======================================================================= ______ _ __ _ __ / ____/___ ___________(_)___ ____ _/ /_(_)___ ____ / / / /_ / __ `/ ___/ ___/ / __ \/ __ `/ __/ / __ \/ __ \/ / / __/ / /_/ (__ ) /__ / / / / /_/ / /_/ / /_/ / / / /_/ /_/ \__,_/____/\___/_/_/ /_/\__,_/\__/_/\____/_/ /_(_) 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 13, NUMBER 06 June 2013 ISSUE #113 ======================================================================= Welcome to the latest edition of Fascination, the Unofficial Cirque du Soleil Newsletter. The warmth of summer is now upon us, those in the northern hemisphere at least, and for a little while it seemed it would never get here, didn't it? Over the last couple of weeks temperatures have finally started to rise, beckoning us out to play. But just when we thought it might be safe to go out in the soleil, dark clouds built up again. Last month we said plenty about how "well" Cirque du Soleil was weathering the current financial storm (delayed as it was for them), and shared some disparaging news affecting its shows company wide, such as: touring show run-times being reduced, artists and their acts being dropped from shows (Quidam losing a clown act, Varekai losing Triple Trapeze and Water Meteors, and Mystere having to say goodbye to up to 7 loyal artists), beneftits being reduced, and even the indignity of one of Cirque's signature shows closing with- out fanfare (Alegria). We'd hoped that, with the highly regarded premiere of MICHAEL JACKSON ONE at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, the disparaging news would come to an end. But it didn't... Just as the artists from MJ One were taking their first bows, the family at Amaluna were saying goodbye to its Tightwire team, and the team at La Nouba were preparing to party without one of their senior trapeze fliers and tissu artists. Reaction from the fan community hasn't been pleasant but there's little we can do except sit and watch with sadness. Vralion, a fan over on Cirque discussion board CirqueSpotlight.com, did manage to get a question about these losses answered though... why? "Cirque du Soleil wishes to tighten the shows artistically so they have a common duration of approximately 100 minutes, plus interval for touring shows, and 90 minutes without interval for resident shows. In the case of Quidam, the cuts are not radical, one act has been removed from the first half and another in the second half." It's not the "Summer of Cirque" I imagined... Alas, it's not all bad. Here at Fascination we've got plenty of excitement - an exclusive interview with Alain Vinet! Although we've spoken with Mr. Vinet in the past, we're honored to catch up with him again following the release of Amaluna and Le Best Of 2' CD - and there's plenty to learn within! (And if you're interested in winning a CD copy of the Amaluna soundtrack, check out the interview for our contest!) And if you're interested in learning more about the Cirque Musique catalog, the second part of a three-part series on Cirque du Soleil's musical releases is also within. And, as always, we have the latest news items posted to Fascination's website, tour schedule updates, and the most interesting posts to the many Facebook pages Cirque maintains. It's all inside! 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 * Historia -- Cirque Company History * Odyssea -- Cirque Tour History o) Fascination! Features * INTERVIEW /// "ALAIN VINET: Facilitating the Journey" By: Keith Johnson - Seattle, Washington (USA) * CIRQUE MUSIQUE: AN OVERVIEW "Part Two - Singles, Remixes & Associated Music" By: Ricky Russo - Atlanta, Georgia (USA) o) Subscription Information o) Copyright & Disclaimer ======================================================================= CIRQUE BUZZ -- NEWS, RUMOURS & SIGHTINGS ======================================================================= Take a Peek at Michael Jackson ONE {May.05.2013} ---------------------------------------------- Interested in learning more about Michael Jackson ONE – the resident show slated to premiere later this month at Mandalay Bay Las Vegas? Then take a peek at these videos below… o) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8nqV9I-a8AE o) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MXeAhj-xcg4 o) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=birO0gx8vXI o) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=doR0FH-wC_k {SOURCE: Cirque du Soleil} Jerry Nadal tells UNCSA graduates that art matters {May.06.2013} --------------------------------------------------- From the Winston-Salem Journal: The message that Jerry Nadal, who helps run Cirque Du Soleil, had for the 221 budding artists graduating from UNC School of the Arts Saturday was simple yet profound – what they do matters. "The arts make an enormous difference in people's lives," Nadal told the graduates sitting on stage at the Stevens Center. Nadal is the senior vice president of Cirque du Soleil's Resident Shows Division and is responsible for the seven Cirque du Soleil shows in production in Las Vegas as well as one in Orlando, Fla. He is also in charge of the production of "Michael Jackson ONE," which will debut June 29 in Las Vegas. Nadal has been with Cirque du Soleil since 1998. He started out as a stage manager, which took him across the United States and the Caribbean on productions such as "A Chorus Line," "Cabaret," and "Fiddler on the Roof." He told the graduates that when he first started in the business, he made $5 a day. But he urged them to follow their passions and to realize that the art they create – whether through dancing, singing, writing, producing, filmmaking – is a service they provide to people that can have life-changing impact. Nadal said that the reason that many of the students decided to attend UNC School of the Arts is likely because they saw a live performance that sparked their passion. "Every one of you saw something as a child that said, "This is what I want to do,'" he said. Read the original article here: LINK /// < http://goo.gl/LWKQ2 > {SOURCE: Winston-Salem Journal} Creditors urge Dubai World to accelerate asset sales {May.06.2013} ---------------------------------------------------- From the Financial Times, Dubai: Creditors are pressuring Dubai World to speed up sales of assets before the state-owned conglomerate's first debt repayment deadline in September 2015. Dubai World, which invested in property, leisure and other businesses around the world on the emirate's behalf, triggered Dubai's debt crisis in 2009 when it warned lenders that it would not be able to make debt repayments. The $25bn restructuring deal signed in 2011 with companies including HSBC, RBS and Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank helped lift the economic cloud over the emirate. Assets on the block include stakes in the Las Vegas CityCentre casino development, Cirque du Soleil and the Atlantis hotel in Dubai, where the meeting took place, and the Mandarin Oriental hotel in New York. Read the original article here: LINK /// < http://goo.gl/KVjmg > {SOURCE: Financial Times} Michael Jackson One Moving In! {May.07.2013} ---------------------------------------------------- The Hollywood Reporter has a great article this morning all about Michael Jackson ONE – the newest resident show by Cirque du Soleil – opening at the Mandalay Bay Theatre on June 21, with previews beginning on May 23. Tickets range from $69 to $150 for nightly performances Saturday through Wednesday at 7 p.m. # # # One is King's second creative collaboration with Cirque, as the former Jackson backup dancer also penned and directed Michael Jackson The Immortal World Tour. The traveling arena show first premiered in October 2011 and has become Cirque's largest and most expensive production to date, breaking its own records for the highest attendance of a single performance. Yet rather than honoring the legendary musician's memory with elephants, mimes and giant white gloves dancing to mash-ups of memorable songs, King opts for a character-driven plot for the Mandalay Bay Theatre. With 26 scenes, 60 performers and full versions of Jackson's biggest hits, One follows four misfits on a transformative journey that leads them to personify Jackson's personality traits: agility, courage, playfulness and love. "Michael was a storyteller, and certainly he was a showman – he had all these great MTV music video moments and dance stage performances that we all remember," King tells The Hollywood Reporter, citing "Moonwalker" and "Thriller" as standouts. "You can't do that in an arena; there's 16,000 people, they can't understand, they're too far away. Whereas in a 2,000-seat theater, you're right in the show, so you can go on the journey with our heroes." The title of the show is a triple entendre: 70 percent of the set list is Jackson's number one hits. Michael Jackson was also a one-of-a-kind artist and one of the most influential of all time. But at its core, One aims to celebrate the ethos of love and unity that Jackson captured throughout his career, through his concerts, song lyrics and philanthropy. "The running theme by the end of the show [is] that we're just all the same, because we are all the same," says King. "It doesn't matter if you're black or white, we're all the same. It's that oneness that I want people to leave with, because that was Michael's message 'til the end." With full access from John Branca and the Michael Jackson Estate to the musician's library of master recordings, musical director Kevin Antunes made sure to showcase the intricate layers that often get lost in a song's final cut. For example, the theater's front speakers play Jackson's lead vocals, while the headrest's speakers in each seat swoon with his background vocals, giving attendees the experience of being in the recording studio with Jackson himself. "You're not listening to a CD or an MP3, you're listening to the raw audio of these master recordings in their full complete embodiment – you're hearing it in a way that only Michael and his engineers had heard it when they had done [it]," says Antunes, who has also overseen the music for Justin Timberlake, Rihanna and Madonna, including her Super Bowl halftime gig. "What is true mastery is when you listen to his background vocals while his lead vocal is singing. If he was in the studio and he had his headphones on and he's recording layer after layer of background vocals, it's the things that he's doing while he's listening to his lead on his background track: he's snapping, and he might ghost some of the lyrics, he could whisper some of the lyrics. Hearing that stuff, that's the kind of stuff that I'd want the fans to get a chance to hear, and I contour some of the arrangements so that some of those things can be highlighted, because it gives you a true look into the artistry of this incredible entertainer. And nobody gets to really hear that except in this theater." Differing from Cirque du Soleil's other tribute productions, One never has a performer portraying Jackson onstage. Instead, the show strategically uses video and audio footage of the singer throughout the plot's peaks and valleys. "His presence, even on video, is so powerful, that it can be very tricky to use him," says Welby Altidor, One's director of creation. "What we wanted to do in this show is build Michael's presence through his voice and feeling his shadow, to feeling him progressively becoming more and more present throughout the show, until we can create the longing. And then the apex, the moment where we'll really feel that he's there and he's still with us." One is Cirque du Soleil's most ambitious endeavor to date, as no production has ever had so many acrobatic performances in a single show. To avoid recycling routines from The Immortal, choreographers take advantage of the intimate theater setting and spotlight Jackson's iconic moves at new heights. Cirque is also working with dance crews for the first time, having found new inspiration in groups from South Korea, New Zealand and Puerto Rico. All stage performers are dressed by Zaldy Goco, Jackson's longtime designer, who also outfitted Lady Gaga's first North American Monster Ball tour and joined with Gwen Stefani for her L.A.M.B. label. The high level of ambition for originality in One is familiar to choreographer Travis Payne, who has worked with Beyonce, Shakira, Usher and Jennifer Lopez, and collaborated with Jackson on and off for more than 15 years. "Michael was always very, very clear that he just wanted to get to the best idea – it did not always have to come from him, the only thing he asked is that it's something he'd never seen before," Payne tells THR. "If it was anything that felt similar to anything else that'd come before it, he didn't want any part of it. That's what made him so innovative in all of his music and visuals … a lot of times, he was just inspired and motivated by things around him in everyday life. He might come into rehearsal with a drawing he did on a napkin the evening before because he just got a great idea, and then it becomes the set for ‘The Way You Make Me Feel' in This Is It. … You always left exhausted because he always pulled everything out of you and wouldn't allow you to settle, because he wasn't gonna settle." Many steps of One draw from Jackson's creative process and attention to detail, which King witnessed firsthand during his first gig in showbiz as a dancer