _ __ / ____/___ ___________(_)___ ____ _/ /_(_)___ ____ / / / /_ / __ `/ ___/ ___/ / __ \/ __ `/ __/ / __ \/ __ \/ / / __/ / /_/ (__ ) /__ / / / / /_/ / /_/ / /_/ / / / /_/ /_/ \__,_/____/\___/_/_/ /_/\__,_/\__/_/\____/_/ /_(_) T h e U n o f f i c i a l C i r q u e d u S o l e i l N e w s l e t t e r ------------------------------------------------------------ http://www.CirqueFascination.com ------------------------------------------------------------ ======================================================================= VOLUME 12, NUMBER 12 December 2012 ISSUE #107 ======================================================================= Welcome to the latest edition of Fascination, the Unofficial Cirque du Soleil Newsletter. Shocking and sad news took our fandom by storm the evening of Friday, November 30th regarding Cirque du Soleil's IRIS in Hollywood, CA - despite phenomenal reviews and enthusiastic audience response, demand for tickets had not meat projections; therefore, due to low ticket sales it was announced IRIS would have its final performance on January 19, 2013. While Cirque du Soleil will work with affected artists and craftsmen, this news comes on the heels of a longer string of closures by the Cirque, leaving us wondering who might be next and under what circumstances? Historically this is the seventh "failure" in the last five years. Delirium (2006), closed in 2010 after running into trouble finding sites to host its unique stage set-up (though it was successful.) Wintuk (2007), while moderately successful, did not get renewed past its original four-year contract. ZED (2008) closed at the end of 2011 following the Fukushima nuclear disaster brought on by an earthquake and tsunami. ZAIA (2008) closed in early 2012 following a down-turn in the global economy (and lack-luster ticket sales during its run). BANANA SPHEEL (2010) was so badly received by audiences that three re- tooling efforts weren't enough to save the "new twist" on Vaudeville. Viva Elvis (2009), which held a lot of promise at launch time, was unable to find an audience and was closed at the end of summer 2012. And now IRIS, which was supposed to debut in 2010 but was delayed a full year for various reasons, joins this list. (And though we'd like to include BELIEVE in this list, the fact remains it sells its seats and is a success from a business perspective.) That's about a 60% failure rate since Cirque du Soleil exploded out of the big top with ever-increasing lines of content following Corteo's success in the spring of 2005. Of course there are various reasons as to why these "failures" have occurred - from a global economy turned sour to natural disasters no one could have foreseen - but that doesn't make them any less easy to take or completely accept. All we can do is hope that those artists who have been displaced can find new homes within Cirque and/or Cirque as a creative company takes stock in their business plan and pauses creating new projects so that it can reevaluate the new global machinations and polish up a brand that has become a little tarnished (and... a little stale?) Amidst this shocking revelation we continue to celebrate Mystère, which celebrated its 9,000th performance on November 27th and this month - on Christmas Eve - its 19th anniversary! In honor of these milestones we've decided to take a look back at Mystère - from its genesis through how the show is presented today in a two-part exposé. In Part 1 (last issue) we began with the show's creation, discussed the trials and tribulations of getting the theater built, and in creating the show's esoteric narrative. In Part 2 (this issue), we continue that story by first picking up with an overview of the uniquely bizarre characters that populate the show, and walk through each of its three iterations: Version 1.0 (1993-1996), Version 2.0 (1997-2011) and Version 3.0 (2012+). Also within are my quick impressions of the two newest media offerings from Cirque du Soleil Musique: The "Le Best Of 2" and "Amaluna" CDs - and Keith takes us through the newest Cirque item in print: the 2013 Musicians Calendar! As always we've got the latest news items posted to Fascination! Web and, of course, updates to Cirque's tour schedule. So, let's get started. We're off and running again! Join us on the web at: < www.cirquefascination.com > Realy Simple Syndication (RSS) Feed (News Only): < http://www.cirquefascination.com/?feed=rss2 > - Ricky "Richasi" Russo =========== CONTENTS =========== o) Cirque Buzz -- News, Rumours & Sightings o) Itinéraire -- Tour/Show Information * BigTop Shows -- Under the Grand Chapiteau * Arena Shows -- In Stadium-like venues * Resident Shows -- Performed en Le Théâtre o) Outreach -- Updates from Cirque's Social Widgets * Club Cirque -- This Month at CirqueClub * Networking -- Posts on Facebook, G+, & YouTube o) Compartments -- A Peek Behind the Curtain * Didyaknow? -- Facts About Cirque * Historia -- Cirque Company History * Odyssea -- Cirque Tour History o) Fascination! Features * "Mystère du temps, Part 2: Celebrating 19 Years" By: Ricky Russo - Atlanta, Georgia (USA) * "New CD's to Fill Your Stockings!" By: Ricky Russo - Atlanta, Georgia (USA) * "2013 Calendar Review - Putting Music on Paper" By: Keith Johnson - Seattle, Washington (USA) o) Subscription Information o) Copyright & Disclaimer ======================================================================= CIRQUE BUZZ -- NEWS, RUMOURS & SIGHTINGS ======================================================================= Jason Berrent talks to the Tampa Bay Times {Nov.05.2012} ---------------------------------------------- Nine years ago, Jason Berrent started out as a tumbler in Cirque du Soleil's Alegria, part of a number called Fast Track, in which men and women in gold lame performed spectacular flips on an X-shaped trampoline built into the stage. Today, Berrent is in another Cirque show, Kooza, which opens Thursday in St. Petersburg. But instead of doing only acrobatics, he is playing one of the show's central characters, the Trickster. # # # "I still do acrobatics in this show, but I use it to enhance my persona," Berrent said from Dallas, the show's previous stop. "In Alegria I did a seven-minute number where it was trick, trick, trick. Here I'm onstage for two hours. The Trickster appears to a character called the Innocent and takes him on a journey through this crazy kingdom. The Trickster is a very powerful character, almost like a genie. He creates everything, and with the snap of his finger, he can make it all go away." Berrent, 29, was the original Trickster in Kooza, which premiered in 2007, but after a year or so in the show, he left to perform in "too many commercials" for Adidas, Xbox, Infiniti Motors and other products, as well as act in plays, such as a Los Angeles production of Nicky Silver's dark comedy Fit to Be Tied. He returned to Kooza last year. "It was such a great experience for me to leave Cirque and get a different artistic experience and then come back," he said. "I think it has matured my performance. The Trickster is a big part of who I am, so if I grow and mature, the role will grow with me." # # # And what does he think about arena shows? # # # "The arena shows just aren't the same, they really aren't," Berrent said. "There's nothing like a big top show. The intimacy and the environment it creates is really special." Kooza is currently performing in the Tampa Bay, Florida area. After its St. Petersburg engagement, Kooza heads to Europe for shows in London, Madrid and Paris. Catch it while you can! # # # Read the original article here: < http://goo.gl/qBtIi > {SOURCE: Tampa Bay Times} Online Boutique Updated / Get Amaluna CD Now! {Nov.06.2012} ---------------------------------------------- Check out the revamp of Cirque du Soleil's Online Boutique, and in doing so, order your copy of Amaluna'a CD today! The Amaluna album was created in the spirit of a musical voyage from start to finish, the same approach as the great progressive rock albums. The Amaluna soundtrack has allowed us to unleash the energy and the rock sound of womankind. Tracks: 1. ALL COME TOGETHER (5:54) 2. ELMA OM MI LIZE (3:35) 3. TEMPEST (4:23) 4. ENCHANTED REUNION (5:41) 5. FLY AROUND (3:45) 6. HOPE (3:28) 7. O MA LEY (4:29) 8. BURN ME UP (3:44) 9. WHISPER (4:41) 10. RUNNING ON THE EDGE (4:00) 11. ENA FEE ALYNE (3:38) 12. CREATURE OF LIGHT (4:51) 13. MUTATION (3:43) 14. RUN (4:23) Total playing time: 60:15 Music and Lyrics Written by BOB & BILL ORDER A COPY OF THE CD TODAY! {SOURCE: Cirque du Soleil} Quidam Heading to European Arenas in 2013 {Nov.07.2012} ---------------------------------------------- Although there are a number of US cities left on Quidam's North American Tour, today Cirque du Soleil alluded to an upcoming European Tour, which looks to commence in September 2013. o) Graz, AT - Sep 5, 2013 to Sep 8, 2013 o) Vienna, AT - Sep 11, 2013 to Sep 15, 2013 o) Leipzig, DE - Sep 18, 2013 to Sep 22, 2013 o) Stuttgart, DE - Sep 25, 2013 to Sep 29, 2013 o) Innsbruck, AT - Oct 2, 2013 to Oct 6, 2013 o) Salzburg, AT - Oct 9, 2013 to Oct 13, 2013 o) Munich, DE - Oct 16, 2013 to Oct 20, 2013 o) Cologne, DE - Oct 23, 2013 to Oct 27, 2013 o) Frankfurt, DE - Oct 30, 2013 to Nov 3, 2013 o) Dortmund, DE - Nov 6, 2013 to Nov 10, 2013 o) Mannheim, DE - Nov 13, 2013 to Nov 17, 2013 {SOURCE: Cirque du Soleil} Cirque talks MJ Las Vegas {Nov.12.2012} ---------------------------------------------- Cirque du Soleil held its gala premiere of Zarkana at Aria and although reveling in its light, Daniel Lamarre, also let a few things slip to Robin Leach regarding the Michael Jackson show set to debut at Mandalay Bay in May 2013. From the article... # # # o) "We are talking May 23 for the first-night of previews, with the grand gala opening June 21. [...] It will be totally different from the touring show. The tour was a rock arena concert, but this will be highly theatrical. That's the big difference, but there will still not be a Michael Jackson character in it." o) Cirque has still not decided on the show's title, and the creative team is working on the visuals. o) "We have already learned from the touring show that people want to listen and see his complete hits. They don't want a medley of songs; they want the full song. So it won't be 23 songs in the theatrical version. We will probably have fewer, but we will play it full blast." o) "None of the acts in the touring show will be used in the theatrical show. They will all be brand new - nothing will have been seen before." # # # Michael Jackson THE IMMORTAL WORLD TOUR's tour is doing quite well in Europe. So well in fact that the tour will be extended into 2014: "It's so big we are extending the tour by at least another year. It means for now, we will run it until the end of 2014 for sure. It's headed for South America and Asia. Then we'll return it to America and Europe to a lot of repeat cities where we were very successful and could have had longer engagements." Read the original article here: < http://goo.gl/xShHD > {SOURCE: Las Vegas Sun} Robin Leach Chats With Zarkana Music Director Nick Littlemore {Nov.14.2012} ---------------------------------------------- From the Las Vegas Sun: Sir Elton John was in the midst of tackling five projects when Cirque du Soleil approached him to create the music for its new Strip spectacular "Zarkana" at Aria. The British-born superstar thought the only man capable of the task was Australian musician Nick Littlemore. "It took 3 years, 100 and something songs and a hell of a lot of gray hairs," Nick told me opening night last Friday. "He said I could do it, which I thought was the biggest compliment. He knew how much work it would be, but I had no idea. Fortunately, music keeps you young. It might change the way you look, but it keeps you young. "Elton has heard all my music, but he hasn't been able to come to the show because he is always in the wrong bloody town. He will be coming back to Las Vegas in February, and now we are a resident here; he will see it and hear it for the first time. "Elton has been such a huge supporter of mine, and he has really changed my life. We made an album together. We continue to work together, and he hears everything that I do. I felt like I never could do anything like this, but to have the belief of someone like him, it empowers you beyond your wildest dreams. "He told me 'Congratulations' and gave me a big hug. He said just keep going, you've got a long life, and you are going to do a lot of amazing things." I asked Nick how loud he'd made the loudest of all the Cirque shows. "It's a rock show. It definitely packs a bigger punch," he said. "I don't know in terms of decibel how much louder it is, but it is still palatable to the ears and the seated audience. It is definitely more aggressive. We were channeling some pretty cool stuff from hip-hop to bebop to early [David} Bowie and Elvis [Presley] and everything in between. We are really going into rock's history. "Some Cirque people call it popera. To me, it is more like an acid opera. I see it as a very psychedelic experience." Read the rest of the interview here: < http://goo.gl/Nv4so > {SOURCE: Las Vegas Sun} Cirque says: "Let there be LIGHT" {Nov.15.2012} ---------------------------------------------- On the heels of Zarkana's grand opening at Aria, Cirque du Soleil is making news again this week, for a project that's part laboratory, part performance, part dance party and all experience. In a word, it's Light. The 38,000-square-foot Light is scheduled to open at Mandalay Bay in March 2013, and promises an interactive performance concept that changes nightly and draws guests into the show, along with A-list DJs, elaborate costumes and tech-forward integration of sound, video-mapping and, of course, lighting. "The nightclub will serve as a laboratory, very much like our special events and projects have done in the past, for different and new artistic possibilities," Cirque du Soleil founder Guy Laliberté said via press release. Daniel Lamarre, President and CEO of Cirque du Soleil, said "This new creative challenge is exciting for us. We have the opportunity to re-think the nightclub experience and apply our creative and artistic signature to different audiences