Alegría
Encyclopedia
Alegría is a Cirque du Soleil
touring production, created in 1994 by director Franco Dragone
and director of creation Gilles Ste-Croix.
Alegría is one of Cirque du Soleil's most popular touring shows. Since its premiere in April 1994, it has been performed over 5,000 times and seen by over 10 million spectators in more than 65 cities around the world. Alegría originated as a touring big top show. However, beginning with its 2009-2010 North American tour, the show has been converted to an arena format, enabling it to visit cities that were previously inaccessible to the big top tour. Furthermore, Alegría took a short respite and was converted to a resident show at MGM's Beau Rivage casino from May 1999 to October 2000 before it continued touring again.
Alegría takes its name from the Spanish word for "joy." Cirque du Soleil's literature describes the show as "an operatic introspection of the struggle for power and the invigorating energy of youth." Dominique Lemieux's costumes evince a baroque
aesthetic of decadence and ornamentation, while René Dupéré's new-age musical score features a unique blend of French, Spanish, African, and Mediterranean influences. The stage and props are characterized by gothic arches
and harsh angular designs.
. The dome gives the sense of an impressive, powerful structure, similar to how churches and government buildings utilize similar architectural constructs. The stage has spiral ramps on opposing sides which lead down, symbolizing the unknown. The floor of the stage has the head of a salamander
, used for the four elements in which it lives. The 17th-century-ballroom stylistic lighting design reflects a nostalgic atmosphere. Finally, an autumnal color palette creates the luminous obscurity of the show.
Alegría’s highly acclaimed music was composed by René Dupéré
, who had composed numerous scores for Cirque's previous productions, including Nouvelle Expérience
, Saltimbanco
and Mystère
.
The music of Alegría was released as a studio album on September 27, 1994, and remains Cirque du Soleil's best-selling album to date, having sold more than 500,000 copies worldwide. The album was nominated for a Grammy Award
and several Félix Award
s in 1995, winning two of the latter: 'Producer of the Year' for Robbi Finkel
and René Dupéré, and 'Sound Mixer of the Year' for Rob Heaney. Alegría was also ranked on the Billboard World Music Chart
for 65 weeks.
The album's lead vocals are provided by opera-trained, French-Canadian singer Francesca Gagnon
. Gagnon also features as 'The White Singer' (principal vocalist) in the Alegría DVD, with fellow French-Canadian Ève Montpetit supporting as 'The Black Singer'.
Several versions of the soundtrack have been available since its original release. In 2002, the soundtrack was re-released by Cirque du Soleil Musique Inc., with an additional two tracks titled 'Cerceaux' and 'Malioumba' (both featuring vocals by Francesca Gagnon) recorded from live shows during Alegría’s 2001 season in Sydney
. In 1995, a limited employee edition, Alegría - Live at Fairfax, was created for the artists and crew of the production. This special edition features the entire score on CD and is considered a collector's item.
The tracks for the original 1994 release, including the two extended tracks from 2002 are listed below and alongside are the acts during which they are played.
. The cast included actors such as Frank Langella
, Mako, Julie Cox
and a guest appearance from Whoopi Goldberg
, as well as several performers and musicians from the touring production (many appeared in both this film and the Alegría DVD). The film employs a conventional structured narrative as opposed to the abstract allegory
of the live show.
, Australia. This production was directed and produced by Nick Morris
. He used 14 cameras and special filming techniques to create a viewing experience that transports the viewer to the center of the performance.
