Written by Jennifer Hartley for Victoria Buzz
When it comes to awe-inspiring theatrical experiences, the energy of Cirque du Soleil is second to none.
To watch the human body contort to extraordinary limits is astounding and the elaborate costumes, sets and music transport you to a dazzling universe.
From January 11th to January 14th, Cirque will bring its magic to Victoria’s Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre with Corteo.
Corteo, which means cortège in Italian, is the story of Mauro, the clown, who stages his own funeral. His friends arrive to pay homage and instead of mourning, it is a celebration of his life in a circus, carnival-like environment.
Every detail is perfect. The costumes are breathtaking, all 260 of them. There are 900 variations of fabrics and textures and many glitter with sewn-in Swarovski crystals. Dreamy sets and magnificent make-up create a fantastical world that immediately draws you in.
The performers — athletic magicians really — make everything look so easy. Beautiful, strong bodies gracefully wrap around contraptions, chandeliers and 50-foot ladders, while others zoom around, suspended from the arena ceiling.
Some acrobats rely on powerful arms to catch them as they fly through the air pulling off crazy stunts that make you dizzy just watching. For close to two hours you are completely mesmerized by their every move.
One of the people who makes the magic happen is Québec musician Philippe Poirier-Frenette, who has been with Corteo for 13 years. As a keyboard, sax and clarinet player, as well as back-up band leader, he helps the magic flow smoothly.
What is it you love most about Cirque?
“I am surrounded by people who are some of the best at what they do – Olympic-level athletes, artists who have been with traditional circuses since they were kids, technicians that have worked on the biggest rock concerts, riggers, truckers, caterers…every single one of them is an inspiration to always do better.”
Does it ever get boring doing the same show?
Never. “I get to improvise and bring my own style to a song and my own interpretation to what is happening on stage. I am able to do the same show 300 times a year because, in fact, it’s never the same. I perform for every show live and I am a soloist. Of course there’s a big portion of it that is similar, but I find my personal satisfaction in little details.”
How often does the acrobatic talent change and how does this impact your work?
“It happens more often than we’d like. Acrobats are a bit like Olympians – some get injured and what they do physically is only possible for a limited amount of time. It certainly does impact the music for an act. Sometimes, we’ll change the entire act and have new music or sometimes, it’ll just be a new version of the same music. One time, we had four different versions of the same song depending on who was on stage that night.”
After 13 years, have there been any scary moments?
“The big earthquake in Lima, Peru. I was playing the keyboard and the distance between my chair and the keyboard started to grow. Everyone started to scream, and we had to stop the show. Thankfully, we’re prepared for these types of emergency situations and technicians were able to safely verify all the pillars of the Big Top were still secure before we proceeded with the performance. We were also scared a tsunami would follow the earthquake.” That counts. Surreal.
Any unusual traditions?
Travelling the world and sharing experiences like that create close-knit bonds. The cast, an international one, includes performers from 16 countries. Phillippe says they are like a family and have lots of fun. If you catch a Sunday performance, keep your eyes open for glimpses of red in unexpected places. “Corteo has a red underwear tradition on Sundays. It’s growing and there’s even a red underwear police who make sure everyone is doing it. Silly, but lots of laughs in the dressing room.”
Happy Birthday Cirque!
The year 2024 is a special one for Cirque as it celebrates its 40th anniversary. It has come a long way from its early days in Baie-Saint-Paul, a small town near Québec City, when a band of colourful characters roamed the streets, striding on stilts, juggling, dancing, breathing fire, and playing music. In 1984, the company employed just 73 people. Today, there are over 4,000 employees worldwide, including 1,200 artists from 80 different countries. More than 378 million people have watched their magic on six continents and in 400 cities. Currently, there are 19 shows in the repertoire and others in development.
Every second of Corteo’s excellence, professionalism and magic will inspire you. Ten million people in 20 countries have had the experience since its debut in 2005. Adding your name to the list will leave you waiting in great anticipation for the next Cirque show to hit the Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre.
Grab your tickets here.
Corteo
- Where: Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre, 1925 Blanshard Street
- When:
- Thursday, January 11th, 2024 at 7:30 p.m.
- Friday, January 12th, 2024 at 7 p.m.
- Saturday, January 13th, 2024 at 11 p.m., 3 p.m. and 7 p.m.
- Sunday, January 14th, 2024 at 1 p.m. and 5 p.m.
Written by Jennifer Hartley