and live experiences." Designed as an experience to play with the senses, LIGHT - turned on by Cirque du Soleil - will offer far more than the traditional nightclub. Upon arriving at LIGHT, guests enter the realm of the unknown, as everyone in the club is part of the show. Headlining DJs and performers will lead the charge, coupled with exclusively built performance elements and visuals provided by revolutionary video mapping, lighting, sound and special effects experts Moment Factory, as well as avant-garde costumes and unique choreography. At LIGHT no two nights out will be the same. The spectacle and feeling forever engrained in the mind of guests beg the ultimate question: Have You Seen the Light? Spearheading LIGHT at Mandalay Bay is The Light Group founder Andrew Sasson who has been intimately involved with each detail of the venture. Often credited with establishing and cultivating nightlife on the Las Vegas Strip, Sasson is no stranger to worldwide entertainment, having also launched venues throughout Europe, New York and Miami. Longtime music-industry executive Amy Thomson, manager of global artists including Swedish House Mafia, also worked on the development, music and marketing of LIGHT. Andrew Sasson said, "This partnership and the projects we are working on will be unlike anything the world has ever seen before - the ultimate theatrical nightlife venue. Cirque du Soleil has built a brand with worldwide recognition and their creativity, attention to detail and passion for their work perfectly complements The Light Group and everything we stand for." Amy Thomson said, "I rarely get to work on production outside of a festival space or arenas and the chance to work with Cirque du Soleil, putting their creativity alongside the music I love, was not something I could pass up. The DJs and performers who have come to work with us all have such high artistic aspirations, and to be able to try this in a space as iconic as Mandalay Bay I hope will be the beginning of many adventures with Cirque du Soleil and The Light Group. It will be a melting pot of ideas and the focus is equally spread across music, the experience and the crowd. Each one relying on the other, like an emotional ecosystem set up to cultivate and grow a magical night out." Find the Light on the Web here: o) Website: http://haveyouseenthelight.com/ o) Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theLightVegas o) Twitter: http://twitter.com/theLightVegas o) Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/theLightVegas o) Instagram: http://instagram.com/theLightVegas {SOURCE: Las Vegas Informer, Las Vegas Weekly} Zarkana techincal director hopes the show will "last forever" {Nov.16.2012} ---------------------------------------------- By Robin Leach via The Las Vegas Sun: Cirque du Soleil production personnel have engineered the technical aspects of the new show "Zarkana" so that it can remain at MGM's Aria Theater in CityCenter for at least 10 years - with an additional 5-year buffer. But David Churchill, the production technical director who orchestrated the move from New York's Radio City Music Hall to the Strip, hopes it will be a lot longer. "We always kind of embark on a 10-year goal when we design the systems for the show. We specify everything that it is to last for 15 years because we always do a 10-year and then a 5-year buffer. But then you have 'Mystere,' which is on year 19 now and 'O' not too far behind that. Forever would be just fine." I asked David if the move from Manhattan to Las Vegas was fraught with problems. "There are always hiccups, but I expected a lot more than there were, so this was a very smooth move for us. We have had the benefit of this being a touring show. We moved it into New York twice; we were in Moscow, we were in Madrid. We also 'teched' it fully in an arena in Orlando, so we have had a lot of opportunities to set it up and take it down and work out the kinks. "We had a couple of breakdowns. You are always missing hardware. There was a box of bolts that was shipped and put somewhere safe, and then it's not there when you need it. It was like case No. 1,000,006, or something like that! We did find it. It is always the most crucial, the one you can't find ... the thing that you need most. It was lost for hours before we tracked it down." How much of a test of skills and endurance was the move West? Read the rest of the original article to find out! < http://goo.gl/nbQqG > {SOURCE: Las Vegas Sun} MJ Immortal World Tour - a Record Breaking Sensation? {Nov.17.2012} ---------------------------------------------- After having broken a company record for highest attendance at a single performance with 17,397 tickets purchased for the October 27th performance at Parken Statium in Copenhagen, Denmark, Michael Jackson The Immortal World Tour received the Creative Content Award at the 9th annual Billboard Touring Awards on November 8th, 2012 in New York City. The tour also ranked #1 on last week`s Hot Tours list with a total attendance of 78, 777 for its multi-show run of eight nights in London. The Creative Content Award is conceived to honor new touring content that is both ambitious in its conception and is commercially successful, fulfilling the need for venues to present compelling content for entertainment fans. The award is not presented every year, reflecting the challenges of the sector. Delirium, a Cirque du Soleil production received the honor in 2006 . The Billboard Touring Awards are held annually to honor the concert industry's top artists, venues and professionals. Named by Billboard the #1 Touring Show for the first six months of 2012, Michael Jackson The Immortal World Tour set the all time three night box office record at America Airlines Arena in Miami, performed 5 nights at the Staple Center as well as 16 nights in Mexico City. Since its premiere in October, 2012 in Montreal Canada, Michael Jackson The Immortal World Tour performed for more than 1.7 million people in 75 cities grossing over 165 million US$. Created by Cirque du Soleil and directed by Jamie King, the leading concert director in pop music today, THE IMMORTAL World Tour is an electrifying production that is a departure from the company's previous touring shows. It is presented in a rock concert format that combines the excitement and innovation of Michael Jackson's music and choreography with Cirque du Soleil's unparalleled creativity. The underpinnings of THE IMMORTAL World Tour are Michael Jackson's powerful, inspirational music and lyrics-the driving force behind the show-brought to life with extraordinary power and breathless intensity. Through unforgettable performances, the show underscores Michael's global messages of love, peace and unity. Read the original post here: < http://goo.gl/gsaqp > {SOURCE: Cirque du Soleil} World's Away Makes North American Debut in Montreal, Dec 7th {Nov.19.2012} ---------------------------------------------- The North American premiere of James Cameron's new 3D film Cirque du Soleil: Worlds Away will take place in Montreal on Dec. 7, 2012. The announcement was made Friday night by Paramount Pictures. The film's international debut took place at the Tokyo International Film Festival on Nov. 9, 2012. It has already received positive reviews in Variety and The Hollywood Reporter. Cirque du Soleil: Worlds Away, was written and directed by Andrew Adamson. Cameron was the executive producer. It was produced by Adamson, Martin Bolduc of the Cirque du Soleil, Aron Warner, Ed Jones, and Cary Granat. Vince Pace was in charge of the 3D side of the film. The narrative thread of the movie is romantic. Two lovers torn asunder must travel through a labyrinth of Cirque du Soleil fantasy in order to get back together again. Cirque du Soleil executive producer Jacques Méthé said of the announcement: "We are delighted that Montreal is the first North America city where the movie will be seen." The movie will open in theatres across North America on Dec. 21, 2012, with screenings at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. Read the original post here: < http://goo.gl/1r4n5 > {SOURCE: Montreal Gazette} Four New 'Worlds Away' Posters! {Nov.23.2012} ---------------------------------------------- Check out these new posters for Cirque du Soleil's "Worlds Away 3D" film coming December 21st! LINK /// < http://www.cirquefascination.com/?p=3620 > Bruce Rickard Still Playing Strong After 9,000 Performances {Nov.25.2012} ---------------------------------------------- Bruce Rickerd hasn't missed a day of work in 19 years. That's impressive, no doubt. But is it newsworthy when a man does what he's paid to do? Rickerd, 60, doesn't think so. But he is a modest, unassuming fellow who plays guitar for a living. In his mind, that is hardly work. It's his good fortune. On Tuesday, he will play guitar in his 9,000th performance of Cirque du Soleil's "Mystere." His co-workers are in awe of his record. He's like baseball Hall of Famer Lou Gehrig, who earned the nickname "The Iron Horse" for his durability and 14 years of never missing a game, says "Mystere's" general stage manager Armand Thomas. "Bruce is our own Lou Gehrig," Thomas jokes. Although there are other artists and musicians who hold perfect attendance records, Rickerd's feat is unmatched among Las Vegas Cirque performers. And that old stereotype of flaky musician? Rickerd turns that on its ear. He credits his record to a mixture of luck and determination. Read more at the Las Vegas Review-Journal: < http://goo.gl/8h6Zb > {SOURCE: Las Vegas Review-Journal} Zumanity's Wassa Coulibaly Brings Personal Journey to "Red Dress" {Nov.27.2012} ---------------------------------------------- The cast of Cirque du Soleil's "Zumanity" is waving to the audience at the end of its show at New York-New York, and even as the applause continues, performer Wassa Coulibaly is rushing to leave the building. She removes the fiery plumage and beaded bodysuit of her costume - accents to the leaps and gyrations of her scintillating African tribal dance - and changes into a loose dress. Within minutes, she's driving two miles south on Las Vegas Boulevard for a stage performance of a decidedly different kind. Coulibaly, 35, is heading to the Baobab Stage, the theater at Town Square that she not only performs at but which she has taken over as landlord. It is here, on a modest wooden stage built for a now-defunct murder mystery show, that the Senegal native is staging a play that at first glance stands in sharp relief against the burlesque-tinged celebration of sensuality that is "Zumanity's" sultry hallmark. Coulibaly's play, "The Red Dress," is an original work about the redemption of women forced into prostitution. It's a story that probably wouldn't sell to tourists on the Strip because it puts serious content ahead of spectacle. But given the integral role that sex and its industries play in the city, it's a nonetheless astute fit for the Las Vegas community. Indeed, while Coulibaly earns her living dancing in the polished "Zumanity," it's in this low-frills, 356-seat theater between a cineplex and frozen yogurt shop that she further hones her creative passions. Twenty years ago, those passions earned her abuse rather than applause. Read more about "The Red Dress" at the Las Vegas Sun: < http://goo.gl/Jep4m > {SOURCE: Las Vegas Sun} IRIS to Close January 19, 2013 {Nov.30.2012} ---------------------------------------------- Shocking and sad news tonight regarding Cirque du Soleil's IRIS in Hollywood, CA - due to low ticket sales IRIS will have its final performance January 19, 2013. From IRIS's Facebook page: After close to 500 well received shows at the world renowned Dolby Theatre, the last performance of IRIS by Cirque du Soleil will be January 19, 2013. Despite phenomenal reviews and enthusiastic audience response, demand has not met projections. We have been honored to work with both the City of Los Angeles and the CIM Group to launch IRIS at this iconic location. It has been a joy to stage IRIS in the beautiful state-of-the-art Dolby Theatre and we appreciate the wonderful relationships we have built in Los Angeles. For the time being, we will redeploy as many as our artists and employees to other Cirque du Soleil projects. Performances of IRIS from 20 January through 26 January have been canceled. Any customer who has purchased tickets for these performances, please return to your point of sale for a refund or exchange into another performance. {SOURCE: Cirque du Soleil} ======================================================================= ITINÉRAIRE -- TOUR/SHOW INFORMATION ======================================================================= o) BIGTOP - Under the Grand Chapiteau {Amaluna, Corteo, Koozå, OVO, Totem, & Varekai} o) ARENA - In Stadium-like venues {Saltimbanco, Alegría, Quidam, Dralion & Michael Jackson THE IMMORTAL World Tour} o) RESIDENT - Performed en Le Théâtre {Mystère, "O", La Nouba, Zumanity, KÀ, LOVE, Believe, Zarkana & Iris} NOTE: .) While we make every effort to provide complete and accurate touring dates and locations available, the information in this section is subject to change without notice. As such, the Fascination! Newsletter does not accept responsibility for the accuracy of these listings. For current, up-to-the-moment information on Cirque's whereabouts, please visit Cirque's website: < http://www.cirquedusoleil.com/ >. ------------------------------------ BIGTOP - Under the Grand Chapiteau ------------------------------------ Amaluna: Vancouver, BC -- Nov 23, 2012 to Jan 20, 2013 Seattle, WA -- Jan 31, 2013 to Mar 17, 2013 Calgary, AB -- Apr 11, 2013 to Apr 28, 2013 Edmonton, AB -- May 29, 2013 to Jun 16, 2013 Corteo: Berlin, DE -- Nov 29, 2012 to Dec 23, 2012 Hamburg, DE -- Jan 9, 2013 to Feb 08, 2013 Sao Paulo, BR -- Mar 30, 2013 to Jul 14, 2013 Koozå: Tampa, FL -- Nov 8, 2012 to Dec 16, 2012 London, UK -- Jan 5, 2013 to Feb 10, 2013 Madrid, ES -- Mar 1, 2013 to Mar 31, 2013 Bilbao, ES -- May 16, 2013 to Jun 2, 2013 Knokke, BE -- Jul 18, 2013 to Aug 4, 2013 Paris, FR -- Nov 22, 2013 to Feb 2, 2014 Ovo: Adelaide, AU -- Dec 06, 2012 to Jan 6, 2013 Melbourne, AU -- Jan 17, 2013 to Mar 24, 2013 Perth, AU -- Apr 14, 2012 to May 5, 2013 Totem: Atlanta, GA -- Oct 