St. John, NB - From 10 June 2009 to 14 June 2009
Providence, RI - From 2 July 2009 to 5 July 2009
Manchester, NH - From 8 July 2009 to 12 July 2009
Newark, NJ - From 15 July 2009 to 19 July 2009
Wilkes-Barre, PA - From 22 July 2009 to 26 July 2009
Hamilton, ON - From 29 July 2009 to 2 August 2009
Bridgeport, CT - From 20 August 2009 to 23 August 2009
Boston, MA - From 26 August 2009 to 30 August 2009
Albany, NY - From 2 September 2009 to 6 September 2009
Syracuse, NY - From 9 September 2009 to 13 September 2009
Amherst, MA - From 16 September 2009 to 20 September 2009
Rochester, NY - From 23 September 2009 to 27 September 2009
State College, PA - From 30 September 2009 to 4 October 2009
Pittsburgh, PA - From 7 October 2009 to 11 October 2009
Philadelphia, PA - From 14 October 2009 to 18 October 2009
Reading, PA - From 21 October 2009 to 25 October 2009
London, ON - From 12 November 2009 to 15 November 2009
Greenville, SC - From 18 November 2009 to 22 November 2009
Augusta, GA - From 25 November 2009 to 29 November 2009
Hampton, VA - From 2 December 2009 to 6 December 2009
Worcester, MA - From 9 December 2009 to 13 December 2009
Montréal, QC - From 18 December 2009 to 30 December 2009
Chicoutimi, QC - From 13 January 2010 to 17 January 2010
Detroit, MI - From 4 February 2010 to 7 February 2010
Indianapolis, IN - From 11 February 2010 to 14 February 2010
Austin, TX - From 17 February 2010 to 21 February 2010
Frisco, TX - From 24 February 2010 to 28 February 2010
Hoffman Estates, IL - From 3 March 2010 to 7 March 2010
Cedar Rapids, IA - From 10 March 2010 to 14 March 2010
Champaign, IL - From 17 March 2010 to 21 March 2010
Omaha, NE - From 24 March 2010 to 28 March 2010
East Lansing, MI - From 31 March 2010 to 4 April 2010
Cleveland, OH - From 7 April 2010 to 11 April 2010
Highland Heights, KY - From 29 April 2010 to 2 May 2010
St Louis, MO - From 5 May 2010 to 9 May 2010
Kansas City, MO - From 12 May 2010 to 16 May 2010
Salt Lake City, UT - From 19 May 2010 to 23 May 2010
Fresno, CA - From 26 May 2010 to 30 May 2010
Sacramento, CA - From 2 June 2010 to 6 June 2010
Rio Rancho, NM - From 9 June 2010 to 13 June 2010
Cypress, TX - From 16 June 2010 to 20 June 2010
Minneapolis, MN - From 23 June 2010 to 27 June 2010
Toronto, ON - From 30 June 2010 to 4 July 2010
Winnipeg, MB - From 22 July 2010 to 25 July 2010
Regina, SK - From 27 July 2010 to 1 August 2010
Saskatoon, SK - From 4 August 2010 to 8 August 2010
Edmonton, AB - From 11 August 2010 to 22 August 2010
Kelowna, BC - From 25 August 2010 to 29 August 2010
Kamloops, BC - From 1 September 2010 to 5 September 2010
Victoria, BC - From 8 September 2010 to 12 September 2010
Tacoma, WA - From 15 September 2010 to 19 September 2010
Spokane, WA - From 22 September 2010 to 26 September 2010
Honolulu, HI - From 15 October 2010 to 31 October 2010
Boise, ID - From 4 November 2010 to 7 November 2010
Houston, TX - From 10 November 2010 to 14 November 2010
Phoenix, AZ - From 17 November 2010 to 21 November 2010
Tucson, AZ - From 24 November 2010 to 28 November 2010
El Paso, TX - From 1 December 2010 to 5 December 2010
Oklahoma City, OK - From 22 December 2010 to 26 December 2010
Wichita, KS - From 29 December 2010 to 2 January 2011
Colorado Springs , CO - From 12 January 2011 to 16 January 2011
Broomfield, CO - From 19 January 2011 to 23 January 2011