on Jackson's Dangerous tour in 1992. He recalls watching Jackson backstage as he prepared for arena shows that had yet to use enhancements like video screens. "You could see the attention to detail: every light mattered, where he was positioned so that he could get the right silhouette mattered," says King. "To watch that level of interest and detail and to really care about every aspect of the stage so that it matches his movement and really goes along to the music so that every accent is hit with the lights, it was something I'll never forget." Cirque du Soleil already has seven resident shows along the Las Vegas Strip, but One is Mandalay Bay's first Cirque production and moves into a theater that previously housed musicals Mamma Mia! and The Lion King. The Mandalay Bay Theatre's entry is now outfitted with six floor-to-ceiling portraits of Jackson dancing the moonwalk in his white socks, sequined jacket and black hat. Brightly lit jewels accessorize the sapphire blue lobby, which features black and gold double doors that pay homage to Jackson's signature military-inspired blazers. "To be the entertainment capital of the world and now to feature the work of the greatest entertainer of all time, it didn't take me too long when [Cirque du Soleil] presented the opportunity to us, I said, ‘Where do we sign?'" says Chuck Bowling, president and COO of Mandalay Bay. "We think Michael Jackson's music is generational, relevant and crosses so many genres overall. As long as people continue to love and want to celebrate Michael's music, we're gonna be the home for it for many, many years to come." But even with all the venue changes, master recordings and record number of acrobatics, the question remains: how can anyone make a Michael Jackson show that isn't created by Michael Jackson himself? "I do a lot of, what would Michael think? And how would he feel about this? Not trying to replicate anything that he would do, because we can't do that. There's only one Michael Jackson," says Payne. "But to think, would Michael get a kick out of that? Would he think this is really great? Would he think that this is thematic enough? Or would he think this is strong enough? We're just grinding in rehearsals to make the answers to all of those questions ‘yes' and make it a piece in entirety that Michael would love and he would enjoy being an audience member at, that he would enjoy bringing his mother and his children to." # # # Read the original article here: LINK /// < http://goo.gl/OvYfe > {SOURCE: The Hollywood Reporter} Michael Jackson ONE Unveiled! {May.07.2013} ---------------------------------------------------- Cirque du Soleil and the Estate of Michael Jackson unveil MICHAEL JACKSON ONE Written and directed by Jamie King EXCLUSIVELY AT MANDALAY BAY IN LAS VEGAS PREVIEW PERFORMANCES START MAY 23 Las Vegas, May 7, 2013 – Cirque du Soleil and the Estate of Michael Jackson unveiled Michael Jackson ONETM today in Las Vegas, a new creation to take residency exclusively at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino. Directed by Jamie King, Michael Jackson ONE will start its preview performances on May 23, 2013 and have its media premiere on June 29. This entirely new show is the second creative project to be developed between Cirque du Soleil and The Estate of Michael Jackson after the top grossing Michael Jackson THE IMMORTAL World Tour, currently playing arenas in Europe as it travels the world. THE SHOW: Michael Jackson ONE is a sonic, tonic fusion of acrobatics, dance and visuals that takes the audience on an immersive journey through the music and spirit of Michael Jackson. Driven by Michael's powerful, multi-layered music – heard like never before in a riveting, state-of-the-art surround-sound environment – ONE takes the audience through a series of seamless visual and musical tableaux, at the heart of a world that is in turn majestic, playful, magical and heart- warming. In Michael Jackson ONE, Michael's artistry and spirit are expressed through the vibrant energy of the cast of 63 dancers and performers, underscored by aerial performance, driving acrobatics, and vivid choreographies that use the urban/hip hop idiom as a springboard for exploration. ONE is heartfelt tribute to the work, innovative spirit, and legacy of Michael Jackson – the King of Pop, the genius, the visionary, the One. THE NAME: Michael Jackson believed that all people are unique and equal, regardless of race or culture. His message was one of unity, harmony and hope for a better world. At once evocative and enigmatic, the name Michael Jackson ONE also presents a paradox: Michael was a multifaceted artist who strove to fuse together various musical styles and art forms. It is a fitting title for a unifying journey into the world of the King of Pop, the genius, the visionary, the One. CREATORS: Along with Jamie King—who started his career as a dancer on Michael's Dangerous World Tour and also directed the arena touring show Michael Jackson The Immortal World Tour by Cirque du Soleil—, Michael Jackson ONE will bring together the creative minds behind the Michael Jackson Estate, John Branca and John McClain, and the diverse talents of the following creators): o) Guy Laliberté – Creative Guide o) Jean-François Bouchard – Chief Creative Content o) Jamie King – Writer and Director o) Welby Altidor – Director of Creation o) Carla Kama – Associate Director o) Kevin Antunes – Musical Director o) François Séguin – Set and Props Designer o) Zaldy Goco – Costume Designer o) Michel Lemieux – Man in the Mirror scene creator o) Victor Pilon – Man in the Mirror scene creator o) Travis Payne – Choreographer o) Rich and Tone Talauega – Choreographers o) Parris Goebel – Choreographer o) Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui – Choreographer o) Ivan « Flipz » Velez – Choreographer o) Olivier Simola – Choreographer o) Rob Bollinger – Acrobatic Performance Designer o) Germain Guillemot – Acrobatic Performance Designer o) Ben Potvin – Acrobatic Choreographer o) Andrea Ziegler – Acrobatic Choreographer o) Raymond St-Jean – Projections Designer o) Jimmy Lakatos – Projections Designer o) David Finn – Lighting Designer o) Jonathan Deans – Sound Designer o) Pierre Masse – Acrobatic Equipment and Rigging Designer o) Nathalie Gagné – Makeup Designer o) Brian Drader – Dramaturge o) Manon Beaudoin – Characters' Guide o) Henry Fong – Illustrator Creators' bios and images are available Cirque's press room: LINK /// < http://goo.gl/pWPX7 > PREVIEW PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE: Preview performances for Michael Jackson ONE will begin on May 23 at Mandalay Bay. Saturday to Wednesday at 7:00pm. There are no performances on Thursdays and Fridays. TO RESERVE TICKETS: • Call 877.632.7400 or 800-745-3000 • Go to www.cirquedusoleil.com/mjone or mandalaybay.com • Visit the Mandalay Bay Events Center box office or any of the MGM Resorts International box offices. TICKET PRICES: • $69, $99, $130, $140, $150, plus LIMITED Gold Circle seating. • Prices do not include tax or fees. • Tickets are available 120 days in advance of the performance date. • Like Michael Jackson ONE on Facebook or Tweet us: @Cirque #MJOne. {SOURCE: Cirque du Soleil} Parade of Alegria Characters Shutdown in Russia {May.08.2013} ---------------------------------------------------- St. Petersburg police put an end to a mini-parade organized by Cirque du Soleil performers promoting their upcoming show. According to the organizers and the police, "too many people showed up." Twenty actors and musicians of the famous Cirque du Soleil dressed in extravagant costumes marched through the center of Russia's second-biggest city the day before their ‘Alegria' performance, scheduled to premiere on May 9th. The parade was approved by city authorities, and 200 people were expected to attend. The actual crowd that gathered for the event turned out to be much bigger than anticipated. "We cut the parade short because more people showed up than what we expected," Cirque du Soleil's PR manager said in a statement. "We already went two-thirds of our planned route. The decision to wrap up the parade was made together with the law enforcement officers to ensure security of both the audience, the actors and the passersby". ‘Alegria' will run in St. Petersburg from May 9 to 18. Russia introduced tougher regulations on public gatherings last year in the wake of mass opposition rallies in Moscow. Read the original article here (with more pictures!): LINK /// < http://goo.gl/D57oH > {SOURCE: RT.com} LVWeekly's Thoughts on MJ ONE {May.09.2013} ---------------------------------------------------- Four scenes in the renovated Mandalay Bay Theater were performed to give guests a taste of what's to come at the show's preview opening May 23. The premiere of what will be the eighth Cirque show on the Strip is June 29. A few thoughts, notes and quotes from today's wingding: The immediate, initial response from my seat — conveniently occupied by me — was that "One" picks up where "Viva Elvis" left off when it closed last year. This is not a dig. "Viva Elvis" had, finally, figured out how to evoke the image and vibe of a legendary artist without drilling the audience with such inartistic effects as a literal narration of that artist's life. So there is no voiceover intoning, "At age 8, Michael had perfected a perfect impersonation of James Brown," even if that is true. Instead, the spirit of Jackson is realized through deft music selection, dazzling set scenery and Cirque's customary acrobatics and dancing. "Certainly, we wouldn't want to make it a straight tribute show," director Jamie King says. "Michael wouldn't have that, and this is Cirque du Soleil. They are great at what they do and are all about creating something new. They are mavericks. Certainly, Michael's iconography, his images and music videos are there. I think they make you feel a certain spirit, and Michael is our guide in that way, in a video-visual way, to evoke the feelings we had when we remember when we first saw the videos for ‘Bad' or ‘Beat It' or ‘Thriller.' So he's there, but not always there." The show is similar to "Love" in that the scenes recall images recognizable to the artist's most devoted fans. A clear example: A skeleton topped with an elephant head, reminding of Jackson's reported fascination with the remains of "Elephant Man" Jim Merrick. If you remember that Jackson was once interested in buying that skeleton, it's a pretty funny reference. If not, it's just another skeleton with an elephant head. Sample scenes: A trio of dancers with digital lettering stretched across their chest drop from the ceiling … a giant jewel box … a collection of dancers from various cultures, including an Asian girl and a blonde kid in a light-blue jumpsuit … a contraption above center stage exposing metal beams and a trio of LED screens … an elegantly attired woman sitting inside a sliver of a silver moon … five masked guys in gangster suits performing the famous "Smooth Criminal" forward lean … a pair of glowing, disembodied boots performing a moonwalk … an aerialist who looks like a post-rage Incredible Hulk hanging and twirling above the stage … and a spring-loaded cushion over the middle of the set's surface, giving the dancers a bit more bounce. See even more thoughts by reading the original article here: LINK /// < http://goo.gl/DgBGN > {SOURCE: Las Vegas Weekly} "Life as a Cirque Mom" {May.12.2013} ---------------------------------------------------- What's it like to be Cirque Mom? Jeana Blackman — mother by day and Nanny to the Imperial Twins of KÀ by night — offers an inside look at the joggling between life as a performer and life at home with her young daugther. # # # Right now, I perform in 10 shows a week. You can see me dangle in the air, climb on a rotating wall and play with giant creatures in my role as Nanny in KÀ by Cirque du Soleil, at MGM GRAND. I never expected to jump on a trampoline and fall into an airbag my first day on the job. Let's just say a lot of swearing was involved! Not surprisingly, I also swore a lot on my first day as a mom, which came two years later. During the day, I am a mom who cares for my 1-year-old, Penelope. At night, as Nanny, I care for a set of Imperial Twins who tragically lose their parents in an attack, get separated, find love and reunite to fight against the villain. I'm not sure which part of my life is more dramatic — or fun. Over time, I became quite comfortable with dangling upside down in a harness 100 feet in the air, and I learned to navigate around a moving wall with pegs shooting at me. Still, I had a new skill to master: how to successfully care for a newborn. She couldn't go more than three hours without eating, which meant that I couldn't go more than three hours without sleeping. This was definitely more difficult than being onstage in front of 2,000 people. But the gibberish I use in the show seemed to make sense to my daughter! After three months of caring for my baby, it came time to return to work. When I first joined the cast, it wasn't uncommon for me to stay up until 3 or 4 a.m. and sleep until noon, the typical life of a nighttime performer. Now, Penelope wakes at 7 a.m. — or God forbid earlier — so I go to bed soon after I get home at midnight hopeful she sleeps through the night. On the plus side, the fact that I work nights means that I spend a lot of time with her during the day. It's not uncommon to see us at