26, 2012 to Dec 30, 2012 Miami, FL -- Jan 10, 2013 to Feb 3, 2013 New York, NY -- Mar 14, 2013 to Apr 21, 2013 Philadelphia, PA -- May 30, 2013 to Jun 23, 2013 Ottawa, ON -- Jul 10, 2013 to Aug 04, 2013 Varekai: Santiago, CL -- Nov 14, 2012 to Dec 2, 2012 Lima, PE -- Jan 17, 2013 to Feb 27, 2013 Bogota, CO -- Mar 21, 2013 to Apr 7, 2013 ------------------------------------ ARENA - In Stadium-Like Venues ------------------------------------ Saltimbanco: Cedar Park, TX -- Dec 12, 2012 to Dec 16, 2012 Montreal, QC -- Dec 19, 2012 to Dec 30, 2012 {Final Curtain Call, December 30, 2012} Alegría: Paris, FR -- Nov 28, 2012 to Dec 2, 2012 Rotterdam, NL -- Dec 6, 2012 to Dec 9, 2012 Turin, IT -- Dec 13, 2012 to Dec 16, 2012 Geneva, SZ -- Dec 19, 2012 to Dec 23, 2012 Barcelona, ES -- Dec 26, 2012 to Jan 6, 2013 Santa Cruz de Tenerife, ES - Jan 13, 2013 to Jan 20, 2013 Herning, DK -- Feb 7, 2013 to Feb 10, 2013 Copenhagen, DN -- Feb 13, 2013 to Feb 24, 2013 Oslo, NO -- Feb 28, 2013 to Mar 2, 2013 Stockholm, SE -- Mar 6, 2013 to Mar 10, 2013 Helsinki, FI -- Mar 13, 2013 to Mar 17, 2013 Turku, FI -- Mar 22, 2013 to Mar 24, 2013 Tallinn, EE -- Apr 3, 2013 to Apr 6, 2013 Riga, LV -- Apr 11, 2013 to Apr 13, 2013 Vilnius, LT -- Apr 18, 2013 to Apr 20, 2013 St. Petersburg, RU -- May 9, 2013 to May 18, 2013 Moscow, RU -- Jun 5, 2013 to Jun 16, 2013 London, UK -- Jul 18, 2013 to Jul 28, 2013 Bratislava, SK -- Sep 11, 2013 to Sep 15, 2013 Leeds, UK -- Oct 23, 2013 to Oct 27, 2013 Liverpool, UK -- Oct 30, 2013 to Nov 3, 2013 Nottingham, UK -- Nov 6, 2013 to Nov 10, 2013 Quidam: Columbus, OH -- Dec 6, 2012 to Dec 9, 2012 Grand Forks, ND -- Dec 14, 2012 to Dec 16, 2012 Sioux City, IA -- Dec 18, 2012 to Dec 20, 2012 Des Moines, IA -- Dec 22, 2012 to Dec 23, 2012 Kansas City, MO -- Dec 26, 2012 to Dec 30, 2012 Wichita, KS -- Jan 2, 2013 to Jan 6, 2013 Colorado Springs, CO -- Jan 9, 2013 to Jan 13, 2013 Rio Ranco, NM -- Jan 16, 2013 to Jan 20, 2013 El Paso, TX -- Jan 23, 2013 to Jan 27, 2013 Laredo, TX -- Jan 29, 2013 to Jan 31, 2013 Corpus Christi, TX -- Feb 2, 2013 to Feb 3, 2013 Hidalgo, TX -- Feb 6, 2013 to Feb 10, 2013 North Little Rock, AR -- Feb 28, 2013 to Mar 3, 2013 Houston, TX -- Mar 6, 2013 to Mar 10, 2013 New Orleans, LA -- Mar 13, 2013 to Mar 17, 2013 Mobile, AL -- Mar 20, 2013 to Mar 24, 2013 North Charleston, SC -- Mar 27, 2013 to Mar 31, 2013 Charlottesville, VA -- Apr 3, 2013 to Apr 7, 2013 Norfolk, VA -- Apr 10, 2013 to Apr 14, 2013 Greensboro, NC -- Apr 17, 2013 to Apr 21, 2013 Graz, AT -- Sep 5, 2013 to Sep 8, 2013 Vienna, AT -- Sep 11, 2013 to Sep 15, 2013 Leipzig, DE -- Sep 18, 2013 to Sep 22, 2013 Stuttgart, DE -- Sep 25, 2013 to Sep 29, 2013 Innsbruck, AT -- Oct 2, 2013 to Oct 6, 2013 Salzburg, AT -- Oct 9, 2013 to Oct 13, 2013 Munich, DE -- Oct 16, 2013 to Oct 20, 2013 Cologne, DE -- Oct 23, 2013 to Oct 27, 2013 Frankfurt, DE -- Oct 30, 2013 to Nov 3, 2013 Dortmund, DE -- Nov 6, 2013 to Nov 10, 2013 Mannheim, DE -- Nov 13, 2013 to Nov 17, 2013 Dralion: Phoenix, AZ -- Nov 28, 2012 to Dec 2, 2012 Topeka, KS -- Dec 5, 2012 to Dec 9, 2012 Tulsa, OK -- Dec 12, 2012 to Dec 16, 2012 Okalahoma City, OK -- Dec 19, 2012 to Dec 23, 2012 Cape Town, ZA -- Mar 5, 2013 to Mar 10, 2013 Johannesburg, ZA -- Mar 21, 2013 to Mar 24, 2013 Caracas, VE -- Apr 25, 2013 to May 5, 2013 Michael Jackson THE IMMORTAL World Tour: Vienna, AT -- Dec 1 & 2, 2012 Manheim, DE -- Dec 5, 2012 Leipzig, DE -- Dec 8 & 9, 2012 Hamburg, DE -- Dec 11, 2012 Cologne, DE -- Dec 15 & 16, 2012 Berlin, DE -- Dec 19 & 20, 2012 Madrid, ES -- Dec 26 to Dec 30, 2012 Kazan, RU -- Jan 17, 18 & 19, 2013 Moscow, RU -- Jan 22 to 27, 2013 Budapest, HU -- Feb 5 & Feb 6, 2013 Prague, CZ -- Feb 8 & 9, 2013 Zurich, CH -- Feb 13 & 14, 2013 Turin, IT -- Feb 19 & 20, 2013 Milan, IT -- Feb 23 & 24, 2013 Montepellier, FR -- Feb 26 & 27, 2013 Antwerp, BE -- Mar 1 & 2, 2013 Amsterdam, NL -- Mar 8 & 9, 2013 Birmingham, UK -- Mar 26, 2013 Manchester, UK -- Mar 29, 2013 Paris, FR -- Apr 4 to Apr 7, 2013 Lisbon, PT -- Apr 11 to Apr 14, 2013 Barcelona, ES -- Apr 17 to Apr 20, 2013 --------------------------------- RESIDENT - en Le Théâtre --------------------------------- Mystère: Location: Treasure Island, Las Vegas (USA) Performs: Saturday through Wednesday, Dark: Thursday/Friday Two shows Nightly - 7:00pm & 9:30pm 2013 Added Dates: o May 16 o December 27, 28 & 31 2013 Dark Dates: o January 5 - 16 o February 3 o March 13 o May 4 - 8 o July 10 o September 7 - 11 o November 6 "O": Location: Bellagio, Las Vegas (USA) Performs: Wednesday through Sunday, Dark: Monday/Tuesday Two shows Nightly - 7:30pm and 10:00pm 2013 Dark Dates: o February 3 o March 21 & 22 o April 8 - 16 o June 9 o August 5 - 13 o October 6 o December 2 - 14 La Nouba: Location: Walt Disney World, Orlando (USA) Performs: Tuesday through Saturday, Dark: Sunday/Monday Two shows Nightly - 6:00pm and 9:00pm 2013 Dark Dates: o TBA Zumanity: Location: New York-New York, Las Vegas (USA) Performs: Friday through Tuesday, Dark Wednesday/Thursday Two Shows Nightly - 7:30pm and 10:00pm 2013 Dark Dates: o TBA KÀ: Location: MGM Grand, Las Vegas (USA) Performs: Tuesday through Saturday, Dark Sunday/Monday Two Shows Nightly - 7:00pm and 9:30pm 2013 Dark Dates: o TBA LOVE: Location: Mirage, Las Vegas (USA) Performs: Thursday through Monday, Dark: Tuesday/Wednesday Two Shows Nightly - 7:00pm and 9:30pm 2012 Dark Dates: o February 3 - 4 o April 4 - 8 o June 6 o More TBA BELIEVE: Location: Luxor, Las Vegas (USA) Performs: Friday through Tuesday, Dark: Wednesday/Thursday Two Shows Nightly - 7:00pm and 10:00pm NOTE: Children under the age of 12 must be accompanied by an adult. Children under the age of five are not permitted into the theater. 2013 Dark Dates: o TBA ZARKANA: Location: Aria, Las Vegas (USA) Performs: Friday through Tuesday, Dark: Wednesday/Thursday Two Shows Nightly - 7:00pm and 9:30pm Previews begin in Las Vegas November 1, 2012 Regular performance begin November 11, 2012 2013 Dark Dates: o TBA IRIS: Location: Kodak Theatre, Hollywood, CA (USA) Performs: Tuesday through Friday @ 8:00pm Saturday @ 3:00pm and 8:00pm Sunday @ 2:00pm and 7:00pm DARK: Monday Select Weekday Matinee Performances Wednesday and Friday at 3:00pm NOTE: IRIS will close on January 19, 2013. ======================================================================= OUTREACH - UPDATES FROM CIRQUE's SOCIAL WIDGETS ======================================================================= o) Club Cirque -- This Month at CirqueClub o) Networking -- Posts on Facebook, G+, & YouTube --------------------------------------- CLUB CIRQUE: This Month at CirqueClub --------------------------------------- Discover the Music of Amaluna! {Nov.08.2012} ---------------------------------------------- The Soundtrack of Amaluna is finally here! As a thank you to Cirque Club members, the song "Elma Om Mi Lize" is available free for download for a limited time on the club website! Amaluna marks the first time a Cirque du Soleil show works with an all-female group of musicians. With strong present guitars, the overall sound is resolutely contemporary. Bass, drums, cello, vocals, keyboards, percussion support the guitars in delivering a direct music - a unique, raw sound for Amaluna. This is by far the edgiest work Cirque du Soleil has done to date. Don't miss this opportunity to bring it home! Composers BOB & BILL (Guy Dubuc and Marc Lessard from TOTEM) have been brought back with a mission to create a unique, raw sound for Amaluna, and to surprise by means of the unexpected. They succeeded in evolving Cirque du Soleil music by incorporating heavy rock infl uences and a vivacious all-girl band. This is by far the edgiest work Cirque du Soleil has done to date: a guitar-oriented electronic anthem. Amaluna marks the first time a Cirque du Soleil show works with an all-female group of musicians. With strong present guitars, the overall sound is resolutely contemporary. Bass, drums, cello, vocals, keyboards, percussion support the guitars in delivering a direct music without embellishment. "We wanted to unleash the power in the raw state that artists and musicians bring to the stage," explain BOB & BILL. BOB & BILL are known for their ability to blur the lines between genres and styles to create an intricately woven visual style that supports the show's narrative. Discover the music of Amaluna and stream the album for free! < http://goo.gl/NwB7n > Saltimbanco-The Journey, Part 2: The Sights and Sounds {Nov.10.2012} ------------------------------------------------------- On December 30, 2012, after more than 20 years of touring around the globe, Cirque du Soleil's Saltimbanco will have its final curtain call. Charged with highly contagious energy, Saltimbanco was a pioneering production and has served as a true ambassador for Cirque du Soleil. Since 1992, Saltimbanco has visited 205 cities across 41 countries. The only show to have spanned five continents, it was performed in more than 150 cities that hadn't previously played host to a Cirque du Soleil show. Having now toured for 20 years, Saltimbanco has been seen by 14 million spectators. CirqueClub is celebrating Saltimbanco's legacy with a series of insights - "The Saltimbanco Journey". Part One took a peek into the performer's story and Part two (below) checks in with the sights and sounds... An illuminated world During a visit to New York, the Director of Creation Gilles Ste- Croix and the Set Designer Michel Crête came across a tree emerging from the top of a skyscraper. Imagining that the tree had grown through the building, they contemplated the influence of nature on life and the importance of life in the city. " We wanted to shed a new perspective on urban life and explore a territory that was unfamiliar up until that point. " - Michel Crête, Set Designer The colours of the future The dynamism, diversity and unbridled energy of the big city and its exuberant fauna are expressed in the colours of the costumes in Saltimbanco. As far from gloomy as possible, the dazzling array of primary colours - magenta, cyan, yellow and green - convey the effervescence and buzz of the metropolis. " This production leaves the audience with the same lasting impression as one would have looking at a wheatfield after discovering Van Gogh's work ." - Franco Dragone, Director An invented, universal language Saltimbanco is the first Cirque du Soleil production to feature the human voice, although it is not spoken in a specific language. Apart from an operatic song with an Italian base from the thirteenth century, the lyrics in the "invented language" are derived from Arab, Swedish and German influences with the aim of amplifying the evocative power of the music. " The music used in Saltimbanco is not a narrative composition. Instead its musical influences aim to convey the melting pot of people and cultures that can only be found in the city. " - René Dupéré, Composer The various faces of Saltimbanco Saltimbanco offers an optimistic vision of urban life. The vibrant and light-hearted nature of the characters, represented in particular by their make-up, conveys the vision of the production, creating the characters' identities and portraying their infectious joy. " I work with lighting and the face. Using these basic elements, magic can be created. " - Nathalie Gagné, Make-up Designer Read the original post here: < http://goo.gl/SXmHP > Andrew Adamson Interview on World's Away {Nov.18.2012} ------------------------------------------------------- Unique in scope, Cirque du Soleil: Worlds Away melds acts from seven live Cirque du Soleil shows in Las Vegas into a circus love story produced, written and directed by Academy Award nominee Andrew Adamson (Shrek, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe). "What I wanted to do is take the audience to see these shows in a way that they hadn't seen them before, to get the camera in close and give a different perspective of what these artists do and show that perspective in high speed, slow motion 3D." - Andrew Adamson, Director The Music Composer Benoit Jutras wrote the score and transitional music between the Cirque shows used in the film. The director felt it important to have Jutras, who had written scores for some of the Cirque shows used, to adapt and refine some of that music specifically for Cirque du Soleil Worlds Away. The Power of 3D For Cameron, Cirque du Soleil: Worlds Away "was a dream comes true. I had been talking to them for some time about doing something in 3D because it's never been done. One of the challenges for the filmmakers of Cirque du Soleil: Worlds Away was that 3D involves more complicated cameras and technology and thus more time to set up the equipment. Prep also meant meeting strict safety parameters with underwater cameras (avoiding the lethal mix of electricity and water) and camera cranes (out of harm's way of aerialists and flying objects.) "[...] But when it was over and they [the artists] saw what they do through our eyes they were awestruck. It rejuvenated them." - Andrew Adamson, Director Read the original post at CirqueClub: < http://goo.gl/IUTt9 > Saltimbanco-The Journey, Part 3: In Images {Nov.21.2012} ------------------------------------------------------- Cirque selected for you 5 images from our treasure trove that mark the impressive journey of Saltimbanco. 1. Montreal posters 1992 The first Saltimbanco poster was displayed in the big top at the Old Port of Montreal in 1992. 2. The seat The seat that is seen at the start and end of the production symbolizes the invitation to the spectator. As a symbol of hope and the desire for a better world for future generations, the Child King takes this place. 3. The Baron's cape and hat The Baron is one the emblematic characters of Saltimbanco. 4. The masks of the masked worms As symbols of conformity, the masked worms remain hidden behind their masks. They are anonymous beings incapable of accepting or affirming their individuality. 