Rumors are always plentiful.
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 – according to the French-Canadian press (La Presse). He was credited with suggesting that Mystère would indeed 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. 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 the contract was coming due. Without an extension the show could indeed fold at the end of the year; however, there was never anything to worry about even after MGM International sold Treasure Island to a private party. The new owners 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 reason for Mystère closing in Las Vegas 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 soon 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. (Fans may remember that in 1993 Mystère opened with a Flying Trapeze act and that Michel Matorin previously performed Aerial Cube in both Mystère and Alegría.)
Although nothing more than idle gossip at the time, it is fascinating to note that Mystère has indeed gone through an artistic change lately, replacing High Bar with Flying Trapeze, re-doing the choreography of its Chinese Poles act and adding in (not replacing) a flying silks act.
As we approach our 100th issue of Fascination, I’ve been thinking about that milestone and all the quotes, blurbs and past announcements of new products, venues or avenues the Cirque would be exploring that we’ve published. I began to wonder which of these came to fruition since then and which have quietly remained hidden behind the curtain at Cirque du Soleil HQ in Montreal. I uncovered several in my search through the news archives. Some I had readily known but others I had completely forgotten about and couldn’t wait to explore further. In Part One, we explored a number of rumors and announcements regarding “permanent” or “resident” shows made through the years that didn’t pan out. This installment, which continues the “what ifs” of Cirque du Soleil’s development, explores what could have been had certain details been worked out regarding its media offerings.
PART TWO: CIRQUE DU MEDIA
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Over the years there have been a number of announced and/or rumored media potentials from Cirque du Soleil – from filmed shows and books to new music CDs – many of which never saw the light of day. And if they did, they were so far removed from the initial concept as to wonder if it followed the same path from initial spark to released product. Because of this, exploring media rumors is often difficult. In this installment we take a look at Cirque’s media rumors in sound and in picture.
/// NEW SHOW MUSIC?
Fans of Cirque du Soleil’s music are adamant about one thing: they want more of it. So when there are rumors that more music might be recorded and released, it gets the tongues of fans wagging. Especially when it’s new music from a classic show or show tunes recorded live.
Thus tongues wagged greatly over an early 2002 rumor suggesting a new album was in the works featuring the music from Quidam. Unlike the studio album released in 1997, this one would be entirely “live” (like “Mystere Live”, “Alegria Live” and “Saltimbanco Live”, although the latter two were employee only releases and thus not publically available) and include such tracks as the Banquine and Diabolo acts, which were mysteriously absent from the original studio recording.
And should Cirque decide not to present the audio as preformed “live”, it was also reported that the entire soundtrack could be re-arranged for this new release instead, as some of the music had evolved since the show premiered in 1996. What eventually was released, however – the Quidam Extended CD from BMG/Cirque du Soleil Musique (Catalog #74321-91493-2 or 4-00005-04453-3) – was just the original studio CD re-released with two extra tracks tacked on: the previously-mentioned Banquine (“Misère”) and Diabolos (“Enfants d’acier”), recorded live under the big top in Amsterdam, 1999 for the DVD.
It was a step in the right direction, but disappointing never-the-less.
A similar CD was released for Saltimbanco with two tracks from the employee album tacked on the end (“Adagio” and “Arlequin”, the Adagio Trio and Juggling acts, recorded live under the big top in Amsterdam, 1996) and one for Alegria with two tracks tacked on the end (“Cerceaux” and “Malioumba”, recorded live under the big top in Sydney, 2001 for the DVD release). Although it is now Cirque du Soleil Musique’s credo not to release live music (why, oh why?), it is perhaps interesting to note that a re-arrangement release did eventually happen with one of Cirque du Soleil’s classic shows – Saltimbanco. The new arrangement, dubbed Saltimbanco 2005 (CDSMC-10005-2; 8-74751-000140-1) was released on May 17, 2005. (Fascination featured an interview with Composer René Dupéré in which this re-recording was discussed, you can find it here: < https://www.cirquefascination.com/?p=32 >.)