the library, swim class or playing in the park. The best part about being a Cirque Mom is when my lives as a mother and performer collide. Did my daughter cry hysterically when she first saw me in the unfamiliar makeup? Yep. But now it's as familiar to her as my unadorned face. Artists from all over the world have greeted her in several languages, including Chinese, Russian, Mongolian, French, Portuguese and Japanese. On her first birthday, a former hand-to-hand Russian giant balanced her in one hand. As a close friend once told me, this is an amazing environment to be raised. It's not always easy to balance work and home, but it is rewarding. The biggest surprise is what being a mom at home did to my performance abilities onstage. Being a real-life caretaker gave me a great insight into my role as Nanny. Being a protector is now second nature. It's made me a better actress and definitely a better mom. Read the original article here: LINK /// < http://goo.gl/7dqui > {SOURCE: CirqueClub, Las Vegas Sun} Les Chemins Invisibles, Chapter Five – starts June 23rd! {May.16.2013} ---------------------------------------------------- Cirque du Soleil will set up at the Port of Quebec Agora this summer to present chapter five of the Les Chemins invisibles event under the title The Harbor of Lost Souls. Inspired by the Port of Quebec, a place steeped in history, The Harbor of Lost Souls directed by Martin Genest will be a unique outdoor show. This free urban event will be presented at the Agora starting June 23 and will run until September 1st, 2013. The Harbor of Lost Souls In order to help him find purpose to his life again, the employees of an old customs officer have decided to offer him, for his birthday, a most unforgettable night. In this mysterious realm, the jolly schemers awaken a strange world in which the old man will relive some of the pivotal moments of his long life. In a stream of festive tableaux, the liberating power of memories whisks the old man away on a journey during which he will discover long forgotten parts of his inner self. The Harbor of Lost Souls combines circus arts and the tradition of storytelling in the signature Cirque du Soleil style. "For Martin Genest, the site where the show will be presented inspired a concept that draws on the memories of the bustle that once filled the Port of Quebec. We hope that the unforgettable night the old customs officer is about to experience will delight spectators and fill them with wonder," said Richard Dagenais, director of creation at Cirque du Soleil. A Meeting at Sundown In a new setting, both physically and artistically, the international cast of 35 artists hailing from countries such as Italy, Russia, Ukraine, Canada and the United States, will give a 50-minute performance. There is no need to have seen last year's installment of Les Chemins invisibles to follow this new chapter. There will be performances Tuesday to Saturday, from June 23 to September 1, 2013 at the Port of Quebec Agora. At twilight, spectators are welcome to this historic place as follows: June 23 to July 31 starting at 9:15 pm, August 1st to September 1st starting at 8:25 pm. Unless the weather conditions threaten artists' safety, performances of Les Chemins invisibles will never be cancelled but may be presented in a slightly modified format. Rain or shine, spectators will get to enjoy the show. {SOURCE: Cirque du Soleil} Cirque and Macy's join forces for special events {May.17.2013} ---------------------------------------------------- An Inspiring Partnership: Cirque du Soleil® and Macy's Join Forces to Bring World-Class Entertainment to Macy's Iconic Events Partnership Kicks-off This Summer with Special Performances from Cirque du Soleil at Macy's Passport Presents Glamorama® and Continues with a New One-of-a-Kind Float in the 87th Annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade # # # NEW YORK–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Two of the world's most iconic entertainment brands join forces to bring awe-inspiring entertainment to audiences nationwide. The internationally renowned masters of imagination, Cirque du Soleil® will kick-off a three-year partnership with Macy's (NYSE:M) this summer that will bring the unique theatrical flair of Cirque du Soleil to several of Macy's most iconic events including Macy's Passport presents Glamorama® and the famed Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. "We are thrilled to welcome Cirque du Soleil to the Macy's family of iconic events," said Amy Kule, group vice president, Macy's Parade & Entertainment Group. She added, "Combining the unique artistry of Cirque du Soleil with Macy's signature ability to create magical moments for millions of spectators, I'm sure that working together will add a fantastic new layer of imagination to our world-famous spectaculars." "We are delighted to partner with Macy's for these spectacular events across the United States and to bring the imagination of Cirque du Soleil to Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade," said Mario D'Amico, chief marketing officer of Cirque du Soleil. "This creative collaboration between Cirque du Soleil and Macy's will provide a fantastic platform for both brands, creating a unique experience for customers." The magic begins with special performances of select acts from Cirque du Soleil during this summer's Macy's Passport presents Glamorama events. Macy's iconic high-fashion and entertainment extravaganza showcases the latest fashion from the hottest designers, show-stopping dance, visuals and staging, as well as incredible musical and other performances. Taking place at theatres in Minneapolis, Chicago, Los Angeles and San Francisco, Macy's Glamorama this year is themed "Fashion in a New Light," highlighting the mystery and magic of illumination. The partnership continues later this year with the debut of a new Cirque du Soleil float and performance in the 87th annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. A wonder to behold, the float will combine the whimsical Macy's Parade magic with the extraordinary artistry of Cirque du Soleil. "The creative vision of Cirque du Soleil partnered with Macy's expertise will allow us to deliver an inspiring experience during Macy's iconic Parade," said Yasmine Khalil, director of Special Events, Cirque du Soleil. "This is a fantastic opportunity for Cirque du Soleil to work with Macy's given their expertise to design floats and our world-class artistry and performers." Macy's Passport presents Glamorama will take place on Aug. 2 in Minneapolis, Aug. 9 in Chicago; Sept. 12 in Los Angeles; and Sept. 19 in San Francisco. An exclusive American Express® pre- sale for Minneapolis and Chicago tickets runs May 30 through June 5 for American Express cardholders only. Tickets are available for purchase at www.macys.com/glamtickets. The 87th Annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade airs nationwide on NBC-TV, on Thursday, Nov. 28, 2013 from 9 a.m. – Noon in all time zones. Read the original press release here: LINK /// < http://goo.gl/4jRwX > {SOURCE: EON Business Wire} SCALADA: A Unique Outdoor Event {May.20.2013} ---------------------------------------------------- SCALADA is a unique and free outdoor event, developed by Cirque du Soleil for the Principality of Andorra. Inspired by Andorra's four seasons, SCALADA will be performed exclusively in the principality this summer from July 13 until August 3, 2013, at 10:00 p.m. The show at a glance: To capture people's attention and charm a group of boaters, the four Seasons enter into a bit of harmless competition. In turn, but keeping to the natural order — Winter, Spring, Summer, Autumn — the Seasons reveal their charms and use their most beautiful traits to impress. The competition suddenly becomes more serious, and the Seasons forget the audience that they are trying so hard to win over. It then falls to the group of boaters to show the Seasons that they are already involved in a love affair with Andorra, no matter what the season. Register today for free tickets: LINK /// < http://goo.gl/Wimrb > Read more about this event at CirqueClub: LINK /// < http://goo.gl/otVdq > {SOURCE: Cirque du Soleil} TOTEM Wins 2013 Drama Desk Award! {May.21.2013} ---------------------------------------------------- Fresh from the Cirque du Soleil Facebook page is this Announcement... "TOTEM just won in New York City the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Unique Theatrical Experience! Congratulations to everybody that has been involved with the production since its creation!" Also nominated for the "Unique Theatrical Experience Category" were Bello Mania, Chris March's The Butt-Cracker Suite! A Trailer Park Ballet, That Pla: A Solo Macbeth, The Fazzino Ride and The Man Who Laughs. TOTEM was also nominated in the "Outstanding Projection Design" category along with Chaplin: The Musical, Old Hats, Here Lies Love, Checkers and Wild With Happy. The award for Outstanding Projection Design went to Here Lies Love. Congrats TOTEM! See the other winners here: LINK /// < http://www.dramadeskawards.com/2013-winners.html > {SOURCE: Drama Desk Awards, Cirque du Soleil} Criss Angel: Buried Alive? {May.23.2013} ---------------------------------------------------- Six hours before Criss Angel's "Buried Alive-Cement Grave" stunt on the Strip on Wednesday night, his fan army of Loyals began to arrive. They grew to the point that an hour before his planned 10:30 p.m. arrival, rival magician Nathan Burton used Twitter to report there were 10,000 and more dangerously crowding areas and roads in and out of The Mirage. To add to that headache for Metro Police, high winds had picked up to more than 30 mph, prompting Clark County's Department of Air Quality to demand building sites take immediate precautions to curb flying debris of sand, cement powder and other objects. That instantly caused additional problems for TV cameras set up by the cement mixer on the Strip. The crowd was initially moved into five separate staging areas for their safety in an attempt to lessen the growing traffic tie-ups. I joined Criss backstage at the Luxor after his Cirque du Soleil show "Believe" as he prepared for the dangerous demonstration. He was calm, meditative and doing breathing exercises. "I'm ready to roll," he told me, showing me his chest and back that had been bruised and torn from the stunts he's already pulled off for this new Spike TV series to debut this fall. However, as we packed up for the RV to drive over to The Mirage, the first of a series of warning phone calls arrived. There were major safety concerns with the size of the crowd. There were concerns about flying debris. There were concerns about positioning a standby ambulance at instant entry and exit points. Criss was ordered to hold in place while officials, Metro Police and Spike TV producers discussed how to resolve the unexpected and growing issues. I watched Criss as he pleaded on the phone to go ahead, but after an hour of negotiations, the demonstration was officially shut down. Read more of the original article here: LINK /// < http://goo.gl/yvR6W > {SOURCE: Las Vegas Sun} LVRJ: Cirque's MJ tribute begins ticketed previews {May.23.2013} ---------------------------------------------------- So you made your first $281 million. Now what do you do for an encore? But that was always the challenge for the creators of "Michael Jackson One," the next phase of Cirque du Soleil's partnership with the late superstar's estate. The new show carries over much of the creative team behind Cirque's hit arena tour "Michael Jackson The Immortal," this time for a salute to the King of Pop more in line with the company's other Las Vegas spectacles. "It really is part two," director Jamie King says of the Mandalay Bay show that began ticketed previews Thursday, building to an official opening night June 29. "Being able to use Michael's catalog in a different way was very exciting — and very challenging." While "The Immortal" $281.6 million gross to date (counting presales in Japan) may or may not have surprised its creators, they've known for three years, from the first announcement of Cirque's partnership with the Jackson estate, that a Las Vegas edition would follow. "The Immortal" set out to create an arena-concert atmosphere with a live band. But "One" remixes Jackson's actual recordings in the manner of Cirque's Beatles-themed "Love," and makes full use of fixed technology and permanent staging, including holographic-type effects. "This is really a fairy tale. It's the story of four heroes who go on a journey," King says. "It is hard to tell a story in a rock show setting. … Whereas in a theater here at Mandalay Bay, it's more intimate. So now we can really immerse the audience with the performers. We can really tell a story and deliver in that way creatively." The larger plan may have been mapped out from the beginning, but many of the details had to wait for ticket-buyer reaction to "The Immortal." Cirque took its time before announcing whether the two shows would carry the same title, how much material would overlap and whether "Immortal" director Jamie King — known for staging arena tours for pop stars such as Madonna — would be entrusted with the more theatrical follow-up. Success provided answers. "The Immortal" is still hard-charging through Asia, so if for no other reason, a new name was needed to distinguish the two different products, Cirque