5. The Baroques' costumes Independent and eccentric, the Baroques live and affirm their individuality. They are a shining symbol of the fusion of cultures in big cities. See these images at CirqueClub - it's free!: < http://goo.gl/8miD2 > Our Matériauthèque: The costume team's treasure trove {Nov.29.2012} ------------------------------------------------------- Housed in our costume workshops in Montreal, the Matériauthèque includes close to 10,000 samples. This materials library is visited by the creators of our shows and is also used by our craftspeople and buyers, who supply the workshops with the materials they need to make the costumes for our new shows, as well as for our shows in performance. The materials library was designed to provide a central location to find samples with an added value for creation - not just fabric but also decorative supplies like ribbons, crystals, zippers, belts and so on. Here, each sample is placed on a hanger, then classified in a particular row, meticulously labeled and entered in a database so it can be searched for. There is two copies of all the samples in the library: a 'master' copy that always stays on site, and a 'flying' one that can be borrowed or pieces taken from it (in post-it format) for testing. Designers can therefore find fabrics and supplies that have gone through rigorous quality testing, meet acrobatic performance needs and offer a myriad of creative possibilities. And the choice of materials is vast! There are three collections in the Matériauthèque: o) The "suppliers" collection that, as its name suggests, includes samples from external suppliers, many of which are uncommon: lingerie, nautical equipment, kitchen materials, etc. o) The "research and development" collection, which contains materials that have been transformed and tested to meet the needs of creation. o) The "inventory" collection, which serves as a reference for fabrics used in our shows and performances. These materials have been tested, worn and washed. The materials library therefore offers a stunning range of samples and styles, in just about every colour imaginable - a real treasure trove to inspire our creators and to make developing and reproducing our magnificent costumes just a shade easier! Check out the original post here: < http://goo.gl/0b6b5 > --------------------------------------------------- NETWORKING: Cirque on Facebook, YouTube & Twitter --------------------------------------------------- {Compiled by Keith Johnson} ---[ ALEGRIA ]--- {Nov.04} Bologna, Italy (3 photos). Fantastic week @ Unipol Arena. LINK /// < http://goo.gl/IxSTK > {Nov.14} Dancing with fire... LINK /// < http://goo.gl/urV6V > {Nov.22} Closer look - at Zenith de Lille. LINK /// < http://goo.gl/B2Rdw > {Nov.22} Happy Thanksgiving! (5 photos) Alegria is also celebrating... Thanks to the Eat to Beat chefs! LINK /// < http://goo.gl/ZsdiS > {Nov.25} Fantastic week here in Lille. Thank you for your warm welcome and the standing ovations! LINK /// < http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7mhUnWcylPI > {Nov.29} Catching up with Joan Conti (Aerial High Bar Flyer) seconds before he steps on stage to WOW his home town crowd here @ Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy. LINK /// < http://goo.gl/RQv96 > ---[ AMALUNA ]--- {Nov.02} The peacock image occupies not only most of the centre of the stage in Amaluna, but it is also very present in the designs of the costumes. The peacock images in the show are inspired by the bird that accompanies Hera, the Greek goddess of women, marriage and fertility. Legend has it that the "eyes" in the tail watch over women in all the stages of their lives. LINK /// < http://goo.gl/9Sut5 > {Nov.20} Get to know the characters of Amaluna: Meet the Moon Goddess, the strong female presence on the island. She uses her powers to sometimes help and sometimes hinder Miranda and Romeo's quest for happiness. LINK /// < http://goo.gl/eBZeV > {Nov.27} Tonight we have our premiere in Vancouver - you know what that means? Free cupcakes for everyone! LINK /// < http://goo.gl/T81lw > ---[ CIRQUE DU SOLEIL ]--- {Nov.01} More than two million users have now experienced Movi.Kanti.Revo; have you? {Nov.08} Are you on Instagram? Check out our new profile page at the link and follow along as we photograph our world! LINK /// < http://instagram.com/cirquedusoleil/ > LINK /// < http://goo.gl/FiuMk > {Nov.13} The Bloomingdale's holiday windows inspired by Cirque du Soleil: Worlds Away have been revealed, and in traditional Cirque fashion, we put on a show to help them debut! See the windows through the holidays at the store on 59th and Lexington in NYC! LINK /// < http://goo.gl/HJ6sC > {Nov.16} We love these plushies inspired by the kirikis from IRIS by Cirque du Soleil ! Which Cirque character do you think is the most cuddly? Look for your favorites on our eBoutique! LINK /// < http://cirk.me/RA885R > LINK /// < http://goo.gl/WU45c > {Nov.17} Cirque du Soleil: Worlds Away at Bloomingdale's in NYC (6 photos) The Bloomingdale's holiday windows inspired by Cirque du Soleil: Worlds Away have been revealed, and in traditional Cirque fashion, we put on a show to help them debut! See the windows through the holidays at the store on 59th and Lexington in NYC! LINK /// < http://goo.gl/CAKUK > {Nov.20} It's the Grand Prize that doesn't fit in a box! Become a Cirque Club member today and enter for your chance to select your own exciting Cirque du Soleil getaway destination! Enter now: LINK /// < http://cirk.me/TanxsH > {Nov.22} The works of artist Laurent Craste are currently being exhibited at our International Headquarters as part of the Integrate Art into Employees Lives program. This programs aims to give our employees a creative and stimulating workplace! Discover the entire exhibit here: LINK /// < http://cirk.me/QC00om > {Nov.29} China Glaze Nail Lacquer has created an exclusive nail polish collection inspired by Cirque du Soleil: Worlds Away! The collection features 12 limited edition shades and will be available at fine beauty stores December 1st! LINK /// < http://goo.gl/swLRi > {Nov.30} Countdown to Cirque Week 2012: 2011 Behind-the-Scenes Recap. Cirque Week 2012 starts Saturday in Las Vegas! Check out the highlights below from last year's behind-the-scenes panel! LINK /// < http://goo.gl/d5KCm > ---[ CORTEO ]--- {Nov.09} Corteo in the Spartacus Traveler website LINK /// < http://goo.gl/uDEta > {Nov.09} We took this picture of the Tournik act last night...what do you think...we love Tournik, don't you? LINK /// < http://goo.gl/rnQcM > {Nov.15} This' our last week in Dusseldorf. Thanks for being such a great audience! We love you... LINK /// < http://goo.gl/2gW5t > {Nov.17} We just found this sketch from 2005 when Corteo was created...cool!!! LINK /// < http://goo.gl/xAJAN > {Nov.23} Press Conference in Sao Paulo - November 22, 2012 (20 photos) LINK /// < http://goo.gl/r73ku > {Nov.26} Press Conference continued, with Evgeniya Astashkina. LINK /// < http://goo.gl/lsqjw > {Nov.27} Our jugglers!!! LINK /// < http://goo.gl/ketPq > {Nov.30} Thanks Berlin for such a great premiere last night! We love you...meet here our musicians and singers. LINK /// < http://goo.gl/9YTzq > {Nov.30} Pretty cool Corteo picture gallery in Berliner Zeitung! LINK /// < http://goo.gl/4GIPZ > ---[ CRISS ANGEL BELIEVE ]--- {Nov.01} Criss sat down with Sean McAllister from FOX5 Local. Las Vegas to discuss Believe's 4th anniversary, and more! Watch here: LINK /// < http://cirk.me/Strfhq > ---[ DRALION ]--- {Nov.01} Trivia question: In what year was the Trampo-wall act added to Dralion? (Answer: 2004) {Nov.01} Dralion would like to thank our friends at IRIS by Cirque du Soleil for their hospitality and opportunity of seeing the show. It is a truly amazing show. Congrats to all of you! LINK /// < http://goo.gl/JUkKd > {Nov.03} Dralion visits Las Vegas, NV (3 photos) LINK /// < http://goo.gl/82EEs > {Nov.09} Our Band Leader, Stephen Poulin celebrates its 4500th consecutive show with Dralion. Stephen has been with Dralion since its premiere in 1999. Congratulations and we wish him many many many more shows with Dralion! LINK /// < http://goo.gl/zr0QG > {Nov.12} Dralion is returning to San Diego after 10 years where it performed under the Big Top in 2002! Watch a sneak peak of Dralion coming to the Valley View Casino Center opening on Nov. 15! Did you get your tickets yet? LINK /// < http://goo.gl/QqUVC > {Nov.15} Behind the scenes at the Valley View Casino (Sports Arena). Tune in San Diego 6, Fox 5 and KUSI! LINK /// < http://goo.gl/lDobN > {Nov.22} Here is a cool review from last night' show in Tucson! If you have seen Dralion, what was your favorite part? LINK /// < http://goo.gl/m7PPi > {Nov.29} Check out this cool video of our new act in rotation - Contorsion! Our contortionist, Xue Muyuan, was incredible last night! LINK /// < http://goo.gl/WV5Rs > {Nov.30} Did you know our Props Technician spends an average of 4-hours a day preparing and repairing the props we use for the show! LINK /// < http://goo.gl/C2Mr1 > ---[ IRIS ]--- {Nov.03} IRIS by Cirque du Soleil joined horse race enthusiasts & the festivities for this weekends Breeders' Cup World Championships in Los Angeles and Santa Anita Race track! IRIS' company manager (along with artists from the show) helped present one of the winning trophies to "Flotilla" bred in France, ridden by Christophe Lemaire in the Juvenile Fillies Turf competition. Good luck racers! LINK /// < http://goo.gl/uLNUE > {Nov.03} IRIS performs at the Breeders Cup World Championships! (26 photos) IRIS by Cirque du Soleil stopped by the Breeders' Cup World Championships kick-off party at Club Nokia in downtown Los Angeles and Race Day 1 at the Santa Anita Race Track LINK /// < http://goo.gl/Vm2Wp > {Nov.25} IRIS by Cirque du Soleil performed in the 81st Annual Hollywood Christmas Parade tonight in Los Angeles! An American tradition, the parade winds over 3 miles through Tinseltown and welcomed Tony Award winner Joe Mantegna as Grand Marshal. The parade airs on the Hallmark Channel Dec. 10 from 6-8 PM ET, the Hallmark Movie Channel Dec. 21 from 6-8 PM ET and in syndication across the country and internationally via the American Forces Network. Happy Holidays! LINK /// < http://goo.gl/HYmbY > {Nov.26} Did you catch us on The Ellen DeGeneres Show today? Check out our performance at the link below! LINK /// < http://goo.gl/FyQ67 > ---[ KOOZA ]--- {Nov.05} Liz is a huge KOOZA by Cirque du Soleil fan so she celebrated Halloween with this pumpkin, which she carved herself. We think it's awesome! Like this post if you think Liz did a great job, too! LINK /// < http://goo.gl/IWDWg > {Nov.07} KOOZA teeterboard artists getting ready for premiere! Our teeterboard artists practising their moves for tomorrow's premiere in St. Petersburg, Florida. We're almost ready! - at Tropicana Field. LINK /// < http://goo.gl/IAH82 > {Nov.10} OMG! 10 pounds of chocolate for KOOZA! Ingredients are passion, drive, flair, fun and crazy! We love that! LINK /// < http://goo.gl/jmmwO > {Nov.22} KOOZA students are baking ginger cookies for Thanksgiving! LINK /// < http://goo.gl/dniAb > {Nov.24} Sealing styrofoam heads for hats! How many are there?! 72! LINK /// < http://goo.gl/jxaMi > {Nov.25} Take a look at our sneak peek behind-the-scenes of KOOZA by FOX! LINK /// < http://cirk.me/XFhAtv > ---[ LA NOUBA ]--- {Nov.02} Anthony Gatto is rehearsing for his half-time juggling performance tonight at the Orlando Magic 2012-13 season opener! - at Amway Center. LINK /// < http://goo.gl/OzA13 > ---[ MJ IMMORTAL ]--- {Nov.01} Meet the IMMORTAL Band... To showcase Michael's voice and support the huge cast, Musical Director Greg Phillinganes has rounded up a stellar group of musicians! The 11 Piece band features five musicians who had previously toured with Michael including Jonathan "Sugarfoot" Moffett, who played drums for him for 30 years. LINK /// < http://goo.gl/vROLS > {Nov.03} Did you know? These giant shoes directly reference Michael Jackson's famous penny loafers. They are eight feet long and created from orthopedic foam with a vinyl skin. LINK /// < http://goo.gl/FJeGQ > {Nov.06} IMMORTAL Choreographer Travis Payne took time to answer some questions for one of Helsinki's top websites. Check it out! LINK /// < http://goo.gl/Gg6jz > {Nov.09} Congratulations to Michael Jackson THE IMMORTAL World Tour by Cirque du Soleil for winning the Creative Content Award at the 2012 Billboard Touring Awards! The Award was presented last night - Nov 8 - in New York City. LINK /// < http://goo.gl/maFg5 > {Nov.09} Travis Payne, Chantal Tremblay and Zaldy Goco with the Creative Content Award from last night's Billboard Touring Awards! LINK /// < http://goo.gl/mOLys > {Nov.17} We had a great week in St Petersburg, Russia! Check out this awesome behind the scenes TV feature from the media day! LINK /// < http://www.1tv.ru/news/culture/219557 > {Nov.20} One of the IMMORTAL techs caught this awesome photo opportunity when we performed at the historic Festhalle Frankfurt in Germany! [Photo Credit: Nate Mondell] LINK /// < http://goo.gl/Py6BZ > {Nov.26} IMMORTAL Trivia! Do you know how many guitars (all types) are used throughout the show? [Hint - there are 2 guitarists and 1 bassist in the IMMORTAL band] (Answer: 12) ---[ MYSTERE ]--- {Nov.08} If you use Instagram, don't miss the new Cirque du Soleil profile! Here's a Mystère-themed sneak peak of the photos! LINK /// < hhttp://instagram.com/cirquedusoleil/ > LINK /// < http://goo.gl/GyDVI > {Nov.19} We'll be celebrating 9,000 shows on November 27th! Each guest in attendance will receive this limited addition signed poster by the cast and crew. How many times have you seen Mystère? LINK /// < http://goo.gl/CJo5q > ---[ OVO ]--- {Nov.08} OVO FUN FACT. Did you know that OVO has a school on site where the performer's children can attend? At the moment, the OVO school has 8 kids, from grade 1 to grade 12. {Nov.09} Did you miss the stunning performance of the White Spider on MORNINGS on Channel 9? If you did, you can watch it by clicking on the link below. LINK /// < http://goo.gl/iCNXU > {Nov.27} Beautiful first flight this morning for the OVO Hot Air Balloon in Adelaide. Only 8 days before the Grand Opening at Tambawodli (next to Ellis park). LINK /// < http://goo.gl/czNPo > ---[ QUIDAM ]--- {Nov.02} Skipping @ Delicate Arch QUIDAM Skipper and Publicist at the Delicate Arch - guess which one is NOT a professional skipper :) - at Arches National Park. LINK /// < http://goo.gl/fE8s0 > {Nov.10} What a suprise for QUIDAM last night to see what the