And with the inclusion of Flying Trapeze from ZED performed to song “Fiesta” from ZED, could perhaps a new Mystère CD be in the works?
(we won’t hold our breathes, but please Cirque?)
In November 2002, Cirque du Soleil released the soundtrack to Varekai, an “inspired by” experiment that turned most of the show’s music into a lounge “chill down” record, drawing the ire of fans who were expecting a more traditional studio recording reflecting a truer representation of the music as performed in the show. Although Cirque du Soleil expressed interest in keeping its music offerings separate from actual show music, fans let their displeasure be known. Would Cirque relent and give us what we wanted?
Through a Cirque du Soleil Musique FAQ available on their Website at the time, Cirque answered some of the most Frequently Asked Questions in relation to their music catalogue. One of them in early 2003 caught our attention: “Will a live-show version of the Varekai CD be released?” The answer to it was very straightforward and rather uplifting to those who were discouraged by the Varekai CD release. “At the moment, Cirque du Soleil Musique is discussing the release of a special-edition CD containing five live tracks from the show.” If produced, the CD would be available exclusively though the Cirque du Soleil online store sometime in the first few months of 2003.
Though we watched the online boutique like a hawk, the product did not turn up as advertised and by September we had yet another rumored album on our hands.
“Is a Varekai ‘Special Edition’ CD and a Zumanity Live CD coming soon to a music store near you?” we’d heard. According to a mention on the Cirque du Soleil website, the answer was… probably. These two titles had quietly been announced as upcoming projects on the Musique side of the Cirque du Soleil Images web page. Details about both projects were scarce, but as we believed, certain live tracks that did not appear on the Varekai studio CD would make their way onto this “Special Edition” album (which had been previously alluded to). As for the Zumanity Live CD, only good things could come from it, as many wondered if Cirque would continue the “inspired by” motif started with Varekai or return to more traditional offerings.
The Varekai Special Edition CD did become available on October 1, 2003, and did include six live tracks (“Célébration”, the show’s opening; “Trasparenza”, the Pas-de-Deux act; “Euphoria”, Icarian Games; “Sun Drum Fun” (Body Skating); “Mutationis” (Hand Balancing), and “Movimento” (Georgian Dance). The release also included two remix tracks – “El Pendulo” and “Emballa” – and a DVD. The live tracks were recorded under the big top in Toronto for the 2003 DVD release. The remix tracks would be part of an experiment – “Solarium/Delirium” – which would spawn a two-CD set, various vinyl remix albums (a topic for another time) the “Tapis Rouge” VIP concept, “Midnight Sun” (a live musical event featuring the music of Cirque du Soleil, in celebration of CDS’s 20th Anniversary) and the “DELIRIUM” arena concert tour.
A Zumanity Live album has yet to be produced.
Instead, fans of the naughty cabaret were treated to an “inspired by” album, featuring arrangements that are hinted at in the live production but aren’t played.
A disappointment for sure and yet the rumor mill keeps churning.
/// SHOWS GOING UNDER THE LENS?
In the good old days, Cirque du Soleil filmed its shows for television consumption, usually for HBO and/or Showtime specials, eventually releasing the production to the home-video market via VHS (and later DVD). Through Telemajik, Cirque du Soleil’s visual media subsidiary, fans of Cirque were able to enjoy “La Magie Continue” (1986), “Le Cirque Reinvente” (1987-1990), and “Nouvelle Experience” (1990-1993), not to mention a number of unique and interesting documentaries about those shows (“Quel Cirque”, “Saltimbanco’s Diary”, “The Truth of Illusion” and “Full Circle”) and the company itself (“Baroque Odyssey”) from the comfort of their livings rooms. Saltimbanco, filmed during its 1994 stopover in Atlanta, would become the last show produced for television and Telemajik would fall into obscurity.