Loveland, CO - From 26 January 2011 to 30 January 2011
Laredo, TX - From 2 February 2011 to 6 February 2011
Hidalgo, TX - From 9 February 2011 to 13 February 2011
Corpus Christi, TX - From 16 February 2011 to 20 February 2011
Tulsa, OK - From 23 February 2011 to 27 February 2011
North Charleston, SC - From 17 March 2011 to 20 March 2011
Knoxville, TN - From 23 March 2011 to 27 March 2011
Charlottesville, VA - From 30 March 2011 to 3 April 2011
Atlantic City, NJ - From 7 April 2011 to 10 April 2011
Greensboro, NC - From 13 April 2011 to 17 April 2011
Biloxi, MS - From 20 April 2011 to 24 April 2011
Southaven , MS - From 27 April 2011 to 1 May 2011
Roanoke, VA - From 4 May 2011 to 8 May 2011
Columbia, SC - From 11 May 2011 to 15 May 2011
Toledo, OH - From 18 May 2011 to 22 May 2011
Louisville, KY - From 9 June 2011 to 12 June 2011
Nashville, TN - From 15 June 2011 to 19 June 2011
Tampa, FL - From 22 June 2011 to 26 June 2011
Jacksonville, FL - From 29 June 2011 to 3 July 2011
Raleigh, NC - From 6 July 2011 to 10 July 2011
Florence, SC - From 13 July 2011 to 17 July 2011
Sunrise, FL - From 20 July 2011 to 31 July 2011
Charlotte, NC - From 3 August 2011 to 7 August 2011
Estero, FL - From 10 August 2011 to 14 August 2011
Oberhausen, DE - From 7 September 2011 to 11 September 2011
Leipzig, DE - From 14 September 2011 to 18 September 2011
Stuttgart, DE - From 21 September 2011 to 25 September 2011
Munich, DE - From 28 September 2011 to 2 October 2011
Salzburg, AT - From 5 October 2011 to 9 October 2011
Berlin, DE - From 12 October 2011 to 16 October 2011
Bremen, DE - From 19 October 2011 to 23 October 2011
Cologne, DE - From 26 October 2011 to 30 October 2011
Frankfurt, DE - From 2 November 2011 to 6 November 2011
Mannheim, DE - From 9 November 2011 to 13 November 2011
Málaga, ES - From 1 December 2011 to 4 December 2011
Santiago, ES - From 7 December 2011 to 11 December 2011
Zaragoza, ES - From 14 December 2011 to 18 December 2011
Lisbon, PT - From 21 December 2011 to 8 January 2012
Bilbao, ES - From 18 January 2012 to 22 January 2012
Toulouse, FR - From 25 January 2012 to 29 January 2012
Nantes, FR - From 1 February 2012 to 5 February 2012
Lyon, FR - From 22 February 2012 to 26 February 2012
Toulon, FR - From 29 February 2012 to 4 March 2012
Nice, FR - From 7 March 2012 to 11 March 2012
Montpellier, FR - From 14 March 2012 to 18 March 2012
Strasbourg, FR - From 21 March 2012 to 25 March 2012
Manchester, UK - From 4 April 2012 to 7 April 2012
Glasgow, UK - From 11 April 2012 to 15 April 2012
Birmingham, UK - From 18 April 2012 to 22 April 2012
Dublin, IE - From 25 April 2012 to 29 April 2012
Budapest, HU - From 17 May 2012 to 20 May 2012
Prague, CZ - From 23 May 2012 to 27 May 2012
Hamburg, DE - From 30 May 2012 3 June 2012
Hanover, DE - From 6 June 2012 to 10 June 2012
Nuremberg, DE - From 13 June 2012 to 17 June 2012
Vienna, AT - From 20 June 2012 to 24 June 2012
Québec, QC - From 9 June 1994 to 26 June 1994
San Francisco, CA - From 12 July 1994 to 14 August 1994
San Jose, CA - From 25 August 1994 to 25 September 1994
Santa Monica, CA - From 6 October 1994 to 18 December 1994
New York, NY - From 28 March 1995 to 4 June 1995
Toronto, ON - From 16 June 1995 to 9 July 1995
Chicago, IL - From 26 July 1995 to 27 August 1995
Boston, MA - From 8 September 1995 to 1 October 1995
Washington, DC - From 12 October 1995 to 5 November 1995