folks at art2eatcakes.com prepare for us... check out this cake! Which part would you eat first? LINK /// < http://on.fb.me/S95p1h > LINK /// < http://goo.gl/0b20A > {Nov.17} It's tax season on Quidam... Here our accountant helps the band, sound team and Target fill in the requested paperwork. Guess how many states and countries Quidam is scheduled to visit in 2013? (Answer: We will be visiting 18 different States and 5 European countries - that's a lot of paperwork!) ---[ SALTIMBANCO ]--- {Nov.01} Did you know that Chinese Poles shoes used during Saltimbanco are repainted every day before every single performance! Can you name all four colors? (Answer: Yellow, Pink, Light blue and Bright green) {Nov.07} Behind the scenes photos taken during this afternoon rehearsals at the Pensacola Bay Center! LINK /// < http://goo.gl/H5DgI > {Nov.12} Saltimbanco has arrived in Puerto Rico....we have found some artists in the jungle!!! LINK /// < http://goo.gl/4VFQc > {Nov.15} Opening tonight in San Juan, Puerto Rico! Learn more about the show with artist Martin Pons. LINK /// < http://goo.gl/DIahv > {Nov.19} En Santo Domingo, República Dominicana pronto! LINK /// < http://goo.gl/vYMAq > {Nov.25} Gracias Santo Domingo... más de 28.000 espectadores! A la siguiente... LINK /// < http://goo.gl/bpdmt > ---[ THE BEATLES LOVE ]--- {Nov.08} If you're on Tumblr (or even if you're not!), check out the cool LOVE Revolution / Back in the U.S.S.R. animated gif headlining our account today. LINK /// < http://goo.gl/wMZe8 > {Nov.29} LOVE is in the air at Denver and Newark airport! Have you seen our shoe-bins in either of these airports? LINK /// < http://goo.gl/naF8a > {Nov.30} Tune in tonight at 8 p.m. to see The Beatles LOVE perform the opening at the 2012 NASCAR Awards on SPEED! LINK /// < http://goo.gl/TtnkP > ---[ TOTEM ]--- {Nov.05} Did you know that TOTEM has a running club? Early morning on October 27, seven brave TOTEMites ran the the Silver Comet Half- Marathon in Atlanta! Congratulations to all! Back: Jeff Lund (Company Manager), Adam Hoffman (Assistant Head Rigger), Anouk Allard (Performance Medicine Supervisor) and Chris Bowler (Head Coach) Front: Patricia Elliott (School Teacher), Daniel Fulloon (Swing Technician) and Luke Kritzeck (Assistant Head of Lighting) Photo credit: Pippo Crotti LINK /// < http://goo.gl/pvnHf > {Nov.23} Look who climbed up one of the masts of our Big Top today to kick-off the Holiday Season! TOTEM is performing until December 30, 2012 at Atlantic Station in Atlanta!! LINK /// < http://goo.gl/YdYl4 > {Nov.23} TOTEM Toys for Tots Event (14 photos) On Friday, November 23, 2012, TOTEM partenered with the Atlanta Toys for Tots Program and invited people to stop by the Big Top to donate a toy and watch a preview performance of the show! Santa Claus made a special appearance and took time to take pictures with the kids! Star 94 Atlanta provided entertainment on location before Santa appeared on the Big Top and invited guests inside! - at Atlantic Station. LINK /// < http://goo.gl/g0cb9 > ---[ VAREKAI ]--- {Nov.15} Press Conference in Bogota, Colombia (8 photos) Conferencia de Prensa en Bogota, Colombia. LINK /// < http://goo.gl/aZrRK > {Nov.29} Varekai Trivia: How many woodwind and other instruments does Chris Rua (musician) play in the show?!? (ANSWER: She plays 29 instruments per show!) ---[ ZARKANA ]--- {Nov.01} We're celebrating our soft opening at ARIA Resort & Casino today, gearing up for our premiere on November 9th! LINK /// < http://instagram.com/p/RgHwsCxI3y/ > LINK /// < http://goo.gl/jgV5c > {Nov.09} We're ready for our premiere tonight at ARIA Resort & Casino! Check out the @Cirque Twitter for live coverage from the red carpet! LINK /// < http://instagram.com/p/R0xv92xI4Y/ > LINK /// < http://goo.gl/KLzwp > {Nov.09} Comparisons of the @AriaLV and @RadioCity stages. What the @Cirque performers see. http://lockerz.com/s/260162137 LINK /// < http://lockerz.com/s/260162166 > {Nov.09} The #Zarkana premiere party @AriaLV has begun! LINK /// < http://goo.gl/NPMZw > {Nov.10} Zarkana Premiere at ARIA Resort & Casino (9 photos) Stars turned out for the red carpet premiere of Zarkana by Cirque du Soleil on November 9, 2012! LINK /// < http://goo.gl/KfRmE > {Nov.11} Zarkana Premieres in Las Vegas. Cirque du Soleil proudly celebrated its newest resident show Zarkana by Cirque du Soleil. - at ARIA Resort & Casino. LINK /// < http://goo.gl/6rXbW > {Nov.14} Zarkana on The Insider. We love this look at Zarkana from The Insider! Check it out below! LINK /// < http://goo.gl/m0ZqK > {Nov.29} Check out this write up of Zarkana by Cirque du Soleil by AskMen.com! Cirque du Soleil: Why These Men in Tights are Manlier than Bond. LINK /// < http://goo.gl/Jeny1 > {Nov.30} The Road to Zarkana: Find out more about Zarkana's cross country journey from Radio City Music Hall in New York to ARIA Resort & Casino! LINK /// < http://goo.gl/aY5bJ > ---[ ZUMANITY ]--- {Nov.08} Here's a great look at our aerialist, Julia! Do you remember her "Hoops" act from when you saw the show? LINK /// < http://goo.gl/n5AcW > {Nov.19} Last week we celebrated our 9th anniversary with a bash at Hyde Bellagio during their industry night! See if you can spot your favorite Zumanity artist in this shot! LINK /// < http://goo.gl/Uw8Y5 > {Nov.24} Did you catch Brandon performing "Chains" when you saw Zumanity? LINK /// < http://goo.gl/Psx2w > ======================================================================= COMPARTMENTS -- A PEEK BEHIND THE CURTAIN ======================================================================= o) DIDYAKNOW - Facts at a Glance about Cirque o) HISTORIA - Cirque Company History o) ODYSSEA - Cirque Tour History --------------------------------- DIDYAKNOW? - Facts About Cirque --------------------------------- Here's a few facts about Mystère, which celebrated its 9,000th Performance, November 27th! COSTUMES o) The Mystère wardrobe department uses some unusual items to make the costumes at Mystère so unforgettable. Items such as piano wire, fishing line, metallic gift-wrapping paper, and medical supply IV tubing, to name a few make their way into the costumes. o) The Mystère Wardrobe department applies more than 2,500 sequins to the Bungee Girl costumes by hand. It takes about 20 hours to re- sequin just one costume. o) Between 400 and 500 costume pieces from Mystère are laundered daily (35 loads!), excluding weekly dry-cleaning and daily hand-washing. o) All the headpieces worn during the Taiko drums number in Mystère use 30-inch-long dyed human hair and dyed medical supply IV tubing. o) There are over 1,500 customized shoes in the Mystère Wardrobe department. If you tied all of the shoelaces together they would stretch the length of three football fields. o) The lifespan of a costume shoe is approximately three months. o) The male lizard in Mystère goes through one pair of shoes a week. o) The smallest shoe size among Mystère cast members is two, and the largest is thirteen and a half. LIGHTING o) Mystère's intricate lighting system, controlled by a Strand 550 I lighting console, consists of over 1100 lighting instruments. Included in the lighting inventory are: 144 color scrollers, 40 super scans and more than 200 conventional ETC lighting fixtures. Located within the lighting booth are four special effects projectors with image scrollers and gray-scale dimming shutters used to create the dream-like world of Mystère. o) The lighting and electrical grid is 80 feet above the stage. o) The state-of-the-art lighting system for Mystère includes 924 circuits with individual 2.4 kW dimmers. o) If all the cable used on Mystère were laid end to end, it would stretch from Treasure Island on Las Vegas Blvd. to the California border. o) There are 800 light cues in each performance of Mystère. The lights used in the show draw about 30,000 watts of power. That's enough electricity to power 600 homes. If you think your electric bill is a lot, you should see the one the Mayor of Las Vegas gets every month! o) Mystere's lighting system has 924 circuits with individual 2.4 Kw dimmers, controlled by a Colotran Compact Elite console. Equipment includes 122 color scrollers, 40 super scans and Gobo rotators controlled from a Compulite console. The lighting equipment comes from ETC TMB Associates and Peterson Design. ------------------------------------ HISTORIA: Cirque Company History ------------------------------------ * Dec.01.2009 -- Koozå celebrated 1000th performance [8:00pm/Santa Monica] * Dec.02.2008 -- Cirque announces Russian expansion * Dec.03.2002 -- Cirque abandoned "Complexes Cirque" project * Dec.04.2001 -- NY-NY announced as next new Cirque show site. * Dec.04.2004 -- Varekai celebrated 1000th performance [Saturday/Dallas] * Dec.10.2006 -- Curtain fell on Saltimbanco - Rio de Janiero, Brazil. * Dec.15.2008 -- MGM/Mirage announces sale of TI, home of Mystère * Dec.15.2009 -- Cirque unveiled VIVA ELVIS * Dec.16.1999 -- Alegría: Le Film premiered in Singapore * Dec.16.2001 -- Dralion celebrated its 1000th performance [1:00pm/Dallas] * Dec.16.2008 -- Guy Laliberté invests in Prestige Telecom, Inc * Dec.17.2002 -- Varekai Split-Track CD Released (BMG/CDS Musique) * Dec.18.2009 -- Preview Performances of VIVA ELVIS Began * Dec.19.2005 -- "O" wins "Best of Show" at "The Trippies - 1st Annual Readers Poll Awards" at Las Vegas travel guide site VegasTripping.com * Dec.20.2004 -- "Dreams of the Solo Trapeze" Book Published * Dec.20.2005 -- "A Taste of Cirque du Soleil" entertainment showcase for Celebrity Cruises announced * Dec.23.1998 -- La Nouba premiered at WDW (Preview Performances) * Dec.23.2008 -- La Nouba quietly celebrates 10th Anniversary * Dec.24.1993 -- Mystère premiered at Treasure Island * Dec.24.2008 -- Mystère quietly celebrates 15th Anniversary * Dec.26.2001 -- Dralion celebrated 1000th performance [Wed, 1:00pm/Dallas] * Dec.27.2000 -- Region 02 DVD Release: Quidam * Dec.30.2012 -- Saltimbanco Final Curtain Call - Montreal, QC ------------------------------------ ODYSSEA: Cirque Tour History ------------------------------------ * Dec.01.2010 -- Saltimbanco Arena opened Basel, CH * Dec.01.2010 -- Alegría Arena opened Portland, OR * Dec.01.2011 -- Alegría Arena opened Málaga, ES * Dec.01.2005 -- Varekai opened St. Pete * Dec.02.2009 -- Alegría Arena opened Hampton, VA * Dec.02.1999 -- Dralion opened Irvine, CA * Dec.03.2008 -- Saltimbanco Arena opened Oklahoma City, OK * Dec.04.2009 -- Quidam opened Curitba, BR * Dec.04.2003 -- Varekai opened Pomona, CA * Dec.05.2001 -- Alegría opened Perth, AU * Dec.05.2012 -- Dralion Arena opened Topeka, KS * Dec.06.2012 -- Quidam Arena opened Columbus, OH * Dec.06.2011 -- Dralion Arena opened Lafayette, LA * Dec.06.2012 -- Ovo opened Adelaide, AU * Dec.07.2011 -- Alegría Arena opened Santiago, ES * Dec.07.2012 -- Alegría Arena opened Rotterdam, NL * Dec.07.2011 -- Quidam Arena opened Hampton, VA * Dec.07.2006 -- Dralion opened Dusseldorf, DE * Dec.08.2010 -- Saltimbanco Arena opened Budapest, HU * Dec.09.2009 -- Alegría Arena opened Worcester, MA * Dec.10.2008 -- Saltimbanco Arena opened Tulsa, OK * Dec.10.2009 -- Saltimbanco Arena opened Rotterdam, NL * Dec.10.2011 -- Dralion Arena opened Bossier City, LA * Dec.11.2010 -- Quidam Arena opened Kingston, ON * Dec.12.2012 -- Saltimbanco Arena opened Cedar Park, TX * Dec.12.2012 -- Dralion Arena opened Tulsa, OK * Dec.13.2012 -- Alegría Arena opened Turin, IT * Dec.13.2012 -- Quidam Arena opened Grand Forks, ND * Dec.13.2011 -- Dralion Arena opened Little Rock, AK * Dec.14.2011 -- Alegría Arena opened Zaragoza, ES * Dec.14.2000 -- Quidam opened London, UK * Dec.14.2011 -- Quidam Arena opened Worcester, MA * Dec.15.2010 -- Saltimbanco Arena opened Nurnberg, DE * Dec.15.2011 -- Saltimbanco Arena opened Vilnius, LT * Dec.15.2006 -- Corteo opened Atlanta, GA * Dec.16.2010 -- Dralion Arena opened Worcester, MA * Dec.17.2008 -- Saltimbanco Arena opened Hidalgo, TX * Dec.18.2009 -- Saltimbanco Arena opened Geneva, CH * Dec.18.2010 -- Quidam Arena opened Montréal, QC * Dec.18.2012 -- Quidam Arena opened Sioux City, IA * Dec.18.2011 -- Dralion Arena opened Montreal, QC * Dec.19.2007 -- Saltimbanco Arena opened Montreal, QC * Dec.19.2012 -- Saltimbanco Arena opened Montreal, QC * Dec.19.2012 -- Alegría Arena opened Geneva, SZ * Dec.19.2012 -- Dralion Arena opened Oklahoma City, OK * Dec.20.2011 -- Quidam Arena opened Toronto, ON * Dec.21.2011 -- Saltimbanco Arena opened Riga, LV * Dec.21.2011 -- Alegría Arena opened Lisbon, PT * Dec.30.2012 -- Saltimbanco Final Curtain Call ======================================================================= FASCINATION! FEATURES ======================================================================= o) "Mystère du temps, Part 2: Celebrating 19 Years" By: Ricky Russo - Atlanta, Georgia (USA) o) "New CD's To Fill Your Stockings!" By: Ricky Russo - Atlanta, Georgia (USA) o) "2013 Calendar Review - Putting Music on Paper" By: Keith Johnson - Seattle, Washington (USA) ---------------------------------------------------------- "Mystère du temps, Part 2: Celebrating 19 Years" By: Ricky Russo - Atlanta, Georgia (USA) ---------------------------------------------------------- On a relatively cool Las Vegas winters eve in 1993, patrons, fans and the curious alike assembled on the Las Vegas Strip to take part in something new and extraordinary: the birth of a new creation from Cirque du Soleil. While today an event such as this is considered less than phenomenal (there are now multiple Cirque du Soleil shows in Las Vegas for instance), on this one cool December evening however, these spectators were witnessing something untried - the unveiling of a new concept. Rather than travel and be presented under the Grand Chapiteau (as all other previous Cirque du Soleil shows had done), this show would instead bow within a specially constructed theater built for its purpose alone inside one of the newest casino-hotels on the Las Vegas Strip - Steve Wynn's Treasure Island. It would turn out to be unlike anything that had ever been seen before from this Montrèal-based circus troupe and it would usher in a brand new era for Cirque du Soleil, Las Vegas, and production arts as a whole. Mystère. Last month Mystère celebrated its 9,000th show. This month Mystère will notch 19 