The hiatus was self-imposed, however, as Cirque du Soleil decreed that as long as a show was still performing live they would never film it and/or release it on VHS/DVD.
But by 1999, a new division was created just for that purpose – Cirque du Soleil Images (or CDSi for short) – and Quidam, the company’s then current touring show, was filmed live – in Amsterdam – for home consumption. First broadcast via pay-per-view outlets through TVN, a leading digital programming and distribution network, the special was later re-broadcast on basic cable TV on BRAVO, an arts and film channel available in the United States, which was the official network of Cirque du Soleil at the time (BRAVO had been broadcasting Cirque’s previously filmed shows: Le Cirque Réinventé, Nouvelle Expérience and Saltimbanco).
“Cirque du Soleil Presents Quidam” became an instant hit.
Shortly thereafter, Cirque du Soleil put Dralion under the lens whilst staked in San Francisco (engaged 2/3/2000 – 3/26/2000), prompting even greater success. “Cirque du Soleil Presents Dralion”, which publicized the Cirque’s then newest big top production, was nominated for and won three Daytime Emmy awards: Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Special; Outstanding Directing for a Variety Series or Musical; and Outstanding Costumes for a Variety or Music Program. This achievement prompted the filming of Alegría in Sydney (engaged 5/29/2001 – 8/5/2001); “Fire Within”, the company’s first “reality TV” series about the creation of Varekai; and Varekai in Toronto (engaged 8/1/2002 – 9/8/2002).
And with the successes of “Alegria”, “Fire Within” and “Varekai”, Cirque du Soleil, in association with BRAVO, announced that, as the official network of Cirque du Soleil and the owner of the broadcast rights to the Cirque’s repertoire of shows, it would film for future airing the troupe’s oldest currently touring show: Saltimbanco. The filming was rumored to take place at the formidable Royal Albert Hall in London, where Saltimbanco was scheduled to be engaged from January 10th through February 9th, 2003. And, it was suggested, the filming might cover Saltimbanco’s final moments, as London was rumored to be the final stop of Saltimbanco’s second big top tour (the “final” curtain previously fell there in 1997 before the show was resurrected for an Asia-Pacific tour that began in 1999).
Although the filming of Alegria, Quidam, Dralion and Varekai were not perfect, those that were filmed during the Telemajik era had often been criticized as being of poor quality, badly cut and missing plenty of the action. However, none was criticized more so than Saltimbanco (except for “La Magie Continue”, which was originally released as a 90 minute VHS verses a 50 minute DVD). Therefore, for Saltimbanco to get a more modern treatment certainly appealed to every fan of Cirque du Soleil.
The euphoria was short lived, however.
“In our July 2002 issue we reported that in conjunction with Bravo, the arts and film network in the United States and CDSi, Cirque would re-film Saltimbanco during its January 2003 run at the Royal Albert Hall in London”, I wrote at the time. “Fascination has heard that contrary to previous rumors, Saltimbanco is not slated to be re-filmed after all. This is certainly disappointing news for fans of Saltimbanco who dislike the current filmed version. However, with Saltimbanco currently scheduled to continue its European tour with a possible return to U.S. soil, the show may yet find itself under the camera.”
And with a statement like that you’d think the story would end there. However, in the month that followed, BRAVO changed its announcement from filming Saltimbanco for later re-airing to actually broadcasting it live!
“In past issues we’ve discussed rumors that Saltimbanco was going to be re-filmed, either in London or elsewhere, on its second European Tour. Last issue we shot down those rumors, suggesting that Saltimbanco was not to be re-filmed. But as the nature of rumors go, word now comes from Bravo that Saltimbanco WILL indeed be re-filmed. WHAT? Sometime in 2003, Bravo will present a special version of Saltimbanco to US audiences through its first-ever live broadcast. Bravo will present Cirque’s ‘other-worldly feats of aero-athleticism’ on tape delay. A location, time and date have not yet been released.”