Atlanta, GA - From 17 November 1995 to 30 December 1995
Fukuoka, JP - From 30 September 1996 to 20 October 1996
Hong Kong, HK - From 1 November 1996 to 25 December 1996
Amsterdam, NL - From 6 March 1997 to 3 May 1997
Munich, DE - From 15 May 1997 to 29 June 1997
Berlin, DE - From 11 July 1997 to 31 August 1997
Vienna, AT - From 12 September 1997 to 27 October 1997
Düsseldorf, DE - From 14 November 1997 to 21 December 1997
Madrid, ES - From 19 February 1998 to 22 March 1998
Barcelona, ES - From 2 April 1998 to 10 May 1998
Hamburg, DE - From 27 May 1998 to 12 July 1998
Antwerp, BE - From 23 July 1998 to 6 September 1998
Zurich, CH - From 17 September 1998 to 1 November 1998
Frankfurt, DE - From 12 November 1998 to 20 December 1998
Biloxi, MS - From 20 May 1999 to 2 October 2000 (Alegría was a resident show at the Beau Rivage during this time)
Melbourne, AU - From 6 March 2001 to 13 May 2001
Sydney, AU - From 29 May 2001 to 5 August 2001
Brisbane, AU - From 24 August 2001 to 23 September 2001
Adelaide, AU - From 10 October 2001 to 18 November 2001
Perth, AU - From 5 December 2001 to 27 January 2002
Denver, CO - From 12 June 2002 to 4 August 2002
Minneapolis, MN - From 21 August 2002 to 22 September 2002
Mexico City, MX - From 10 October 2002 to 29 December 2002
Houston, TX - From 6 March 2003 to 13 April 2003
Austin, TX - From 24 April 2003 to 18 May 2003
Calgary, AB - From 4 June 2003 to 29 June 2003
Vancouver, BC - From 10 July 2003 to 10 August 2003
Seattle, WA - From 21 August 2003 to 21 September 2003
Portland, OR - From 2 October 2003 to 26 October 2003
San Francisco, CA - From 6 November 2003 to 21 December 2003
St. Petersburg, FL - From 19 February 2004 to 14 March 2004
Atlanta, GA - From 25 March 2004 to 25 April 2004
New York, NY - From 6 May 2004 to 27 June 2004
Philadelphia, PA - From 8 July 2004 to 8 August 2004
Toronto, ON - From 19 August 2004 to 26 September 2004
Tokyo, JP - From 29 October 2004 to 23 January 2005
Nagoya, JP - From 20 April 2005 to 12 June 2005
Osaka, JP - From 25 June 2005 to 25 September 2005
Tokyo, JP - From 13 October 2005 to 27 November 2005
Milan, IT - From 23 February 2006 to 16 April 2006
Rome, IT - From 27 April 2006 to 25 June 2006
Amsterdam, NL - From 14 July 2006 to 20 August 2006
Brussels, BE - From 31 August 2006 to 15 October 2006
Madrid, ES - From 27 October 2006 to 17 December 2006
Barcelona, ES - From 22 February 2007 to 29 April 2007
Paris, FR - From 10 May 2007 to 15 July 2007
Gijon, ES - From 26 July 2007 to 26 August 2007
Curitiba, BR - From 14 September 2007 to 7 October 2007
Brasília, BR - From 19 October 2007 to 11 November 2007
Belo Horizonte, BR - From 22 November 2007 to 16 December 2007
Rio de Janeiro, BR - From 27 December 2007 to 27 January 2008
Porto Alegre, BR - From 15 May 2008 to 8 June 2008
Buenos Aires, AR - From 20 June 2008 to 27 July 2008
Santiago, CL - From 14 August 2008 to 21 September 2008
Seoul, KR - From 14 October 2008 to 28 December 2008
Dubai, AE - From 5 March 2009 to 5 April 2009
Cirque du Soleil
Cirque du Soleil , is a Canadian entertainment company, self-described as a "dramatic mix of circus arts and street entertainment." Based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, and located in the inner-city area of Saint-Michel, it was founded in Baie-Saint-Paul in 1984 by two former street performers, Guy...