years of non-stop performances on the Las Vegas strip. In honor of these unbelievable milestones, we've decided to take a look back at Mystère - from its genesis to how the show is presented today in this two-part exposé. In Part 1, we began with the show's creation, discussed the trials of getting the theater built, and in crafting the show's esoteric narrative. Here in Part 2 we pick up with an overview of the uniquely bizarre characters that populate the show, and walk through each of its three iterations: Version 1.0 (1993- 1996), Version 2.0 (1997-2011) and Version 3.0 (2012+). The Personages of Mystère ------------------------- "We really felt as if we were building a new mythology, seen through the eyes of people today. So, in the costumes and characters, we tried to paint a picture of life in all its textures and colors, all its lyricism. Life is terrifically inter-connected... with rhythm and chaos revealing a mysterious harmony." - Dominique Lemieux (Spectaculara) Weaving themselves into the tapestry of the universe is an eclectic array of otherworldly creatures, beings with more than just a part to play. Some are airy, vivacious and joyful while others creepy, chilling and menacing. And perhaps as we familiarize ourselves with these playful yet solemn creatures of the wilderness, we may have a better sense of what universal song they are endeavoring to sing: o) Moha-Samedi (The Man in Pink) - Named after the first day of the new millennium, he is the narrator no one listens to yet he and his puppet contain all the accumulated knowledge of humanity since the beginning of time. o) Les Épouvantables (The Babies) - Two enormous babies on a quest for nourishment embark on an odyssey of discovery. They are the carriers of the world's hopes and aspirations; they quest for nourishment and understanding. By journeying through Mystère, they relive the history of the universe. They are icons of every human ready to embark on a new adventure: the 21st century. o) The Mountain - A geological oddity of trembling flesh that craves to be human. o) The Firebird (Red Bird) - A jewel sailing the skies on a stream of song. The Red Bird leaps ever higher in his futile attempt to take to the skies. Still convinced he can fly, he struggles against his fate. o) The Tribe - They are the primitive, tragic ghosts of humanity. o) Deus Ex Machina - It is the machine which regulates the existence of everything, living or inanimate. Inevitably it tyrannizes and grinds down the independent. o) Stas (La Puce) - A mischievous imp, a thousand years old. (Also known as "Yellow Chicken" and "Yellow Bird") o) La Belle - Through her fear of ugliness she seeks to avoid pain at all costs. o) Vache à Lait - Bearer of every illusion, he always stays just beyond reach. He is a metaphoric, androgynous figure, to bear the hopes and dreams of men. The Vache à Lait tantalizes and attracts the babies with the purpose of fulfillment. o) The Pets - Birds who have forgotten how to fly, they are la Belle's constant companions. o) The Black Virgin - The Virgin is a praying mantis that destroys the illusions and dreams of her victims. o) The Pets (Birds of Prey) - The Virgin's coven of lost souls, seeking revenge for their fall from the sky. These birds of prey have forgotten how to fly. The ever-present and unpredictable Birds of Prey fly rapidly through the world of Mystère. They can be graceful and serene, but when hungry they will attack, devouring their prey with delight. o) The Asticots (Double-Face) - Each one is a segment of the whole and would die if alone. Their double-face hides the corruption of their state. o) Archangels (Les Laquais) - A tragic chorus; the terrestrial guardians of the happiness and safety of others, even at the cost of their own lives. The finest of the Archangels (Gabriel) is ready to sacrifice everything, including the love of the one he secretly adores. o) Init X & Y (Spermatites & Spermatos) - Inti X: A comic chorus, a tribe of virus, ready to contaminate everybody. Inti Y: The male viruses, even less predictable than their mates. The Spermatos and Spermatites are the seeds of life, moving about frantically to fulfill their destinies. With their energy, these bouncing characters are like viruses, contaminating the world of Mystère with infectious folly. The comic chorus, always present, always jolly, laughs in the face of the pain of humanity. Perhaps they possess the true wisdom? o) Mephisto - A thwarted, twisted creature from the deepest of nightmares. Mephisto and his female counterpart Vénus are devilish and dark characters. In Mystère's voyage from the dawn of time, Mephisto and Vénus appear from the depths of the Earth. Together they cast a long dark shadow and expose the sombre, more complex side of the journey of life. Mephisto and Venus appear in times of commotion and noise. Their presence wreaks havoc in any domain. Together they want to create chaos and destroy the balance that exists within the world of Mystère. o) The Green Lizards - Mischievous and skittish, these chameleons can completely disappear before your eyes. o) The Giants (La Mouche and La Plumé) - A gentle frivolous race of futile feathers and long legs. o) Le Prince - Nobility who hides a terrible secret. o) Monsieur Brian Le Petit - He is the grain of sand in the gears of the well-oiled machine. (The character was also known as Messer Benny Le Grand when Wayne Hronek originally created him). o) Escargot - "Alice" was born from a spring rain, carrier of the souls of the ancestors and herald of the future. Mystere 1.0 (1993-1996) ----------------------- "A BEAUTIFUL YOUNG MAN SAILS over the green earth, briefly alighting, then aloft again. Next a man and a woman materialize, Adam and Eve without the snake, in a stately, rapturous dance that hints at what passion was like before guilt. Finally, six animal-angels drop from the sky and soar back into it, gliding, pirouetting, and seeming to meditate in midair before they swoop back, swing down and holds hands, in a little aerodynamic miracle of celestial accord." (TIME, 1994) The first version of Mystère - opening with "Manipulation" (a specially crafted act in which a trio manipulated various shapes and balls), then leading into Chinese Poles, Hand-to-Hand (performed by Yves Decoste and Mario Pontbriand), Bungees, Korean Plank / Trampoline / Fast-track and ending with Flying Trapeze - is quite a mystery (if you'll excuse the pun) to most of us. Why? As Gilles Ste-Croix said above, Mystère's first couple of years were fraught with big changes. Mystère started slowly in January 1994, with attendance at only about 60 percent, while the touring show (which was then Saltimbanco) was extremely successful, consistently selling out at 100 percent. The show required a lot of media coverage to bring Mystère to public attention. Indeed, not content to rest on its laurels, about 30 minutes of fresh material had been added to the show for the 1996 season, including new featured acts and a rousing new opening. Mystère no longer eased out of the gate, it roared out courtesy of a lavish new opening that pulled out all the stops and demonstrated the incredible lighting and pristine sound capabilities of the theater. In the 1995-1996 season the story of the human condition turned tragic as a storm blew across the desert. When the sand cleared away and the Ancient Bird could once again catch a glimpse, he found a change in the narration - and with it, a change in the production. Gone were the Flying Trapeze, Manipulation and original Hand-to-Hand act. What caused this sudden change? Quidam. In 1995, Cirque du Soleil began preparations for a follow-up touring show to their very successful tour of "Alegría" in the United States. "Quidam," taking its name from the Latin for "a nameless passer-by", featured many acts and performers previously seen in Mystère. For instance, Yves Décoste provided his talents for Quidam's Statue Act (with Marie-Laure Mesnage), and was replaced by Christophe Suszek and Bogdan Zajac, whose act - AROS - took top prize at the International Festival of Circus in Verona, Italy. Steven Ragatz and Patrick McGuire came on board with the Manipulation Act and were replaced by Mikhail (Mischa) Matorin - a long-maned, bare-chested man who manipulated a 50-pound aluminum cube while dangling high above the stage (the "Aerial Cube", or "Flying Cube", or just known as "the Cube Act") - from Alegría. The Flying Trapeze was replaced with an exciting new performance: The Aerial High-Bar, which was created by Pavel Brun and Andrei Lev. A version of the High-Bar had been and continues to be featured in Alegría. Also new to the show were clowns James Keylon and Francine Côté (Alfredo & Adrenaline), who mined laughs via Cote's mockery of Keylon's mime skills set to a cool jazz backdrop. The dynamic duo was no stranger to Cirque du Soleil's stage. Adrenaline (Canadian Côté) performed with La Ratatouille in Cirque du Soleil's 1985 "Le Grand Tour" and in the 1990 European tour of "Le Cirque Réinventé". Alfredo (Keylon from the USA) performed with Adrenaline at Cirque's G7 Halifax special performance and on tour in 1992 with Cirque and Circus Knie. The saucy Cote used a chainsaw to destroy her partner's imaginary walls, and the act was the show's first to use limited English verbiage instead of untranslatable gibberish (a.k.a. "Cirquish"). They replaced Wayne Hronek's "mad professor" ("Benny Le Grand" act; according to the programme Mr. Le Grand had come into possession of certain documents relating to the internal affairs of Le Cirque, which was why Cirque thought it best to allow him to continue with the company, but he also occasionally took time off to "go home and cave ducks and grow plants in Vancouver." This time, though, he had hung up his clown shoes in retirement. The following year even more changes would come. Mystère 2.0 (1997-2011) ----------------------- "We think audiences will find the spirit of Cirque du Soleil in every detail of Mystere," said Gilles Ste-Croix, Mystere's Director of Creation. "But remember, when you see Mystere, you are seeing a production in progress. Like life itself, Cirque du Soleil's Mystere is in a constant state of evolution." (1996 Press Kit) Christophe Suszek and Bogdan Zajac ("Aros") would take their leave in 1997 making room for Marco & Paulo Lorador (the "Alexis Bros") as Hand-to-Hand artists (they joined Mystère after Saltimbanco ended its first European tour in 1997). Alfredo & Adrenaline would also take flight (their act seemed to ground the show somewhat, briefly dulling the otherworldly feel. Their second segment was a slow-building exercise in vintage slapstick that ended with a foamy fight that spilled out into the audience), allowing Cirque du Soleil veteran Brian Dewurst to bring his alter-ego "Brian Le Petit" to the stage. Le Petit turned out to be more like Benny LeGrand than Cirque would have liked (tongue firmly planted in cheek), running amok throughout the show. And even Yuri Maiorov, who performed a Flying Man in Silk act in Alegría (from 1995-1997) took to Mystère's skies for a brief time while Paul Bowler was being prepped to take over Aerial Cube for Mikhail Matorin. (Maiorov would later fly in the skies of La Nouba from the show's launch in 1998 through to his retirement in 2012. His act is currently performed by David Poirier, whom Yuri mentored and trained for the role.) And with the help of my friend Paul Roberts, we'll take you through the world of Mystère as most of us have experienced it... Opening Clowning around is prominent in every Cirque show, and Mystère is no different. Brian Le Petit has come to run amok and amok he runs, but he is not the only one: Moha-Samedi is also, but as his name suggests, no one listens to him. "Hey!" says his companion. "They don't understand you stupid." So, he sits up and clears his throat: "Ladies and Gentlemen welcome to Cirque du Soleil!" he says. "During the performance, smoke effects will be used. You, however, cannot smoke." but then, a cry from the rafters is heard - "Hey! We can see your lips moving!" It's Le Petit and he crushes the ego of the man and his puppet. Fortunately, that doesn't stop the show. For moments later, the puppet arises and speaks aloud, "He said your lips, not mine!" And then announces the coming of "MYSTERE!" As can be heard from many of those who have lived Mystère, the show begins with a shot... or shall I say by the pound of a drum. The right side stage door opens and a gang of fat bug-like creatures run out banging flat drums while bouncing and screaming. The "Ouverture" begins with a howling from a primeval conch shell: a human fog horn surrounded by a mysterious mist. Vocalists, adorned in flowing white robes, sing a melody line in an imaginary language that celebrates the dawning of Mystère. Just as the senses begin to overload, from up above four drums descend from the theatres ceiling. The suspended drummers, scantily-clothed and painted with fluorescent colors, pound away with body and hand rhythms reminiscent of an ancient tribal ritual. The drums call to those who inhabit these desert mountains... Green lizards, red birds, and many other creatures of the desert come out to play. The band soon joins in with "Ramsani" that features a short passage of sustained electric guitar notes over a lush orchestration. Then silence; and onto a chime-laced lullaby signifying man's birth. That birth brings forth a baby, who now amuses himself onstage with a big red ball! He giggles as he bounces it around the stage, but his oversize nature is not a laughing matter. For when the ball comes loose landing on an unsuspecting spectator - be warned - prepare to take on more than the roundness of the red monster. Prepare to become the parent of a very large baby! Aerial Cube The first act takes place as a chiseled Herculean of a man twirls a huge aluminum cube in the palm of his hand. He rises out of the machine with cube in hand; arms over his head. The lights flash and he begins to dance with the cube. And what he can do with this cube is amazing - Taking this enormous metal cube in his hands, the man juggles it, flips it and otherwise amazes the audience with the feats he's able to accomplish with only his two hands