For a brief moment euphoria was restored, but little more was heard after that announcement and the project quietly disappeared.
Saltimbanco went on to tour Europe throughout the next two years before transferring to Mexico (in 2005) and later South America (in 2006), where the big top version of the show did have its final curtain call. Although meant to be the end of Saltimbanco’s life as a touring show, Cirque du Soleil saw fit to breathe new life into the production, sending it out as an arena-only tour. Rumors suggest Saltimbanco is due to end its Worldwide Arena Tour sometime in mid-2013, with a final performance in Montreal, the home of Cirque du Soleil. Could there be hope that Cirque du Soleil would film the show again there?
Cirque du Soleil Images would go on to film La Nouba in Orlando (the first and only of its resident shows to come under the lens), Corteo in Toronto (engaged from 8/4/2005 – 9/11/2005) and Koozå in Toronto (engaged 8/9/2007 – 10/21/2007) before the division ceased filming full shows. Today CDSi makes documentaries based on Cirque’s shows and has released a plethora of them over the years, but that’s a topic for another time.
Consequently, the saga of Saltimbanco’s re-filming isn’t the only one floating around. Ever since Cirque broke their credo that as long as their shows were still performing live we would never see them on VHS/DVD, rumors abound. This promise, of course, was broken when Quidam was filmed in Amsterdam in 1999 and a modified version of the stance to not include resident productions was broken when La Nouba was filmed and released in 2004 Thus a rumor surfaced that Mystère would be filmed by June 2005 for a December DVD/TV release, but as we now know that never happened and no other resident show has ever gone under the lens.
Though that’s not quite true, is it?
Fans might remember that DELIRIUM, the “music into motion” arena concert tour experiment, was filmed in London for broadcast across US and Canadian movie theaters via Sony Picture’s then new special programming division The Hot Ticket, and readied for eventual DVD release by Cirque du Soleil Images, only to have the product canceled at the last moment. Fans might also remember “Cirque du Soleil Presents KÀ”, a very special recording of the company’s MGM Grand production exclusively for German television audiences. It’s been re-broadcast in French-Canadian territories but not released in any form.
Could these be released?
Unfortunately that is also unlikely. In an interview with Daniel Lamarre, President and COO of Cirque du Soleil (which you can read here: < https://www.cirquefascination.com/?p=1923 >), he dismissed the possibility of issuing DELIRIUM, even though it had already been filmed, edited and played, because the show was no longer in production, so why put out a DVD?
I think the question should be: Why not? Wasn’t the La Nouba DVD a success?
Also taken from the interview: “The success of La Nouba on DVD has been, in Mr. Lamarre’s words, ‘Very very positive’ and has improved ticket sales. With that and the filming and broadcast of KÀ on German television fans curiosity was piqued about the possibility of resident shows being issued on DVD. It was our understanding Cirque’s contract with MGM/Mirage forbids issuing videos of shows, but not according to Mr. Lamarre. ‘It’s not by contract; it’s more the philosophical approach of the casino. They’re afraid we will lose clientele, which as a matter of fact, is totally contrary [to what we’ve found]. Because when we put our shows on video it entices people to come to the show.’
Cirque du Soleil sees DVDs, books, programs, and CDs only as a way to promote or compliment current living shows, so though it is not outside the realm of possibility, we won’t hold our breaths on that one either.
# # #
As before, the projects here are just the ones we know about, those that were leaked and thus only rumored to be happening, or had semi-official announcements made regarding the company’s intention toward pursuing them. There very well may be dozens of other media concepts and projects that we don’t even know about… and will probably never have the privilege of knowing about.
And yet there’s still more to look at.
Next time we’ll take a look at projects beyond Cirque du Soleil’s traditional space – entertainment and media – and dive into the realm of “Complexes Cirque”, and more.