President Daniel Lamarre noted in February. As for King? At one point, Lamarre said the director's involvement would end with the arena tour. But as "The Immortal" kept clicking turnstiles around the globe, Lamarre told reporters in February, "We wanted the content of each show to be very different, but there was one guy we wanted to keep … because Jamie knows so well the universe of Michael Jackson." Read the rest of the article here: LINK /// < http://goo.gl/XLJXu > {SOURCE: Las Vegas Review-Journal} Michael Jackson... a Hologram? {May.24.2013} ---------------------------------------------------- It only seems fitting that Michael Jackson, the man who brought the world "Thriller," was resurrected on a Las Vegas stage late Thursday night—in the form of a hologram. The moment occurred toward the end of the first public performance of Michael Jackson ONE, a joint venture between Cirque du Soleil and Jackson's estate. The singer's apparition materialized from a cloud of gold pixie dust and proceeded to deliver a rousing rendition of "Man In The Mirror." Throughout the song, Jackson's hologram stomps around the stage as a coterie of backup dancers swirl around him, moving in unison like a school of fish with one illusory leader. The phantom Jackson even executes a move that involves dropping to one knee and getting back up; he's briefly transformed into a Jackson 5 era version of himself before evaporating at the song's end. When Jackson first appeared onstage, you could feel a swell of energy ripple through the sellout crowd at Mandalay Bay. It wasn't accompanied by the volume level of some of the show's other big moments, almost as if the audience was holding its collective breath to keep from shattering the fleeting sliver of hope that this was not an illusion, but the King of Pop himself. That's the same sort of reaction that Tupac Shakur's hologram received when it debuted at Coachella last year. Indeed, similar technology was used for both (technically, they're illusions, not holograms). But Jackson's actually danced and overlapped with cohorts onstage; Shakur's merely rapped in the direction of Snoop Dogg, who was standing ten feet away. Much was made of Shakur's spectral return and the possibility of a hologram tour, yet nothing of the sort has progressed beyond rumor. Shortly after Jeff Jampol (who serves as a consultant to the Jackson estate) took over management of Shakur's estate, he downplayed the likelihood of a solo tour for the rapper. The illusory Jackson, on the other hand, is just one cog in a vast postmortem performance machine. The Michael Jackson Immortal World Tour grossed $160 million in it its initial leg, tops among all North American tours last year. The new Vegas-based show will be hard-pressed to match Immortal's results, given that it's based in a 1,800-seat venue, while the latter fills up basketball arenas. But if last night was any indication, ONE is headed in the right direction: according to sources close to the matter, all performances are sold out through the end of May at an average ticket price of about $125. The King of Pop pulled in $145 million in 2012—and now with two Cirque du Soleil shows and a hologram, this year's number should stay in the stratosphere. Read the original article here: LINK /// < http://goo.gl/CLJvq > {SOURCE: Forbes.com} Lighting & Sound Features "One Night for One Drop" {May.28.2013} ---------------------------------------------------- The technical journal Lighting and Sound America has a feature in their May 2013 issue about the Cirque/One Drop "One Night for One Drop" benefit performance. It looks at the show from a technical perspective, discussing the lighting, sound, and projection equipment used. It's a look at a Cirque show that isn't often discussed. To read the article online (May, 2013 issue, starting at page 53) you need to subscribe to the electronic version, though it's free. Fill out the information at: < http://goo.gl/Fcukv > You will then have access to that issue, as well as many others. {SOURCE: Lighting & Sound} ======================================================================= ITINÉRAIRE -- TOUR/SHOW INFORMATION ======================================================================= o) BIGTOP - Under the Grand Chapiteau {Amaluna, Corteo, Koozå, OVO, Totem & Varekai} o) ARENA - In Stadium-like venues {Alegría, Quidam, Dralion & MJ Immortal} o) RESIDENT - Performed en Le Théâtre {Mystère, "O", La Nouba, Zumanity, KÀ, LOVE, Believe, Zarkana & Michael Jackson ONE} 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: Edmonton, AB -- May 29, 2013 to Jun 23, 2013 Denver, CO -- Jul 18, 2013 to Aug 11, 2013 Minneapolis, MN -- Sep 26, 2013 to Oct 20, 2013 San Francisco, CA -- Nov 15, 2013 to Dec 29, 2913 San Jose, CA -- Jan 22, 2014 to Feb 9, 2014 Corteo: Sao Paulo, BR -- Mar 30, 2013 to Jul 14, 2013 Brasilia, BR -- Aug 1, 2013 to Sep 8, 2013 Belo Horizonte, BR -- Sep 19, 2013 to Oct 27, 2013 Curitiba, BR -- Nov 8, 2013 to Dec 15, 2013 Rio de Janeiro -- Dec 27, 2013 to Feb 23, 2014 Porto Alegre, BR -- Mar 7, 2014 to Apr 13, 2014 Koozå: Bilbao, ES -- May 15, 2013 to Jun 16, 2013 Knokke, BE -- Jul 18, 2013 to Aug 18, 2013 Moscow, RU -- Sep 7, 2013 to TBA Paris, FR -- Nov 23, 2013 to Dec 23, 2013 Ovo: Perth, AU -- Apr 14, 2012 to Jun 16, 2013 (Going on Hiatus) Totem: Philadelphia, PA -- May 30, 2013 to Jun 30, 2013 Ottawa, ON -- Jul 11, 2013 to Aug 2, 2013 Columbus, OH -- Aug 22, 2013 to Sep 15, 2013 Long Beach, CA -- Oct 11, 2013 to Nov 10, 2013 Irvine, CA -- Nov 21, 2013 to Dec 29, 2013 Santa Monica, CA -- Jan 17, 2014 to Feb 9, 2014 Varekai: San Jose, CR -- May 31, 2013 to Jun 23, 2013 Guadalajara, MX -- Aug 14, 2013 to Aug 28, 2013 Mexico City, mX -- Sep 19, 2013 to Oct 13, 2013 (Going Arena: December 2013) ------------------------------------ ARENA - In Stadium-Like Venues ------------------------------------ Alegría: Kazan, RU -- May 29, 2013 to Jun 2, 2013 Moscow, RU -- Jun 5, 2013 to Jun 16, 2013 Kiev, UA -- Jun 20, 2013 to Jul 30, 2013 London, UK -- Jul 18, 2013 to Jul 28, 2013 Gdansk, PO -- Jul 31, 2013 to Aug 04, 2013 Palma de Mallorca, ES -- Aug 22, 2013 to Aug 30, 2013 Bucharest, RO -- Sep 5, 2013 to Sep 8, 2013 Bratislava, SK -- Sep 11, 2013 to Sep 15, 2013 Sofia, BG -- Sep 20, 2013 to Sep 22, 2013 Minsk, BY -- Sep 26, 2013 to Sep 28, 2013 Newcastle, UK -- Oct 17, 2013 to Oct 20, 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 Lille, FR -- Nov 13, 2013 to Nov 17, 2013 Bordeaux, FR -- Nov 20, 2013 to Nov 24, 2013 Valencia, ES -- Nov 28, 2013 to Dec 1, 2013 Gijon, ES -- Dec 4, 2013 to Dec 8, 2013 Santander, ES -- Dec 11, 2013 to Dec 15, 2013 Madrid, ES -- Dec 18, 2013 to Dec 22, 2013 (Closing in Madrid, Dec 22, 2013) Quidam: Cedar Rapids, IA -- Jun 6, 2013 to Jun 9, 2013 Dayton, OH -- Jun 12, 2013 to Jun 16, 2013 Louisville, KY -- Jun 19, 2013 to Jun 23, 2013 Nashville, TN -- Jun 26, 2013 to Jun 30, 2013 Charlotte, NC -- Jul 3, 2013 to Jul 7, 2013 Raleigh, NC -- Jul 10, 2013 to Jul 14, 2013 Fairfax, VA -- Jul 17, 2013 to Jul 21, 2013 Brooklyn, NY -- Jul 24, 2013 to JUl 28, 2013 Sunrise, FL -- Jul 31, 2013 to Aug 4, 2013 Estero, FL -- Aug 7, 2013 to Aug 11, 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 Malaga, ES -- Dec 5, 2013 to Dec 8, 2013 Zaragoza, ES -- Dec 11, 2013 to Dec 15, 2013 Sevilla, ES -- Dec 18, 2013 to Dec 22, 2013 A Coruña, ES -- Dec 25, 2013 to Dec 29, 2013 London, UK -- Jan 4, 2014 to Feb 2, 2014 Toulouse, FR -- Mar 5, 2014 to Mar 9, 2014 Strasbourg, FR -- Mar 12, 2014 to Mar 16, 2014 Toulon, FR -- Mar 19, 2014 to Mar 23, 2014 Lyon, FR -- Apr 2, 2014 to Apr 6, 2014 Dralion: Guatemala City, GT -- Jun 5, 2013 to Jun 9, 2013 Amneville, FR -- Jul 9, 2013 to Jul 13, 2013 Nice, FR -- Jul 18, 2013 to Jul 28, 2013 Nantes, FR -- Jul 31, 2013 to Aug 4, 2013 Doha, QA -- Sep 18, 2013 to Sep 28, 2013 Beirut, LB -- Oct 10, 2013 to Oct 20, 2013 Rome, IT -- Nov 8, 2013 to Nov 17, 2013 Turin, IT -- Nov 21, 2013 to Nov 24, 2013 Milan, IT -- Nov 28, 2013 to Dec 1, 2013 Geneva, CH -- Dec 4, 2013 to Dec 8, 2013 Basel, CH -- Dec 11, 2013 to Dec 15, 2013 Barcelona, ES -- Dec 18, 2013 to Dec 29, 2013 Lisbon, PT -- Jan 1, 2014 to Jan 12, 2014 Michael Jackson THE IMMORTAL World Tour: Fukuoka, JP -- May 30, 2013 to Jun 2, 2013 Osaka, JP -- Jun 6, 2013 to Jun 16, 2013 Taipei, TW -- Jun 28, 2013 to Jun 30, 2013 Seoul, KR -- Jul 11, 2013 to Jul 14, 2013 Daegu, KR -- Jul 17, 2013 to Jul 21, 2013 Beijing, CN -- Aug 8, 2013 to Aug 11, 2013 Shanghai, CN -- Aug 15, 2013 to Aug 18, 2013 Hong Kong, CN -- Aug 22, 2013 to Aug 25, 2013 Perth, AU -- Sep 18, 2013 to Sep 22, 2013 Sydney, AU -- Sep 26, 2013 to Sep 29, 2013 Brisbane, AU -- Oct 2, 2013 to Oct 6, 2013 Melbourne, AU -- Oct 10, 2013 to Oct 13, 2013 Auclkand, NZ -- Oct 30, 2013 to Nov 3, 2013 Varekai: Montreal, QC -- Dec 20, 2013 to Dec 30, 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 Dark Dates: o July 10 o September 5 - 13 o November 6 2013 Added Performances: o December 27 "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 June 9 o August 7 - 11 o October 6 o December 3 - 17 2013 Added Performances: o December 24 o December 31 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 July 23 o September 17-21 o November 5-6 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 May 26 - June 3 o July 20 o September 22 -30 2013 Added Performances: o December 30 LOVE: Location: Mirage, Las Vegas (USA) Performs: Thursday through Monday, Dark: Tuesday/Wednesday Two Shows Nightly - 7:00pm and 9:30pm 2013 Dark Dates: o June 6 o August 21-7 o October 10 o December 11-26 2013 Added Performances: o December 10 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 May 28 - June 1 o September 3 - 7 o November 26 - 30 o December 17 - 24 2013 Added Performances: o June 3 & 4 o July 10 & 11 o July 17 & 18 o July 24 & 25 o July 31 o August 1 o August 7 & 8 o August 14 & 15 o August 21 & 22 o December 25 & 26 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 July 9 o August 21 - September 5 o November 5 2013 Added Performances: o December 26 MICHAEL JACKSON ONE: Location: Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas (USA) Performs: Saturday through Wednesday, Dark: Thursday/Friday One show nightly: 7:00pm Previews begin in Las Vegas: May 23, 2013 Gala Premiere: June 21, 2013 Regular Performances Begin: June 22, 2013 2013 Dark Dates: o TBA ======================================================================= OUTREACH - UPDATES FROM CIRQUE's SOCIAL WIDGETS ======================================================================= {Compiled by Keith Johnson} ---[ ALEGRIA ]--- {May.08} St. Petersburg Parade (27 photos) - We were overwhelmed with the warm welcome Alegria received while parading in the streets of St. Petersburg! LINK /// < http://goo.gl/z8hu5 > {May.10} Here is a video montage of the Parade we held in the streets of St. Petersburg! LINK /// < http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CzudNODRrG0 > {May.11} Mother's Day (9 photos) - Alegria artists wish Mother's all over the world a Happy Mother's Day in a very unique way and in their native languages! LINK /// < http://goo.gl/3JpWe > {May.11} Congratulations to ex-Alegria Fire-Knife Dancer, Joseph Cadousteau for his 2nd time win of the World Fire-Knife Championship held in Hawai'i. Last year, alongside our current Fire-Knife Dancer, Micah Naruo, both were crowned group division champions! LINK /// < http://goo.gl/C6F7a > {May.12} Share a special tribute from Alegria to your mom's all around the world on their special day! Happy Mother's Day from Alegria! LINK /// < http://goo.gl/BhMEe > {May.15} Front page of the St. Petersburg Times today! Congrats Alegrians for stirring such a buzz in the streets of St. Pete's! LINK /// < http://goo.gl/OwseU > {May.17} Yesterday, Alegria hosted Ukrainian celebrity Olga Freimuth and was transformed into the White Singer by one of our White Singers herself, Mariana Sobol! We also taught her how to act like the character. Will she run away and join the circus?? LINK /// < http://goo.gl/Jii2N > {May.18} Last Days in St. Petersburg (6 photos) - Last few days in St. Petersburg were big ones for the Alegrians! We were honored to have Yuri Smekalov from the Mariinsky Ballet come give a dance workshop to our artists and then followed by a visit backstage from Slava Polunin, creator of Alegria's "Storm" act and creator of Slava's Snowshow! LINK /// < http://goo.gl/OnBnI > {May.24} Encourage our Russian Bar artists who are working towards doing the most back saltos consecutively! Yesterday we counted 90! Guinness Book of World Records we're after you! LINK /// < http://goo.gl/lsBpz > ---[ AMALUNA ]--- {May.01} Congratulations to our Director Diane Paulus and Pippin' for the 10 Tony Nominations it received yesterday, which included Best Director and Best Revival of a Musical .The Amaluna family will be cheering for you on Tony night! LINK /// < http://goo.gl/h2PXi > {May.03} In honor of our visit to Calgary, the Calgary Stampede was gracious enough to White Hat the entire cast & crew of Amaluna. The White Hat Ceremony is a long-standing tradition in Calgary, a symbol of their Western hospitality that they like to share with visiting guests! Hee-Haw Calgary! Thanks so much for your hospitality. Photo Credit: billmarshphotography.com LINK /// < http://goo.gl/irlW9 > {May.12} From Miranda, her Mother Prospera and everyone here at Amaluna Happy Mother's Day too all the fabulous moms out there. LINK /// < http://goo.gl/6b6Xl > {May.28} Five Fitness Tips from one of our Amazons and our Peacock Goddess features in Chatelaine online. LINK /// < http://goo.gl/Tptgk > ---[ CORTEO ]--- {May.03} Corteo casts and crews visited Santos FC. and exchanged a signed Flag and T-shirt with Neymar! LINK /// < http://goo.gl/geSwU > {May.12} Mother's Day (3 photos) -Happy Mother's day from Corteo! LINK /// < http://goo.gl/sIJeo > ---[ DRALION ]--- {May.17} Press conference in Guatemala - May 15 (11 photos) - Dralion will make its debut in Guatemala on June 5, 2013 — in Guatemala City, Guatemala. LINK /// < http://goo.gl/Urr09 > {May.23} A high five to Josh (Head of Lights), Paul (Head of Automation) and Seb (Sound technician) for 5 years with Cirque du Soleil. Keep up the great work guys! LINK /// < http://goo.gl/ie8h7 > ---[ KOOZA ]--- {May.03} Yesterday, some Kooza performers went to Knokke in Belgium in order to promote our show...Kooza opens in Knokke on July 17! Here's an article published in the Nieuwsblad newspaper. LINK /// < http://goo.gl/mqT37 > {May.08} Loving our Kooza branded tramways in Bilbao! LINK /// < http://goo.gl/mJWWj > {May.12} Happy Mother's Day from Kooza! LINK /// < http://goo.gl/Xw2oF > {May.17} El Corte Ingles Event - Bilbao 2013 (4 photos) - Kooza's Trickster and Innocent unveiled a Kooza window in Bilbao's department store El Corte Ingles! LINK /// < http://goo.gl/U5tbD > {May.21} Here's a video we did last week in Bilbao during our premiere night! Enjoy! LINK /// < http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W7nwHaa1hmk > {May.22} Kooza Day in Bilbao - May 21, 2013 (5 photos) -Aqui os dejamos algunas fotos del dia Kooza que organizamos el 21 de Mayo en Bilbao. LINK /// < http://goo.gl/hxb4S > {May.29} Kooza at the Guggenheim Museum - Bilbao 2013 (4 photos) - Kooza went for a special performance at the beautiful Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao. LINK /// < http://goo.gl/DaxxG > LINK /// < http://goo.gl/aXCm5 > ---[ LA NOUBA ]--- {May.28} Do you know which character wears these shoes in La Nouba? (Answer: The Maid) LINK /// < http://goo.gl/Iitm4 > ---[ MJ IMMORTAL ]--- {May.10} A sold out crowd in Saitama, Japan helped us celebrate our 300th show tonight! Thank you for being an amazing audience and congratulations to the cast and crew! LINK /// < http://goo.gl/DnNCF > {May.21} 60 Minutes visited the tour in Barcelona and got a great look backstage! LINK /// < http://goo.gl/W5QHt > {May.30} Meet the Band: Darrell Smith recently joined the tour on keys and as the leader of the IMMORTAL band. He has an impressive career having worked with music icons such as Janet Jackson, Stevie Nicks, Cher, and more! LINK /// < http://goo.gl/tmiTb > ---[ MJ ONE ]--- {May.02} Set off on a theatrical adventure through the spirit and music of Michael Jackson as the minds behind Michael Jackson ONE by Cirque du Soleil take you inside the show's creation. LINK /// < http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=doR0FH-wC_k > {May.07} We've just unveiled Michael Jackson ONE by Cirque du Soleil! Here's a look at what you can expect from the show when it opens at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino on May 23! LINK /// < http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cEkjxWTyf5E > {May.08} Michael Jackson ONE Press Event (9 photos) - Michael Jackson ONE press event opening at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino May 23! LINK /// < http://goo.gl/uqq9L > ---[ OVO ]--- {May.08} HAPPY BIRTHDAY OVO!!!!!! It has been already 4 years since we opened in Montreal! Thank you to everybody who came to see the show! You guys are the best fans!!! LINK /// < http://goo.gl/V0xyZ > {May.08} The cast and crew received cupcakes last night to celebrate the 4th anniversary of OVO!!! Nice treat!!! LINK /// < http://goo.gl/Zk5L2 > {May.17} Do you want to learn a little bit more about love on tour? Read the amazing story of Safarbek and Olena, a Scarab and a Flea who fell in love on OVO. LINK /// < http://goo.gl/LhVQR > {May.25} Cirque du Soleil Masks (9 photos) - G'day Perth! We received new masks and a special Ladybug figurine. Make sure you stop by the OVO Boutique before you leave the Big Top! LINK /// < http://goo.gl/75gLQ > {May.28} Our artists are very environmentally friendly. They always use the same cup. This prevents us from using hundreds of plastic or paper cups per day. LINK /// < http://goo.gl/RX2Av > ---[ QUIDAM ]--- {May.04} Monkey see monkey does our Diabolo performer is such a little trickster! If you could play a trick on one Quidam character, which one would you choose and what would you do??? LINK /// < http://goo.gl/V7ekY > {May.11} Guess where Quidam is playing next??? We're sooo excited! (Answer: Orlando. Drawing done by Zoe character artisrt). LINK /// < http://goo.gl/WWg10 > ---[ THE BEATLES LOVE ]--- {May.20} All you need is love and a trip to The Mirage Hotel and Casino to see our new The Beatles LOVE by Cirque du Soleil building wrap! LINK /// < http://goo.gl/Ei4Lk > ---[ TOTEM ]--- {May.02} TOTEM in the streets of NYC!!! (19 photos) On April 26, 15 characters from TOTEM embarked on a journey on a double decker bus to surprise tourists and locals in 5 New York City landmark locations!! Photo credit: Yann arnaud photography LINK /// < http://goo.gl/MQtW9 > {May.03} To celebrate the success of our New York City run, TOTEM characters embarked on a Double Decker bus on April 26 and visited various landmark locations in Manhattan! Watch this video recap as if you were on the bus with us! LINK /// < http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UxsCi7MMUdQ {May.15} TOTEM Comic Actor Pippo Crotti created this inspiring motivational video based on an Arnold Schwarzenegger's speech "Six Secrets To Success" featuring TOTEM Rings Trio performer and World Fitness Champion Alevtyna Titarenko! Enjoy! LINK /// < https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8oWIZDn_2vw > {May.21} The big top is up in the Greater Philadelphia Area! (7 photos) – On May 20, 2013, the Cirque du Soleil technical team raised the TOTEM blue-and-yellow big top at the base of the Benjamin Frankin Bridge in Camden, NJ. — at Camden Waterfront. LINK /// < http://goo.gl/Id41E > {May.23} The TOTEM double decker buses are up and running in Philadelphia! Performances from May 30 - June 30 at the Camden Waterfront! LINK /// < http://goo.gl/ZAudS > {May.29} Promotional street team - That's it Philadelphia! Our promotional street team is now done for the day. Wish us luck for our premier tonight and we hope to see you under TOTEM's big top! — in Philadelphia, PA. LINK /// < http://goo.gl/0VHeg > LINK /// < http://goo.gl/rPUhc > LINK /// < http://goo.gl/KAtj3 > LINK /// < http://goo.gl/13PQ9 > ======================================================================= COMPARTMENTS -- A PEEK BEHIND THE CURTAIN ======================================================================= o) HISTORIA - Cirque Company History o) ODYSSEA - Cirque Tour History ------------------------------------ HISTORIA: Cirque Company History ------------------------------------ * Jun.02.2006 -- LOVE Premiered at Mirage (Previews Begin) * Jun.02.2007 –- Ernst & Young named Cirque du Soleil CEO Guy Laliberté "World Entrepreneur of 2007." * Jun.02.2010 –- Cirque du Soleil releases iPhone application * Jun.03.2008 –- Name of of "Cirque Tokyo 2008" Announced – "ZED" * Jun.04.2008 -- Cirque Partners with YuuZoo, Video Sharing site * Jun.06.2002 –- Region 02 DVD release: Dralion * Jun.10.2002 –- Official Title of 13-episode TV series announced – "Fire Within", previously titled "A Fly on the Wall" * Jun.11.2002 -- Alegría Extended CD Released (BMG/CDS Musique) * Jun.12.2007 –- La Nouba celebrated 4000th performance [Tuesday, 6:00pm] * Jun.13.2002 –- Announcement of NY-NY and MGM-Grand Shows * Jun.14.2003 –- Varekai premiered on BRAVO at 8:00pm EST * Jun.14.2005 -- Quidam CD Released (CDS Musique) * Jun.16.1984 –- Official Birth date of Cirque du Soleil * Jun.16.2002 –- Dralion burglarized in Portland; stealing $11,000 * Jun.16.2003 –- Mystère celebrated 4500th performance [Monday, 7:30pm] * Jun.16.2004 –- MGM-Mirage and Mandalay Resort Group merged * Jun.19.2008 –- La Nouba celebrated 4500th performance [Thursday, 6:00pm] * Jun.22.1999 -- La Nouba CD Released in Canada (RCA/Victor) * Jun.22.2005 –- Entertainment Complexes in Montréal announced * Jun.24.2004 –- Quidam opened Calgary * Jun.24.2008 –- Koozå CD Released US/Canada * Jun.27.2004 –- Mystère celebrated 5000th performance [Sunday, 7:30pm] * Jun.29.1999 -- La Nouba CD Released in US (RCA/Victor) * Jun.30.2006 -- LOVE Gala Premiere (Previews End) * Jun.30.2008 –- BELIEVE officially delayed (#1) ------------------------------------ ODYSSEA: Cirque Tour History ------------------------------------ * Jun.02.2010 -- Alegría Arena opened Sacramento, CA * Jun.02.2010 -- Saltimbanco Arena opened Glasgow, UK * Jun.02.2011 -- Dralion Arena opened Abbotsford, BC * Jun.02.2011 -- Quidam Arena opened London, ON * Jun.03.2004 -- Dralion opened Vienna * Jun.03.2004 -- Varekai opened Denver * Jun.03.2005 -- Dralion opened Rotterdam * Jun.03.2010 -- Koozå opened Seattle, WA * Jun.04.2003 -- Alegría opened Calgary * Jun.04.2008 -- Saltimbanco Arena opened Kelwona, BC * Jun.05.2003 -- Saltimbanco opened Cologne, DE * Jun.05.2008 -- Quidam opened Màlaga, ES * Jun.05.2008 -- Varekai opened Berlin, DE * Jun.05.2012 -- Saltimbanco Arena opened Catania, IT * Jun.06.2000 -- Dralion opened Denver, CO * Jun.06.2012 -- Alegría Arena opened Hanover, DE * Jun.06.2012 -- Dralion Arena opened Syracuse, NY * Jun.06.2012 -- Quidam Arena opened Toledo, OH * Jun.07.1985 -- Grand Tour 1985 opened Sherbrooke, QC * Jun.07.1992 -- Fascination opened Nagoya, JP * Jun.07.2012 -- Varekai opened Curitiba, BR * Jun.08.2011 -- Quidam Arena opened Hamilton, ON * Jun.08.2012 -- Koozå opened Phoenix, AZ * Jun.09.1994 -- Alegría opened Ste-Foy, QC * Jun.09.2010 -- Alegría Arena opened Rio Rancho, NM * Jun.09.2010 -- Saltimbanco Arena opened Manchester, UK * Jun.09.2011 -- Alegría Arena opened Louisville, KY * Jun.10.2009 -- Alegría Arena opened Saint John, NB * Jun.10.2012 -- Totem opened Boston, MA * Jun.11.2008 -- Saltimbanco Arena opened Kamloops, BC * Jun.12.2002 -- Alegría opened Denver * Jun.12.2002 -- Dralion opened Portland, WA * Jun.12.2008 -- Corteo opened Vancouver * Jun.13.1992 -- Saltimbanco opened Ste Foy, QC * Jun.13.2012 -- Alegría Arena opened Nurmberg, DE * Jun.13.2012 -- Corteo opened Antwerp, BE * Jun.13.2012 -- Dralion Arena opened Bridgeport, CT * Jun.13.2012 -- Quidam Arena opened Rockford, IL * Jun.15.1995 -- Alegría opened Halifax, NS * Jun.15.2011 -- Alegría Arena opened Nashville, TN * Jun.15.2011 -- Dralion Arena opened Portland, OR * Jun.15.2011 -- Quidam Arena opened Wilkes-Barre, PA * Jun.15.2011 -- Saltimbanco Arena opened Hobart, AU * Jun.15.2011 -- Totem opened Montreal, QC * Jun.16.1984 -- Grand Tour 1984 opened Gaspé, QC * Jun.16.1995 -- Alegría opened Toronto, ON * Jun.16.2010 -- Alegría Arena opened Cypress, TX * Jun.16.2011 -- Corteo opened Valencia, ES * Jun.17.2010 -- Ovo opened Hartford, CT * Jun.17.2010 -- Saltimbanco Arena opened Birmingham, UK * Jun.17.2010 -- Varekai opened Frankfurt, DE * Jun.18.1993 -- Saltimbanco opened Toronto, ON * Jun.18.1999 -- Quidam opened Berlin, DE * Jun.18.2008 -- Saltimbanco Arena opened Edmonton, AB * Jun.19.2009 -- Alegría Arena opened St. John's, NL * Jun.20.1991 -- Nouvelle Expérience opened Ste-Foy * Jun.20.2002 -- Quidam opened Detroit, MI * Jun.20.2008 -- Alegría opened Buenos Aires * Jun.20.2012 -- Alegría Arena opened Vienna, AT * Jun.20.2012 -- Dralion Arena opened Rosemont, IL * Jun.20.2012 -- Quidam Arena opened St. Louis, MO * Jun.21.1985 -- Grand Tour 1985 opened Ottawa, ON * Jun.21.2001 -- Saltimbanco opened Osaka, JP * Jun.22.2001 -- Dralion opened Chicago, IL * Jun.22.2006 -- Dralion opened Malaga * Jun.22.2006 -- Varekai opened Vancouver * Jun.22.2007 -- Corteo opened Denver * Jun.22.2011 -- Alegría Arena opened Tampa, FL * Jun.22.2011 -- Dralion Arena opened Victoria, BC * Jun.22.2011 -- Quidam Arena opened Ottawa, ON * Jun.22.2011 -- Varekai opened Manila, PH * Jun.23.2010 -- Alegría Arena opened St. Paul, MN * Jun.24.1999 -- Dralion opened Quebec, QC * Jun.24.2004 -- Quidam opened Calgary, BC * Jun.25.1992 -- Fascination opened Hiroshima, JP * Jun.25.2004 -- Saltimbanco opened Gijon, ES * Jun.25.2008 -- Saltimbanco Arena opened Saskatoon, SK * Jun.25.2009 -- Saltimbanco Arena opened Tampa, FL * Jun.26.2005 -- Alegría opened Osaka * Jun.26.2008 -- Koozå opened Chicago * Jun.26.2010 -- Corteo opened St. Petersburg, RU * Jun.26.2012 -- Saltimbanco Arena opened Aman, JO * Jun.27.1989 -- Cirque Réinventé opened Ste-Foy, ON * Jun.27.2002 -- Varekai opened Quebec City * Jun.27.2012 -- Dralion Arena opened Chicago, IL * Jun.27.2012 -- Quidam Arena opened Indianapolis, IN * Jun.28.1984 -- Grand Tour 1984 opened Jonquière, QC * Jun.28.2007 -- Quidam opened Shanghai, CN * Jun.29.2011 -- Alegría Arena opened Jacksonville, FL * Jun.29.2011 -- Dralion Arena opened Penticton, BC * Jun.29.2011 -- Ovo opened Chicago, IL * Jun.29.2012 -- Alegría Arena opened Belgrade, RS * Jun.30.2005 -- Corteo opened Quebec City * Jun.30.2005 -- Varekai opened East Rutherford * Jun.30.2010 -- Alegría Arena opened Toronto, ON * Jun.30.2010 -- Saltimbanco Arena opened Newcastle, UK ======================================================================= FASCINATION! FEATURES ======================================================================= o) INTERVIEW /// "ALAIN VINET: Facilitating the Journey" By: Keith Johnson - Seattle, Washington (USA) o) CIRQUE MUSIQUE: AN OVERVIEW "Part Two - Singles, Remixes & Associated Music" By: Ricky Russo - Atlanta, Georgia (USA) ---------------------------------------------------------- INTERVIEW /// "ALAIN VINET: Facilitating the Journey" By: Keith Johnson - Seattle, Washington (USA) ---------------------------------------------------------- At the conclusion of our interview with the Amaluna CD composing/production team of Bob & Bill (Guy Dubuk and Marc Lessard), (which appeared last month in Fascination!, available here: http://www.cirquefascination.com/?p=2370) they suggested a conversation with Cirque du Soleil Musical Director Alain Vinet would shed more light on the production of the Amaluna CD, since he co- produced with the team. What a great idea! So in December, 2012, we contacted him and talked again (our prior interview with Mr. Vinet can be found here: http://www.cirquefascination.com/?p=1597) What started as a conversation about the Amaluna CD and the recent compilation, "Le Best of 2," that he also produced, also delved into many other topics in a wide-ranging discussion. Devoted Cirque music fans might have noticed that the Amaluna CD, as well as the CD for Totem, appeared for sale very quickly, a span of about 7 months from premiere date. This is a change from previous Cirque CD's, which have appeared approximately a year after premiere. The thinking behind this was that shows had to go through the "fixation" process during the first few months of its life – where music might change, some pieces might be discarded or new pieces written – before the CD could properly reflect the music of the show going forward. But the speed with which the team worked and satisfaction with the music meant this didn't apply to Amaluna. "I credit that to Bob and Bill, they work really, really fast," explained Mr. Vinet. "For Amaluna they only had 4 1/2 months to compose the whole show. And by [premiere] the band was already playing everything; the numbers, the transitions, everything. So they work incredibly fast. In this case we were able to get a "GO" to record the CD early on because Guy was so happy with the music. That's why we got it out in a little under a year." Only 4 1/2 months to compose the show, why so short a time? "Originally it was a woman composer, but at one point she was not getting where Guy wanted her to be. And we only had 4 1/2 months to go and we knew Mark and Guy could make the deadline. And to start [over] with somebody that doesn't know us four months before premiere, it would not have worked." That there was originally a female composer for Amaluna was previously unknown to us, though it makes sense since it is a female-centric show and a female composer would be a natural choice. But it isn't the first time a composer has been replaced during creation, especially late in the process. Cirque fans might be aware that long-time Cirque composer Benoit Jutras (who discussed his replacement in our interview here: http://www.cirquefascination.com/?p=2417 ) was replaced during the creation process for KÀ by another long-time Cirque composer René Dupéré (who discussed his assignment on KÀ in our interview here: http://www.cirquefascination.com/?p=32 ). When we commented to Mr. Vinet that Amaluna faced a similar situation he laughed and said, "Yes, definitely!" Creation of any CD starts not in the recording studio but in an Executive Producers office, in this case the offices of Executive Producers Jacque Methe and Francois Bergeron. "They are basically [in charge] of the production of CDs. They are the ones that "produce" it in the typical sense of the word, which means they control the money so we can produce the CD. In French "produceur" means exactly that, the person that handles the budget and all that. Stephan is Jacque's assistant, his right-hand man. If Jacque's too busy on too many projects Stephan takes over and gives him an account." "In the case of the Amaluna CD I'm not only Cirque's Musical Director but I'm also a Co-Producer." And his role included deep involvement in the arrangement of the music on the CD. "In the show there are some themes that are recurrent. What I decided to do was combine those themes together so that we could have the same scene but go through different moods, kind of like a progressive rock album. [So] you can have a song that first starts in a certain tempo and goes up and goes down, like a journey." Though the three work together as a team, was it mostly Bob & Bill handling the recording and Alain Vinet handling the mixing? "Kind of," replies Mr. Vinet. "Because they took a break in early July. That's when I took over, [when] we were mixing. But I did spend quite a few sessions with them combining the songs and doing the editing work. And sitting down with them and discussing - okay, this goes here, that goes there. And once they did the re-work I [would come] back and listen and chop a couple of bars here and there just to make it more coherent, because in some cases they were big pieces. We were joining two or three pieces together from different parts of the show that each last 5-6-8 minutes apiece. So we had to make something shorter [that] still made sense." "So I spent quite a bit of time with Mark and Guy (Bob and Bill) [early on]. Then when they left I spent two weeks with Rob Heaney, our mixing engineer in the mixing studio. And then I left and they came back and put the finishing touches on. And I was able to give comments on the mixes. We did the mastering and then had to go back and make some corrections to the mix. But we had a short time to produce it, because we wanted to get the CD ready for the Vancouver premiere which was in late November, 2012. So I spent a lot of time and put a lot of myself into production of the record." The production had to be quick to meet the deadline of having the CD available for sale when Amaluna opened in Vancouver, BC on November 22nd. "Since they saw that we could actually do it and pull it off, they said let's do it for Vancouver. So right after the show premiered Mark and Guy started work on the album, doing all the recordings while the band was in Montréal, so we saved a lot of money right there. It was fresh in their minds and we just basically recorded the same structure as the show. And then we edited [based on] that." Bob & Bills' previous production of the Totem CD involved recording themselves as well as the show musicians and then choosing which version or track worked best. That wasn't the case this time. "Guy (Laliberté) had insisted that the musicians be part of the CD. Because you know how Mark is a drummer and Guy plays the keyboards, they had a lot of stuff recorded that we could have used. But since Guy insisted that he really wanted to have the feel of the band, we recorded the band all together so we could get that feel of everyone in the same room playing - a band feeling - and did overdubs over that. The takes are amazing, the basic tracks already sounded good after recording." And the CD really rocks, with a musical landscape far different from the one the same composers created for Totem. But this was by design. "It was Guy's wish for Totem to have more of a world feel, but for Amaluna he wanted something that rocked. The fact that it's an all- girl band, I really wanted to get the raunchiness out of the band. We were lucky because the band, all the girls, were seasoned musicians. They knew their stuff right away. We could have asked them to wait and let them digest the show a little bit more but the groove was already there so we just went for it." Recording the show band early in the show's run, in Montréal, saved money as well as time. But with them also committed to the show (and its 7-to-10-shows-a-week schedule), was it difficult to schedule them for recording? "It's not hard to get them; it's difficult to work around their schedules. More and more when they have dark days they want to take a break. So [we recorded for] one or two sessions on days when they only had one show. When they have to play two or three shows it's tough to get them into sessions, so in that sense it's a little bit harder. But we have somebody that schedules it and in the end it all works." One of the nice touches to the CD are the cameo appearances by Cirque show artists on the tracks that feature their acts music. But it's not surprising. "If you look at our track record, especially with Mark and Guy, remember they produced the Kooza CD and had one of the clowns come in and do some bits. We can't do it with everybody, but (for example, juggler) Victor (Kee) being such a prominent character in the show and one of us for a while, it was fun to have him do the "Ouch!" thing (on "Mutation") – it was funny." The CD also features four songs sung in English, including the lead- off track, "All Come Together," which appears in a shortened Cirquish- language version as "Magic Ceremony 1" on the Le Best of 2 CD. "The idea behind that was that Guy [wanted] a couple of singles since Amaluna is a rock-influenced soundtrack. He asked [if we could] do a couple of songs in English so we did that. But since I had to produce the Le Best of 2 CD before we had the English vocal takes (for "All Come Together"), we used the Cirquish. And it's not the same arrangement as the album – the intro is shorter. I would call it the "radio edit." The Cirquish version is the version used in all the ads, because the show is in Cirquish." What are his favorites from the Amaluna CD? ""Enchanted Reunion" is one I like a lot because it goes through so many different phases but keeps the same theme. The title song, "All Come Together," has always been one of my favorites; I like both the English and the Cirquish versions. I [also] really like "Hope," it's [sung by] the actual artist that does the Cerceaux act (Marie-Michelle Faber)." We had heard rumors that Amaluna was videotaped for DVD, which Mr. Vinet confirmed. "We are producing it right now. What happened, especially with Ovo, [was] the Cirque 3-D movie ("World's Away"), [which] is an attempt to expand the marketplace. That whole deal happened at about the same time as Ovo was going to be filmed. Everybody was really excited with the 3-D aspect of it. So we wanted to do a test, [and that] became "World's Away." "There was an attempt to look into filming both Ovo and Totem. But one of them had conflicts with the amount of space needed to put in the mobile recording equipment, and then it became difficult to schedule. So we don't know what the future of that will be because there has been a lot of structural change [going on] at Cirque right now. We're facing a new economic reality like everyone else, although we are doing it a few years late. At this point I couldn't tell you what's going to happen with Totem and Ovo. All I know is right now we have finally decided to make [the DVD of] Amaluna. Then we are going to see if they decide to go back and do Totem and Ovo." (ED. Note: To bring us up to date, we asked friend of Fascination!, Chantal Côte, Cirque Corporate PR Manager, about the current state of the Amaluna video. "The Amaluna DVD is not intended for home distribution yet. It is a TV special (one-hour show) that is starting to air on some networks in Canada, South America and Europe but not in the USA since we are still touring there. Eventually (no date yet) this TV special will be available on DVD under the big top only." So we will be seeing the show on DVD at some point, but only in a truncated one-hour version. We had hoped it would be a record of the entirety of this beautiful show, but it sounds like that is not to be.) However, the flirtation with 3-D does not carry over to the Amaluna DVD. "Yes, a standard DVD production – it's really a budget consideration. A DVD, the way we used to make them, can cost about $1 million to produce. But then we sell them for $25. (ED: At that price point a Cirque DVD would require sales of more than 40,000 copies to recoup its budget). A CD may be budgeted at between $100,000-$200,000 and we will sell them for $15. (ED: At that price point a CD would only need sales of a bit more than 13,300 copies to recoup its budget). Even with the $10 difference [in purchase price] between those two products there is 5 to 10 times the expense. For me as a music guy it's cool because we only have the CD available for both (Ovo and Totem), so they sell well because we don't have competition from the DVD. And in both cases they are very representative of the shows. We tried to stay as close as possible to the shows." MORE OF THE BEST ---------------- The "Le Best of 2" compilation of Cirque music assembled by Mr. Vinet, is his second Cirque-music compilation after the "25" 2-CD set celebrating 25 years of Cirque du Soleil. We commented that it's programmed almost like a waltz; a quick song followed by two slow songs, then a quick one followed by two more slow songs, etc. "When you produce a compilation like that you have to have some sort of trip, going up and down and up and down. My first idea for the CD was to follow in the footsteps of what had been done with the first one, keeping it more poetic. But then I got constrained because of the fan contest to pick one of the tracks, so we ended up with the KÀ song ("Pageant") which was really intense. So