keeping the cube and the audience separated. And when it glows in the after light of the theater, you can't fight back the chills any longer. After his bouts of strength with the cube, the artist takes to soaring through the theater to amaze us once again. Chinese Poles Chinese arts meet Cirque du Soleil. "Égypte," sets up this act, featuring one of the most mysterious entrances of characters ever seen. With a snake charmer-like theme, the artists who are about to perform the Chinese Poles act come slithering from all parts of the theatre, which includes climbing down the walls. They appear to be looking at the audience through ghostly masks that unexpectedly turn out to be on the backs of their heads. Two accompanying songs switch back and forth between René Dupéré's "Rondo" and Benoît Jutras' "Double Face," following the performer's steady pace as one by one they begin their climb up the four Chinese poles in the center of the stage. Now the 20 men and women of this troupe jump, swing and fall their way into your hearts as they perform death-defying acts of gravity defiance and show why strength and balance is a must! Hand-to-Hand Two muscular men exhibit incredible feats of strength with the chilling song "Ulyssee". Mimicking their moves, the slow-paced theme features meditative harmony vocals, laced with violin and woodwinds. These brothers match their fusion of skin and hand right before your eyes while their bodies rotate helplessly on a dome below them, adding a new wave of skill and concentration to their perfect union. And not only can one lift the other, but what Paulo can do while laying on his stomach is just raw power: with Marco hand-balanced on his feet, Paulo strains to lift him back up again! A troupe of alien-looking life forms guides the strong men through a sparkling mist during the subtle and spacey sounds of "Dôme," the act's pinnacle. Bungee The theatre fills with insect chirps and bird calls to announce the coming of nature's aerial beings. The acoustic guitarist plucks the next song's chord pattern ("Kalimando") while towering rain sticks bestow the sounds of a rain forest. Above, golden bird-like creatures soar through the air attached to bungee cords. Their costumes - designed by the talented Dominique Lemieux - feature metallic streamers that reflect a spectrum of lights. A mystifying aerial ballet ensues. Continuing with the bungee act, the drummer (and the performers) pick up the pace triggering the energetic song, "Kunya Sobé." FastTrack / Korean Plank / Trampoline A pseudo three-ring circus event takes place next. It starts out with the Korean Plank - also known as the teeterboard - then evolves into a near-miss trampoline (which is 'U' shaped) routine; followed by an acrobatic fast track spectacle. The combined songs of "En Ville/Frisco" accompany these highly energetic and dangerous performances, which take the spotlight interchangeably throughout the number - one moment a performer is being launched into the air via the teeterboard while another is bouncing back and forth on the trampoline - you're not sure where to look next! High Bar The energy level remains high as the band performs a short and rocking song titled, "Gambade" that ends with sudden silence. The time has arrived for the dark side of Mystère, as ominous clanging and industrial noises beckon the Mephisto Stilt Demon to rise from the depths. The act features gymnasts flying and catching each other with extreme precision; the music matches the intricate moves with an assortment of crescendos, diminuendos, and staccatos. Then it ends with a thunderous crash, and one of Mystère's trademarks is about to begin. Taïko Whenever I ask someone what they remember most about Mystère, the answer is usually-"The drums." Mystères' one-time percussionist, Pierre Dubé, traveled to Japan to learn the fine art of Taïko drumming technique from Kodo, a Taïko performing group from Sado Island. The result is a thunderous polyrhythmic delight that features a solo on a drum the size of a VW mini-bus. The climax of the solo is a hushed drum roll that requires complete concentration while his wrists pulsate with incredible nimble action. He then pounds like thunder and the troupe rejoins the ritual. The Taïko drum was first used in Saltimbanco only to be elevated to fine art here. Consequently, the vibrations from the drums resonate throughout the Treasure Island Casino-Hotel and sometimes... set off the alarms in the shops! Epilogue With Nouvelle Experience we are treated to a rebirth of our sales-man clown. In "O", a balloon touches down and the wind blows its way across the stage, forever closing off the world of the aquatic to us. For La Nouba, a marriage ceremony is performed... but for Mystère the four-beat, triumphant finish summons the entrance of a giant human- faced Escargot, and the band joins the Taïko troupe with the ending song fittingly titled, "Finale." With an upbeat, hand-clapping, celebratory number, the entire cast circles the stage. You can see pride in their faces as they reveal their true identities. I, however, find it difficult to celebrate, as "Finale" in any language signals: The End. Mystère 3.0 (2012+) ------------------- "I'm astonished at the change," says Gilles Ste-Croix. "I can have an idea, and when it's evaluated, I can't believe how expensive it is. Every idea we had for Mystère seemed to cost more than $100,000. And I'd say, 'We built a show for that much in '84!' But we spend the money because we want to keep the show of the highest quality. It is the point of the arrow of what we do." Although the show had remained virtually static for fifteen years, there had been various rumors about changing Mystère up (prior to 2012): Back in mid-2002, a stir was created amongst fans when the future of Mystère in Las Vegas was put into question, largely caused by a quote attributed to Guy Laliberté - Cirque du Soleil's founder - appearing in the French-Canadian press (La Presse). He was credited with suggesting that Mystère would fold at the end of 2003 and be transplanted to one of several world cities under consideration. Both Tokyo and London had been mentioned (as had Hong Kong), but the decision had not been made at the time of Le Presse's article. The basis for Mystère ending lay within its original contract with the Treasure Island Hotel/Casino. In 1993, Cirque du Soleil and Mirage Resorts (now MGM International) signed a 10-year agreement to stage Mystère and by 2002 the contract was coming due. Without an extension the show would indeed fold at the end of the year; however, there was never anything to worry about even after MGM International sold Treasure Island to real estate investor Phil Ruffin in 2009. The new owner loved the show and Mystère received a six-year extension (which has since been extended further), keeping the show in Las Vegas for the foreseeable future. At the time other possible reasons for closing Mystère in Las Vegas and moving it to Tokyo were the announced opening of Zumanity at New York- New York Hotel/Casino in 2003, and KÀ at the MGM Grand in 2004. The rumor proved interesting though, as eventually Cirque du Soleil did set up a resident show in Tokyo - ZED. Furthermore, at the time of the renewal it was suggested that artistic changes were one of the conditions of extension. Rumors abounded that the energetic High Bar act, first seen in Alegría, would be replaced with a Flying Trapeze act and that the Aerial Cube, performed by Paul Bowler, would be replaced by the Flying Man, performed by Alexandyr Dobrynin from Alegría. Although nothing more than idle gossip at the time, changes did eventually come to Mystère following the closure of Cirque du Soleil's ZED in Tokyo. At the beginning of 2012 Mystère welcomed the following changes: o) High Bar was replaced with Flying Trapeze - Human dreams take flight, borne by the hopes of a new millennium. The pendulum movement of the trapeze flyers emphasize that time continues but never stops passing. The benefits outweigh the risks, for the adventure is the reward. The performers in the Trapeze act have been performing together as a group, and an extended family, for the past several years. Comprised of members of circus families from across Latin America, with one obligatory American, Mystère boasts one of the most fast- paced Trapeze acts ever devised. Completing more than a dozen tricks in little more than six minutes, the Catchers have a particularly difficult job as they spend the majority of the performance upside down with little break in between. o) The choreography of the Chinese Poles act was re-done. o) And the show added (not replaced) a flying silks act - Descending gracefully from the heavens, her effortless beauty is part mortal, part Goddess; connecting the earth and sky. This solo Tissu act was created by aerial artist Ginger Ana Griep-Ruiz. In addition to her breathtaking flips, spins and displays of flexibility high above the stage, Ginger also devised a system to give the appearance that the fabric never ends, allowing her to do continuous tricks without having to stop to reposition herself on the material. Today Mystère (3.0) is better than ever! * * * "Nobody can say what it's about," says Gilles Ste-Croix. "It's about the passage of a human being through his life, through the stages of consciousness, with a rebirth at the end. We try to keep it loose, so you can't interpret it too closely or literally - it's a mystery, like the title. We are not philosophers, we're entertainers. And we don't think the audience is dumb - they can interpret for themselves. [...] When the show is over people don't move. Then they say, 'what was that?' That's the best comment I can think of for Cirque du Soleil." It's also the best compliment we can think of. You may call it art. You may call it theatre. We call it Mystère. Congratulations on 9,000 performances and 19 fantastic years! ---------------------------------------------------------- "New CD's To Fill Your Stockings!" By: Ricky Russo - Atlanta, Georgia (USA) ---------------------------------------------------------- Happy Holidays! Believe it or not it's that time of year again Cirque fans - the season for gifting and giving is upon us... and you know what that means: new merchandise to enjoy! Although there are many new items to explore as part of the "Desigual Inspired by Cirque du Soleil" line, regrettably those offerings aren't my specialty. What I'm personally interested in is new media and this year Cirque du Soleil has two great choices for fans to enjoy - both music CDs! The "Le Best of 2" and "Amaluna" soundtracks. LE BEST OF 2 ------------ Released: November 6, 2012 Catalog #: CDSMCD-10045-2 UPC: 8-43277-05288-3 First up, Cirque du Soleil presents its latest highlights album "LE BEST OF 2", compiled by Cirque Music Director Alain Vinet. The album comprises music recorded and released between 2005 and 2012, including the "Facebook fan favorite" Pageant from KÀ. ("Le Best Of", released in 2004, included music spanning the Cirque catalog up to that point.) As a compilation album there's not much left to be said, especially since many of us are more than familiar with the contents therein. The package is a standard DIGIPAK (the final "D" in CDSMCD denotes this), but there are a couple of interesting things to note regarding the album's contents: 1) There are no duplicates between "Le Best of" and "Le Best of 2" and that's a plus. 2) There are only two duplicates between "Le Best of 2" and Cirque du Soleil's more recent compilation album "Cirque 25": "Beyond the Cloud" (Wintuk) and "Piece of Heaven" (Zumanity). 3) Three out of the thirteen tracks are pieces from shows no longer performing. These are: "Blue Silk" from ZED, "NOI" from Zaia, and "Beyond the Clouds" from Wintuk. (And with the recent announcement of IRIS' closing, the count will jump to four, adding "Flying Scarlett".) 4) Two of the tracks are from TOTEM: "Qué Viyéra" and "Omé yo Kanoubé". Why does TOTEM get that distinct honor I wonder? 5) The track from Amaluna - "Magic Ceremony I" - is only the first half of the opening of the show (the full version appears in English on the Amaluna album, which we'll discuss in a moment.) Tracks: 01. "Magic Ceremony I"........... (3:28) [Amaluna] 02. "Pearl"...................... (4:06) [Kooza] 03. "Blue Silk".................. (4:37) [ZED] 04. "Anneaux".................... (5:43) [Corteo] 05. "Flying Scarlett"............ (4:43) [Iris] 06. "Qué Viyéra"................. (4:42) [TOTEM] 07. "Flying with the Birds"...... (4:12) [Believe] 08. "NOI"........................ (4:15) [Zaia] 09. "Secret Samba Luv"........... (3:12) [OVO] 10. "Pageant".................... (2:46) [KÀ] 11. "Beyond the Clouds".......... (3:32) [Wintuk] 12. "Piece of Heaven"............ (4:55) [Zumanity] 13. "Omé yo Kanoubé"............. (4:41) [TOTEM] Total playing time: 55:00 As a Cirque fan for many years I am intimately familiar with all the music on this CD, and so you might be asking yourselves the very same question I did when I saw the announcement: why do I need this? Perhaps "need" isn't quite the word; perhaps "want" is better. So why would you want this compilation? Because it's actually quite good! From Amaluna's "Magic Ceremony" through to Totem's "Omé Yo Kanoubé, Cirque du Soleil entices you into its world by crafting a story with its track selection. It's no coincidence that the album begins with one show's opening theme and ends with another's closing theme! So if you're looking for a new Cirque du Soleil mix to add to your collection - this is it! AMALUNA ------- Released: November 20, 2012 Catalog #: CDSMCD-10046-2 UPC: 8-43277-05722-9 Amaluna is a fusion of the words ama, which refers to "mother" in many languages, and luna, which means "moon," a symbol of femininity that evokes both the mother-daughter relationship and the idea of goddess and protector of the planet. Amaluna is also the name of the mysterious island where the story of this newest Cirque du Soleil product unfolds. Their queen, Prospera, directs her daughter's coming- of-age ceremony in a rite that honors femininity, renewal, rebirth and balance which marks the passing of these insights and values from one generation to the next. In the wake of a storm caused by Prospera, a group of young men land on the island, triggering an epic, emotional story of love between Prospera's daughter and a brave young suitor. But theirs is a love that will be put to the test as the couple must face numerous demanding trials and overcome daunting setbacks before they can achieve mutual trust, faith and harmony. I watched Cirque du Soleil give birth to AMALUNA on the quays of old Montreal, as I have with Totem (2010), OVO (2009), Koozå (2007), Corteo (2005) and Varekai (2002), but with AMALUNA I had an experience more amazing than any touring show premiere that had come before. Whereas with Varekai (my prior high point) I came away thinking "I really like this show" (and still do), I came out of AMALAUNA thinking, "I LOVE THIS SHOW!" - shocking my friends who had gathered with me because I didn't really like the show the first night I saw it. Sure, I enjoyed it and some of its acrobatic elements, but overall Amaluna didn't "speak" to me, nor seem to hold a candle to some of Cirque's more sophisticated offerings, such as Quidam, Alegria, Mystere, "O" or ZED. Then something strange and amazing happened: as we assembled for the performance the following afternoon, I grew more and more excited about seeing it again. Then as I sat, allowing the opening moments of the show to wash over me, something clicked. I don't know why and I don't think I could ever explain it succinctly beyond: I "got" it. I got the show, what it was attempting to say, how the music was used, and all the visionary elements the creators stirred into it. And then I fell in love with the whole kit-and- caboodle, grinning like a slack-jawed idiot. It was uncanny, and welcome. I felt enlightened, invigorated and hungry for more. I couldn't wait to get my hands on the show's soundtrack and now that I have what do I think? I love it, of course! As Alain Vinet, Cirque's Musical Director and Amaluna's album producer says in his note, this album "was created in the spirit of a musical voyage from start to finish, the same approach as the great progressive rock albums. The Amaluna soundtrack has allowed us to unleash the energy and the rock sound of womankind" and he's not mistaken. From beginning to end this album rocks Amaluna hard, and much of this can be attributed to using the actual Amaluna band! o) Jenifer Aubry -- Vocals, Acoustic Guitar, Harmonica o) Marie-Michelle Faber -- Vocals o) Mireille Marchalv-- Percussion o) Julie McInnes -- Vocals, Cello, Saxophone o) Teresa Morini -- Bass o) Didi Negron -- Drums o) Angie Swan -- Guitars, Madolin o) Racheal Wood -- Guitars, Backing Vocals The use (or more accurately, non-use) of the actual creation band has been a pet peeve of mine (as well as many other Cirque du Soleil fans) over the years. Thankfully Cirque du Soleil has heard our criticisms and used these very talented women in the production of this album. (I mean, how could they not?) But the album is not without a few nit- picks, which I'll get to in a moment. Like "Le Best of 2", the Amaluna album package is a DIGIPAK unit, tri- fold, and unfolds at the center to encapsulate the CD (on the right side) and the liner notes (on the left), with a mural of the band's beautiful players spread across it. (An interesting note here is that the credits list the band as 8 players, yet there are only seven on the tri-fold...) The CD sports the Amaluna logo super-imposed over one of the show's trademark feathers, but that's it. The booklet containing the liner notes contains the official poster image, as does the album's paper cover. The back is relatively bland by comparison, containing copyright notices, production credits and, of course, a track listing. Tracks: 01: "All Come Together".......... (5:54) - Magic Pageant 02: "Elma om mi Lize"............ (3:35) - Meteors & Icarian 03: "Tempest".................... (4:23) - The Storm 04: "Enchanted Reunion".......... (5:41) - Suspended Poles 05: "Fly Around"................. (3:45) - Uneven Bars 06: "Hope"....................... (3:28) - Aerial Hoop 07: "O ma Ley"................... (4:29) - Waterbowl 08: "Burn Me Up"................. (3:44) - Teeterboard 09: "Whisper".................... (4:41) - Manipulation 10: "Running on the Edge"........ (4:00) - Tightwire 11: "Ena Fee Alyne".............. (3:38) - Unicycles 12: "Creature of Light".......... (4:51) - Thousand Arms / Pole 13: "Mutation"................... (3:43) - Juggling 14: "Run"........................ (4:23) - Aerial Straps Total playing time: 60:15 Naturally, since this is a studio album, additional musicians were needed, and I'm more than happy to highlight them - many of them performers in the show! o) Sebastien Laurendeau: Band Leader, Keyboards (9) o) Lara Jacobs (Manipulation performer): Whispers (9) o) Viktor Kee (Juggler): Additional Vocals (13) o) Karina Brooks, Lindsey Bruck Ayotte, Amara Defilppo, Summer Hubbard, Renée Koehler, Tain Mokendijk, Melanie Sinclair, Brittany Urbain (Uneven Bars): Additional Vocals (5) o) Elsieanne Caplette: Additional Vocals (1, 9, 12) o) Lulu Hugues: Additional Vocals (2) o) Stéphane Lessard: Flute (12) o) Geneviève Plante: Trumpet (10, 14) o) Oliver Thouin, Christian Prévost: Violin (3,7) o) Ligia Paquin: Viola (3, 7) o) Carla Antoun: Cello (3, 7) Okay, so, if I'm all about this album... what on Earth could I have to say against it? My first nit-pick is the use of English! "All Come Together", the album (and the show's) opening piece, is sung not in Cirquish, as it is during the live production, but in English! This may be how the song is now performed since the show has reached primarily English-speaking ears (although I highly doubt it); however, this was not expected and caused some distress for me. When an edited version of the song sung in Cirqueish appeared on the "Le Best Of 2" CD (the first 50-seconds and ending minute of the song are clipped off; however, the music mix is relatively the same), I wondered: would this be the way the song was presented on the album? Thankfully the full piece is available, but the lyrics were changed! The gathering song was not sung in English for Montreal's premiere and I admit I miss the Cirqueish. Would it have hurt to leave the lyrics as they were? It's a question I'll have to grapple with as I realize that we fans have been asking this type of question ever since Cirque put English lyrics to "Let Me Fall" and "Quidam" from Quidam's album release. The second nit-pick is the songs are out of order! Most of us know, or are at least aware, that Cirque du Soleil looks at its soundtracks as a different entity from the live shows upon which they're based. In more simplistic terms: they're two separate products - the live show and its accompanying soundtrack album. So the powers that be are free to take whatever dramatic and creative license they wish in order to produce the show's music for sale. Sometimes this means the album follows the show order almost exactly (in the case of Kooza, Ovo, Totem, Zed and Zaia) and in other times it could mean a vastly different (and arguably over produced) offering as in the case of Varekai's "lounge" release. And for many of us who want to relive our experience with the show through its music, having an out-of-order album is somewhat disappointing. Normally this wouldn't be much to get in a twist over, however, Amaluna is "an emotional love story" and it becomes increasingly difficult to buy into the musical accompaniment of said journey when celebrations come just before trials. The show's running order is Magic Pageant, Unicycles, Meteors & Icarian Games, The Storm (Straps), Suspended Poles & Paon Dance, Aerial Hoop, Waterbowl, Uneven Bars, Teeterboard, Manipulation, Thousand Arms, Chinese Pole, Tightwire, Juggling, and Aerial Straps. So, to listen to the album in the show's running order mix them in the following order: 1, 11, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 5, 8, 9, 12, 10, 13 and 14. Regardless of these two contrary nit-picks, I find this album a very solid release - I've listened to this album every day so far! * * * Okay, so, you're on a budget with the opportunity to add only one to your collection, which of the two should you add? Although I do recommend both for any fan of Cirque du Soleil, if you're in a bind and not sure which you'd rather make part of your collection I'd have to recommend the AMALUNA soundtrack: it's the only one of the two with NEW music! Even if you've not yet seen the show, buy it. You won't regret it! You can get both albums from Cirque's online boutique, Amazon (both as a digital download and physical album), BestBuy.com (physical album only), and even iTunes, so there's a plethora of ways to enjoy these two new Cirque du Soleil CDs! So there you have it and may your stockings fill themselves with Cirque media goodies this year! ---------------------------------------------------------- "2013 Calendar Review - Putting Music on Paper" By: Keith Johnson - Seattle, Washington (USA) ---------------------------------------------------------- In the past Cirque du Soleil has been criticized by fans for not paying proper respect to the musicians involved in the creation of their shows, primarily by not utilizing them on the show soundtracks. This has been addressed of late, with the show bands being the bedrock of the last few soundtracks released (and especially emphasized on the latest release, Amaluna). And now they've taken another step to recognize those hard-working artists Another year has gone, and another Cirque calendar has arrived! And this one is a twist, focusing on the musicians of the shows! The calendar is available right now in the Cirque e-Boutique for $15.00, but nowhere else online that I could find. (Unfortunately, the calendar itself has no product number or UPC code printed on it; it must have been on the shrink wrap I discarded.) Unlike last years' calendar - a too-tall monstrosity that focused on circus acts with just a small space dedicated to the actual month (the calendar dates and write-in area were very small) - this calendar returns to the 11" X 17" format of years past. The 16-month lineup includes: Sep - Corteo - Accordian, guitar, sax Oct - Mystere - Percussion Nov - Dralion - guitar, bass, keyboard Dec - Alegria - entire band - a nice group shot Jan - Le Best of 2 CD - double bass, singer, guitar - what shows are these people from? Feb - Kooza - entire band Mar - Totem - most of the band Apr - Amaluna - percussion, guitar, voila, drums May - IRIS - entire band Jun - KA - guitar Jul - Varekai - an interesting backstage photo of the band members preparing. Aug - La Nouba - entire band Sep - OVO - most of the band Oct - Zumanity - entire band Nov - O - singer, voila, accordion Dec - Quidam - sax 2014 year - collage of musician images The calendar is, of course, in English and French. Each page includes calendars of the month before and after the current month, with plenty of space clearly devoted to the current month's individual days. The short descriptions on each page focus on the music of the particular show, a nice touch. The write-ups also make a point to distinguish the "inspired by" soundtracks in the canon, specifically singling out Varekai and Zumanity - a bit of "truth in advertising" we appreciate. Some shows are missing - anything involving a partnership with an outside entity (Michael Jackson, The Beatles and Criss Angel). As is Saltimbanco, but that will be closing at the end of the year. Each page has "Cirque-ey" design elements adding visual excitement. Many of the photos are collages or assemblages of separate musician pictures placed in a nice balance on the page. Occasionally they focus on one performer from the show. While it's good to have smaller group shots mixing up the calendar along with full band shots, it would have been nice to have a shot of, for example, 19-year veteran guitarist Bruce Rickerd from Mystere. By going back to a more standard design and focusing on musicians Cirque has some up with a winning calendar this year - one that gives those fabulous musicians their due. Every Cirque music fan should have one. ======================================================================= SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION ======================================================================= Fascination! is a monthly publication, available through subscription via the World Wide Web in text format at the newsletter's website: < http://www.CirqueFascination.com/ >. To subscribe, please visit our website and enter your name and email address in the "About Fascination" box and press Subscribe. You,ll receive an email to confirm your selection. Once confirmed you,ll be added to our mailing list. To Subscribe via Realy Simple Syndication (RSS) Feed (News) use the following: < http://www.cirquefascination.com/?feed=rss2 >. To view back issues, or other online Newsletter content, please visit us at: < http://www.CirqueFascination.com/ >. Join us on the web at: < www.cirquefascination.com > Realy Simple Syndication (RSS) Feed (News Only): < http://www.cirquefascination.com/?feed=rss2 > ======================================================================= COPYRIGHT AND DISCLAIMER ======================================================================= Fascination! Newsletter Volume 12, Number 11 (Issue #107) - December 2012 "Fascination! Newsletter" is a concept by Ricky Russo. Copyright (c) 2001-2012 Ricky Russo, published by Vortex/RGR Productions, a subsidiary of Communicore Enterprises. No portion of this newsletter can be reproduced, published in any form or forum, quoted or translated without the consent of the "Fascination! Newsletter." By sending us correspondence, you give us permission (unless otherwise noted) to use the submission as we see fit, without remuneration. All submissions become the property of the "Fascination! Newsletter." "Fascination! Newsletter" is not affiliated in any way with Cirque du Soleil. Cirque du Soleil and all its creations are Copyright (c) and are registered trademarks (TM) of Cirque du Soleil, Inc., and Créations Méandres, Inc. All Rights Reserved. No copyright infringement intended. { Dec.07.2012 } =======================================================================