I just couldn't use all poetic songs while also having this one song that was very dynamic. So I remodeled it, trying to have at least one song per show. The first CD was not made with that in mind, and I thought that we missed out on some songs that should have been there that didn't make the cut. So I tried to spread it out but keep the poetic feeling of the first one in mind. But 10 years later it's a different product. The circumstances and the shows are different than what we had when we did the first one. I arrived [at] the Cirque organization around that time, [though] I'd been affiliated with them longer if you look at the parties (where he DJ'd) and all of that. So I [watched] it happen but I didn't know as much about Cirque music as I know today." "I did maybe three passes at it. Because the first idea was trying to make it more of a chill poetic CD. And then they came to me with the contest idea so I had to change it. But this one I did pretty much on my own. It's more of a compilation than a product that reflected a benchmark. "25" was about 25 years of Cirque so obviously I had to consult more with Guy and Gilles. On this one I just proposed a couple of things and was pretty much left on my own. The idea behind it [was] that you could press play and listen to the whole thing and it takes you on a journey." The "contest" Mr. Vinet refers to involved having fans vote on one song that would be included in the "Le Best of 2" CD. After all the votes were counted, the top five vote getters were as follows - note they were all "dynamic" selections except for "Pearl": o) "Omé Yo Kanoubé" from Totem – 187 votes – 3.6% o) "Pearl" from Kooza – 287 votes – 6.1% o) "Banquete" from Ovo – 886 votes – 18.8% o) "Omé Kayo" from Totem - 1,354 votes – 28.8% o) WINNER: "Pageant" from KÀ – 1,975 votes – 42.1% o) Total votes 4,689 for the top five entries. With KÀ's "Pageant," a faster, energetic, "dynamic" song needing to appear on the CD, that meant Mr. Vinet had to change his original plan to make it more of a "poetic" CD in the vein of "Le Best of 1." "It was give and take. The rest of the compilation I was pretty much able to do what I wanted. Regardless that I wasn't able to just do a strictly poetic CD, I still picked tracks that were melodic even if they were a little bit more dynamic than I originally intended, so there's a nice balance. I've been a DJ all my life, and I'm a strong believer in flow - peaks and valleys. And if you listen to a CD from one end to the other you [can feel] those peaks and those rests." Two tracks here also appeared on the "25" compilation, "Piece of Heaven" from Zumanity and "Beyond the Clouds" from Wintuk. Other than that there are no repeats between "25" and Le Best of 1 or 2. The usage of the same songs, he explains, was out of necessity. "[With] Zumanity it's hard to pick a track because they either have screaming women or it's talking and not really a song. There are only so many nice melodies on the CD. Wintuk is the same thing; the songs were created to go with the action. I was trying to find something that suited the groove that I had already, so I landed on the same two songs." We also noticed, in addition to the "radio edit" of "All Come Together" from Amaluna (appearing as "Magic Ceremony 1") that the Zaia track, "Noi," has a different intro than on the original CD. "That was because I wanted to eliminate the guy talking on the album [intro]. And I fixed the fade in, because if you listen to the album version the piano just fades in. So I used a piece of the piano that appeared on the original demo and pasted it in so that I have it as the intro." Four songs, nearly a third of the album, are from shows that are now closed: Zaia, Zed, Wintuk and Iris. But this didn't enter into his thinking. "When I look at the way I did this, it's not necessarily promo material for shows; this is more like a musical look into the world of our shows. Because even though the shows don't exist anymore those songs still exist. And I use them for special events and other stuff. And it is a recap of what has been done since the first Le Best Of 1, so I didn't concern myself too much with the shows that were stopping. Plus I couldn't put anything from The Beatles Love or Viva Elvis or Michael Jackson Immortal on there since this was really a Cirque[-focused] thing. And since Zed and Zaia both have so many beautiful melodies it made sense to have songs from those shows on this CD." Fortunately, while the closed shows physical CD's may go out of print, they may well live on forever on ITunes and other digital platforms. "I would believe so, because I don't believe Cirque would say no to money. Because we've paid for the show's production and that's another way we can recoup our money, because the show only lasted for three years instead of 15. So I imagine they would keep them up there." OTHER WORLDS ------------ While we had him on the line, we had to ask about other possible Cirque CD projects. Our first question was whether the film, "World's Away," might see a CD release? "No I don't think so; it's not in the plans. I suggested it, but it's so much money to do it [properly]. Cirque has to do things [properly], so every time we create a new master we have to pay everybody, which in this case is an orchestra. So 80 musicians would have to be paid. So it would cost an arm and a leg to produce that record." The music to the film, as those who have seen it can attest, is beautifully arranged full-orchestra versions of several songs from the Cirque canon, as well as some original connecting material composed by Benoit Jutras. This is more than just using CD versions. "We went a little bit further actually. We used the old cues but with a full orchestra to replace the plastic strings. [Those] sounded really bad because they were made in the 90's. And all the KÀ stuff is full orchestra." And what about Zarkana, which recently found its new permanent home at Aria in Las Vegas? "The album will be in Cirquish. Maybe some songs will be in English because that's how they were originally created. Nick Littlemore, the composer, is producing the album right now. That CD should be out sometime in the spring." (ED Note: The current plan is to release the CD towards the end of July.) Zarkana has an interesting musical history, from the music produced to promote it to the language it was sung in. "When Zarkana started in New York we produced one [song as a] single ("Whenever"). We even did remixes that kind of got lost. First [the show] was in English, now that it's in Las Vegas it's in Cirquish. Right after it left New York the first year we changed it, bringing it back to more of a Cirque show and not a Broadway show. Because it first played at Radio City Music Hall on Broadway, that's why we first did it in English. When it left New York we changed it to Cirquish." Cirque also released the Eric Serra-composed music to Criss Angel Believe, albeit with a red warning band on the cover specifying the music was from September 2008 through September 2009 (the "Believe 1.0" production). With the significant revamping Believe has undergone, essentially creating "Believe 2.0," is any of the music on that CD in the show now? "Believe is a tricky one. Criss Angel is quite a peculiar character. From the beginning Criss wanted to work with his team, his music team and all that. Cirque came in with a composer, Eric Serra, who is the guy that does all the Luc Bessan movies, more of a cinema-oriented composer. And [initially] the show was more of a cinematic show, but Criss wanted to do his TV show on stage. The new version works better for him, but it isn't a Cirque show. Right now what I believe is happening is that he changed whatever music he wanted but [according to his contract] Eric Serra still gets paid for the music that he composed. Eric worked on it for a long time, to tell you the truth. But I know who Criss worked with on the new music, because Criss wanted to work with them in the first place. That's pretty much what happened. The label that was on the CD – normally I don't really touch that – was at Criss's request, so people don't mistake the music that's on the CD, which is all Eric Serra's compositions, with what's in the show. He didn't want to confuse people that see the show." The current trend of a quicker release of a CD show soundtrack was also followed by Epic for their release of Michael Jackson Immortal, and by RCA for their release of Viva Elvis. "Those I didn't really handle. With Viva Elvis I was a little bit involved. But for Michael Jackson Immortal I didn't touch anything; Sony has the rights to everything so it was easy to get it out quickly, because basically they were using the arrangements that Michael Antunes did for the show. All they had to do was a final mix and that was it. It's not like they re-recorded all the musicians; everything was already there. I was surprised actually; it's a cool CD but like I said I didn't touch it at all." "With Viva Elvis I was at least involved in the process, but then again the arrangements were already done. There was a little bit of editing as far as the length of some of the songs were concerned; since we don't have the images we don't need 8 min. songs." FACING REALITY -------------- The current economic climate, especially the deep recession of 2008, has finally been felt by Cirque du Soleil and has brought about several changes to Cirque's operations. Las Vegas was hit especially hard though some touring shows were able to weather the downturn better than others. We've heard about layoffs, shortening of shows by cutting acts, and other steps the company has taken to reduce costs. In addition, the closing of 6 shows during that period were keenly felt. When we talked back in December, Mr. Vinet discussed what was on the horizon for Cirque. "We will be [restructuring] a little bit starting in January. Since the middle of last year there's been a real hold on budgets. Because shows closed, we had a rough year. The last two or three years have been pretty rough. The higher you are the farther you fall." "We wanted to see how hard we were going to get hit," explains Mr. Vinet when asked about Cirque's slow reaction to new economic realities. "And that's why we're a little bit late compared to everybody else. The rest of the company was able to swing it and we didn't want to rush. But then with six shows closing, all for different reasons - that's the worst. And now we are also closing Saltimbanco on December 30, and that's one less income coming in." But Cirque continues to create and innovate, even in an atmosphere of belt-tightening. "You will see some announcements soon that Cirque is looking at other aspects, other media as well because we have such a big bank of creations and creators. And we're limited by the number of shows we can produce, especially with the world economy the way it is right now." And Mr. Vinet himself continues to create and innovate, moving into greater job responsibilities within the Cirque organization. "[I have] kept on progressing as far as being involved in new and bigger projects for the core of the company. Rather than just special events we do production etc. So now I'm moving with one foot in each - one foot in special events, production, artistic direction, etc., and the other foot in everything else, new shows, new ventures. We're opening up a nightclub in Las Vegas ("Light" at Mandalay Bay) with some partners, and some other stuff that is not a Cirque show that will be announced later on." This allows him to express himself creatively at the company in new and different ways. "It has to be like that. Because otherwise it would get boring, it would get stale. And for an artist you can't do machine-like things for too long." A SHORT EGO-BOOSTING EPILOGUE ----------------------------- While we here at Fascination! produce our ‘zine out of our interest and respect for Cirque du Soleil, it is always nice to get feedback, both complimentary and constructive. It is rare that we get feedback of either kind, so to be recognized in a positive way is always a pleasant surprise. It is in that vein, then, that in a wholesale example of rampant ego-boosting, we present this quote from Mr. Vinet. "Your interviews are always really in-depth, you know your subject, obviously you spend time studying it. It's cool for me because I know that at least one person did the exercise." Okay, enough ego-boo. Time to get back on the Nautilus. CONTEST! CONTEST! CONTEST! -------------------------- We have ONE copy of the Amaluna Soundtrack to give away! And for that we have a Cirque trivia question. --Which artist (other than Cirque du Soleil itself), was signed to Cirque du Soleil Musique, and what was the name of the CD that resulted? RULES: Correct spelling is important! Send your entry to: < contest@cirquefascination.com >. Deadline is June 20, 2013. If multiple entries get the answer right, there will be a random drawing. We will contact the winner for their mailing address after June 20. Good Luck! # # # Cirque CD's mentioned in this article: Amaluna (2012, CDS Musique CDSMCD-10046), Le Best of Volume Two (2012, CDS Musique CDSMCD-10045), Iris (2011, CDS Musique CDSMCD-10042), Michael Jackson Immortal (2011, Epic 88697-93394), Viva Elvis (2010, RCA 88697-77582), Totem (2010, CDS Musique CDSMC-10034), Zed (2009, CDS Musique CDSMCD-10031), "25" (2009, CDS Musique CDSMCD-10030), Zaia (2009, CDS Musique CDSMCD- 10029), Kooza (2008, CDS Musique CDSMCD-10028), Wintuk (2007, CDS Musique CDSMCD-10027), The Beatles LOVE (2006, Capitol 09463-79808), Zumanity (2004, CDS Musique CDSMCD-10023), Le Best Of Volume One (2004, CDS Musique CDSMCD-10022) My sincere thanks go to: Mr. Vinet for so graciously spending time with us, Marie-Noëlle Caron – Cirque Publicist, Chantal Côte, Corporate PR Manager, And my wife LouAnna for putting up with my sometimes obsessive hobby. ---------------------------------------------------------- CIRQUE MUSIQUE: AN OVERVIEW "Part Two - Singes, Remixes & Associated Music" By: Ricky Russo - Atlanta, Georgia (USA) ---------------------------------------------------------- Music, like staging, lighting, acrobatics and choreography, is just one part of a larger artistic wheel that turns the creative juices of Cirque du Soleil. It is one of the most important aspects of a show, especially to fans. Over the years Cirque du Soleil has released the music to its creations to an appreciative audience across various physical and digital forms. But like most companies, however, some of those releases have fallen into obscurity, been re-released multiple times, or re-cataloged as divisions within morph and change with the times. In this series we attempt to make order out of the chaos that is the Cirque du Soleil Musique Catalog, first by giving you its history, showing how to recognize a CD from the catalog, and what currently makes up that catalog. Now we continue with music associated with Cirque du Soleil (shows) but not released by the Cirque du Soleil Musique label (for obvious reasons), remixed music and other promotional Singles. /// ASSOCIATED MUSIC By now you might have noticed that there were certain titles we left out of our listing: Journey of Man, The Beatles LOVE, Viva Elvis, and the Single and Deluxe editions of Michael Jackson THE IMMORTAL. Is this an error on our parts? No, it's not a mistake we promise. Although those albums are associated with Cirque du Soleil – as music to an IMAX presentation (in the case of Journey of Man) and as music to a special type of production (in the case of LOVE, Viva Elvis and The Immortal) – they are not part of the Cirque du Soleil Musique Catalog because Cirque du Soleil didn't release them. In most cases (The Beatles, Michael Jackson and Elvis), Cirque du Soleil does not own the rights to the music nor the right to re- distribute or re-release the music, even on albums associated with their own shows. For The Beatles that falls to Capitol/Apple Records, for Elvis it is Sony/Legacy, and for Michael Jackson it's EPIC Records. Journey of Man is the only oddity in this case, as it's a release by Sony/Legacy, but as Sony Pictures financed and produced the film it's not hard to understand; Cirque du Soleil doesn't have the rights. Journey of Man (Sony/Legacy) Catalog # = SK 89097 Released = May.02.2000 Run Time = 46:15 The Beatles LOVE CD (Capitol/Apple) Catalog # = CDP-0946-3-79808-2-8 Released = Nov.21.2006 Run Time = 78:37 The Beatles LOVE CD/DVD (Capitol/Apple) CD Catalog # = CDP-0946-3-79810-2-3 DVD Catalog # = C9-046-3-79810-9-2 Released = Nov.21.2006 Run Time = 81:03 (DVD) VIVA ELVIS (Sony/Legacy) Catalog # = 8-86978-04472-3 Released = Nov.07.2010 Run Time = 42:33 MJ IMMORTAL Single CD (Epic) Catalog # = n/a Released = Nov.21.2011 Run Time = 76:00 MJ IMMORTAL Deluxe 2CD (Epic) Catalog # = n/a Released = Nov.21.2011 Run Time = 50:00/52:00 But Journey of Man isn't the only oddity here: recall that Capitol released two editions of LOVE on November 21, 2006 — a 78-minute CD and an 81-minute music DVD. Wait, what? Where are the three minutes? Therefore, with a little time on my hands I decided to do a quick time-comparison between the two. Where are those extra minutes hiding? You'll find them in tracks 20 and 21 - "Revolution" and "Back in the U.S.S.R." respectively. Those with a keen eye will discover that both "extended" track times equal their original "White Album" (in the case of "Back in the U.S.S.R.") and/or "single" (in the case of "Revolution") durations and, therefore, feature a more complete version of the song in question. Using "Revolution" as an example, the DVD version features all three verses of the classic song, whereas the CD omits the third and final verse ("You say you'll change the Constitution…") You'll find similarities with "Back in the U.S.S.R." as well. So, there you have it. Goo Goo G'Joob! Below are the results of my time-comparison between the DVD and CD versions of LOVE. Please ignore the difference in seconds in some of the tracks, as these are errors in track start/stop times from the DVD and are minor. The three minutes are marked with ** below: Trk CD DVD Start DVD Fin DVD # Time Time Time Time ============================================== 1 2:44 00:00:00 - 02:43:00 2:43 2 2:05 02:43:00 - 04:48:00 2:05 3 1:20 04:48:00 - 06:09:00 1:21 4 3:05 06:09:00 - 09:15:00 3:06 5 4:28 09:15:00 - 13:43:00 4:28 6 1:22 13:43:00 - 15:05:00 1:22 7 1:54 15:05:00 - 17:00:00 1:55 8 0:55 17:00:00 - 17:54:00 0:54 9 3:29 17:54:00 - 21:24:00 3:30 10 3:22 21:24:00 - 24:46:00 3:22 11 2:18 24:46:00 - 27:04:00 2:18 12 2:31 27:04:00 - 29:36:00 2:32 13 4:31 29:36:00 - 34:07:00 4:31 14 3:07 34:07:00 - 37:15:00 3:08 15 4:10 37:15:00 - 41:25:00 4:10 16 3:18 41:25:00 - 44:43:00 3:18 17 2:56 44:43:00 - 47:40:00 2:57 18 4:18 47:40:00 - 51:57:00 4:17 19 4:45 51:57:00 - 56:42:00 4:45 20 2:14 56:42:00 - 60:06:00 3:24** 21 1:53 60:06:00 - 62:41:00 2:35** 22 3:46 62:41:00 - 66:27:00 3:46 23 5:08 66:27:00 - 71:34:00 5:07 24 3:58 71:34:00 - 75:33:00 3:59 25 1:22 75:33:00 - 76:55:00 1:22 26 3:38 76:55:00 - 80:34:00 3:39 /// CIRQUE DU SINGLES Have you ever wondered whether or not Cirque du Soleil music ever reached terrestrial radio in the past? Believe it or not in many parts of the world they did! Although today hearing music by Cirque du Soleil is easier than ever - there's satellite radio, internet radio and multiple CD releases to satisfy any Cirque du Soleil fan - but that wasn't the case in the 1980's and early 1990's. The only way Cirque could reach potential spectators in markets such as Europe would be to release some of its music to radio markets through CD Promo "Singles". Though generally created for the European market in small quantities - and therefore hard to find - below is a list that is by no means comprehensive, but has been assembled over the years through exhaustive online searching, and cataloging of what has appeared through auction sites. So, here's a quick list of what you can expect to find if you search for Cirque du Soleil music singles... o) Cirque du Soleil - "Les Pingoins" Catalog #: Naga #CS-1188 (CAN) Tracks: A1. "Les Pengoins" (3:20) o) Saltimbanco - "Kumbalawe" Catalog #: BMG #74321-26040-2 (EU) Catalog #: BMG #74321-27393-2 (GER) Tracks: 1. "Kumbalawe" [5:34] 2. "Saltimbanco" [5:19] 3. "Pokinoi" [5:08] o) Alegría - "Irna/Alegría" Catalog #: BMG #74321-46703-2 Catalog #: BMG #74321-47661-2 (Europe) Tracks: 1. "Irna" [4:48] 2. "Alegría" (Album Version) [5:49] o) Alegría - "Querer" Catalog #: BMG #74321-48491-2 (1997-Europe) Catalog #: BMG #43214-84915-2 (1997-Holland) Tracks: 1. "Querer" [4:34] 2. "Jeux d'Enfants" [4:40] o) Quidam - "Quidam" Catalog #: BMG #BQP-62 (1996-Canada) Tracks: 1. "Quidam" (Radio Edit) o) Quidam - "Quidam" Catalog #: BMG #64635-27432-1 (1999-Europe) Tracks: 1. "Quidam" (Radio Edit) 2. "Quidam" (Album Version) o) Quidam - "Let Me Fall" Catalog #: BMG #74321-60499-2 (Holland) Tracks: 1. "Let Me Fall" (Radio Edit) [3:36] o) «O» - "Gamelan" Catalog #: BMG #BQP-89 Tracks: 1. "Gamelan" (Radio Edit) [3:11] o) «O» - "Tzelma": Catalog #: n/a Tracks: 1. "Tzelma" [3:00] o) Alegria Le Film - "Love Leaves Someone Behind" Catalog #: n/a Tracks: 1. "Love Leaves Someone Behind" [4:03] o) Alegria Le Film - "Child in His Eyes" Catalog #: BMG #74321-67537-2 Tracks: 1. "Child in his Eyes" (Edit) [3:40] 2. "Alegria" (New Arrangement) [4:20] o) Dralion - "Stella Errans" Catalog #: BQP-107 Tracks: 1. "Stella Errans" [4:37] o) KÀ - "If I Could Reach Your Heart" Catalog #: CDSMCP1-20024-2 UPC #: 4-00005-08150-7 Tracks: 1. "If I Could Reach Your Heart" [3:33] o) Delirium - "Kumbalawe: Roger Sanchez" Release: 2004 (This CD corresponds to Vinyl "Volume 5") Catalog #: CDSMCP1 20020-2 Tracks: 1. Kumbalawe - Release Mix (8:33) 2. Kumbalawe - Release The Dub (7:47) o) Delirium - "Emballa: Louie Vega Feat. Jaffa" Release: 2004 (This CD corresponds to Vinyl "Volume 4") Catalog #: CDSMCP2 20020-2 Tracks: 1. Emballa - Album Mix (6:23) 2. Emballa (Ritual Mix) (6:23) 3. Emballa (Sun Dub) (5:54) o) Delirium - "Aborigenes Jam: Francois K & Eric Kupper" Release: 2004 (This CD corresponds to Vinyl "Volume 3") Catalog #: CDSMCP3-20020-2 Tracks: 1. Aborigenes Jam - Vocal Mix (8:15) [8:07] 2. Aborigenes Jam - Dub Mix (7:45) [7:33] o) Solarium/Delirium Release: 2004 Catalog #: CDSMCP1-10021-2 Tracks: 1. "Le Rêveur" - Thievery Corporation Remix (5:09) 2. "Emballa" - Louie Vega/Jaffa "Album Mix" (6:24) 3. "Aborigenes Jam" - FK/EK "Vocal Mix" (8:08) 4. "Lubia Dobarstan" - Ian Pooley Remix (6:55) o) Tapis Rouge Remixed Release: 2004 Catalog #: CDS-Remix Tracks: 1. "A Tale" - Chilluminati Remix 2. "Rumeurs" - John Beltran Remix 3. "Gamelan" - Cantoma Remix 4. "Africa" - Banzai Repubic Remix o) Zarkana "Wherever" (Ralphi Rosano Remix) Release: Jun.28.2011 Catalog #: CDSMCP-10035-2 Tracks: 1. "Whenever" Big Mix (8:55) 2. "Whenever" Big Mix Radio Edit (4.07) 3. "Whenever" Big Mix Dub (8.54) o) Zarkana "Wherever" Release: Jun.28.2011 Catalog #: CDSMCP-10041-2 Tracks: 1. "Whenever" (3:29) 2. "Whenever" Pnau Mix (4:27) 3. "Whenever" Pnau Mix Radio Edit (3:26) /// TAPIS ROUGUE REMIXES Billed as a "look into the heart of Cirque du Soleil through the eyes of the world's foremost electronic music producers," in 2004 Cirque du Soleil embarked on a music revolution not seen since. Cirque du Soleil Musique (CDSM) released six 12" vinyl installments, primarily in European markets, as a preview to "20 Years under the Sun", a two- CD/DVD package released in the fall of 2004 that commemorated the 20th anniversary of Cirque du Soleil (released as "Solarium/Delirium"). Showcased are some of the world's most influential DJs and electronic music producers who have remixed tracks from Cirque du Soleil soundtracks such as Dralion, Saltimbanco, "O", and Varekai. Volume #1 – "Africa" Catalog #: CDSM001 (CAN) Catalog #: CDSM-12001 (UK) UPC #: 8-74751-00041-7 A1. Africa (CottonBelly Remix) [4:35] A2. A Tale (Chilluminati Mix) [6:14] B1. Le Reveur (Thievery Corp Remix) [5:08] B2. Emballa (Llorca Remix) [5:46] Volume #2 – "Ombra" Catalog #: CDSM002 (CAN) Catalog #: CDSM-12002 (UK) UPC #: 8-74751-00042-4 A1. Ombra (Afterlife Remix) [5:03] A2. Gamelan (Cantoma Remix) [6:02] B1. Africa (Banzai Republic Equator Bound) [6:12] B2. El Pendulo (Fenomenon Northern Comfort Mix) [4:32] Volume #3 - "Aborigenes Jam" Catalog #: CDSM003 (CAN) Catalog #: CDSM-12003 (UK) UPC #: 8-74751-00033-2 A1. Vocal Mix (Francois K & Eric Kupper) [8:15] B1. Dub Mix (Francois K & Eric Kupper) [7:45] Volume #4 – "Emballa" Catalog #: CDSM004 (CAN) Catalog #: CDSM-12004 (UK) UPC #: 8-74751-00034-9 A0. Album Mix (Louie Vega feat. Jaffa) [6:23] B1. Ritual Mix (Louie Vega feat. Jaffa) [6:23] B2. Sun Dub (Louie Vega feat. Jaffa) [5:54] Volume #5 – "Kumbalawe" Catalog #: CDSM005 (CAN) Catalog #: CDSM-12005 (UK) UPC #: 8-74751-00035-6 A. Release Mix (Roger Sanchez) [8:33] B. Release The Dub (Roger Sanchez) [7:47] Volume #6 - "Mer Noire / Africa" Catalog #: CDSM006 (CAN) Catalog #: CDSM-12006 (UK) UPC #: 8-74751-00036-3 A. Mer Noire (Tiesto Remix) [8:55] B. Africa (Quicksound Remix) [8:55] Volume #7 - "Tapis Rouge Remixed" Catalog #: CDS-Remix UPC #: none A1. A Tale (Chilluminati Remix) A2. Rumeurs (John Beltran Remix) B1. Gamelan (Cantoma Remix) B2. Africa (Banzai Repubic Remix) You'll find the following tracks from the vinyl releases on three Cirque du Soleil Musique CD releases. Not all of the tracks released on vinyl made it to CD and thus are only available on that medium. All tracks listed are the same length as their vinyl counterparts unless otherwise noted: o) On the "Tapis Rouge: Solarium" album: - Africa (CottenBelly Remix) - Ombra (Afterlife Remix) - Gamelan (Cantoma Remix) - Africa (Banzai Republic Equator Bound) - El Pendulo (Fenomenon Northern Comfort Mix) o) On "Varekai (Bonus CD/DVD set)" album: - Emballa (Llorca Remix) NOTE: This album includes a remix not found anywhere else. o) On "Solarium-Delirium" remix album - Aborigenes Jam (Vocal Mix) [as 6:42] - Emballa (Album Mix) [as 6:22] - Kumbalawe (Roger Sanchez Release Mix) [as 7:51] - Mer Noire (Tiesto Remix) [as 6:44] - Africa (Quicksound Remix) [as 8:48] # # # So far we've discussed the history of the Cirque du Soleil music catalog, provided a listing of the current options in that catalog, discussed briefly what we left out (and why), and pushed into the realm of other interesting releases, such as Singles and Remixes. What's left? Employee pressings, White Labels and Other Promotional releases – that's next time! ======================================================================= 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 13, Number 06 (Issue #113) - June 2013 "Fascination! Newsletter" is a concept by Ricky Russo. Copyright (c) 2001-2013 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. { Jun.06.2013 } =======================================================================