touring production, created in 1994 by director Franco Dragone
Franco Dragone
Franco Dragone is a Italian-Belgian theatre director. He is known for his work with Cirque du Soleil.-Early life:Dragone was born in Cairano, Italy, and moved to La Louvière, Belgium at age seven. In the 1970s, he studied theatre at the Belgian Royal Conservatory of Mons...
and director of creation Gilles Ste-Croix.
Alegría is one of Cirque du Soleil's most popular touring shows. Since its premiere in April 1994, it has been performed over 5,000 times and seen by over 10 million spectators in more than 65 cities around the world. Alegría originated as a touring big top show. However, beginning with its 2009-2010 North American tour, the show has been converted to an arena format, enabling it to visit cities that were previously inaccessible to the big top tour. Furthermore, Alegría took a short respite and was converted to a resident show at MGM's Beau Rivage casino from May 1999 to October 2000 before it continued touring again.
Alegría takes its name from the Spanish word for "joy." Cirque du Soleil's literature describes the show as "an operatic introspection of the struggle for power and the invigorating energy of youth." Dominique Lemieux's costumes evince a baroque
Baroque
The Baroque is a period and the style that used exaggerated motion and clear, easily interpreted detail to produce drama, tension, exuberance, and grandeur in sculpture, painting, literature, dance, and music...
aesthetic of decadence and ornamentation, while René Dupéré's new-age musical score features a unique blend of French, Spanish, African, and Mediterranean influences. The stage and props are characterized by gothic arches
Gothic architecture
Gothic architecture is a style of architecture that flourished during the high and late medieval period. It evolved from Romanesque architecture and was succeeded by Renaissance architecture....
and harsh angular designs.
Set and technical information
The stage of Alegría is topped by a giant dome and decorated with stylistic columns and balustradesBaluster
A baluster is a moulded shaft, square or of lathe-turned form, one of various forms of spindle in woodwork, made of stone or wood and sometimes of metal, standing on a unifying footing, and supporting the coping of a parapet or the handrail of a staircase. Multiplied in this way, they form a...
. The dome gives the sense of an impressive, powerful structure, similar to how churches and government buildings utilize similar architectural constructs. The stage has spiral ramps on opposing sides which lead down, symbolizing the unknown. The floor of the stage has the head of a salamander
Salamander
Salamander is a common name of approximately 500 species of amphibians. They are typically characterized by a superficially lizard-like appearance, with their slender bodies, short noses, and long tails. All known fossils and extinct species fall under the order Caudata, while sometimes the extant...
, used for the four elements in which it lives. The 17th-century-ballroom stylistic lighting design reflects a nostalgic atmosphere. Finally, an autumnal color palette creates the luminous obscurity of the show.
Cast
The characters in Alegría comprise people of two separate generations: the New Order and the Old Order.- Fleur: An unpredictable and dangerous madman who believes he is king. He is the guide to the world of Alegria.
- Nostalgic old birds: The Nostalgic Old Birds have lived in the palace for as long as it has existed. They are empty-shelled courtiers who admire their reflections in mirror-less frames.
- Tamir and Little Tamir: Appears when needed, only to disappear once he has fulfilled his mission.
- Nymphs: These exuberant, infectious characters celebrate each breath of life.
- Bronx: Young and tough, they are the next generation. They perform power track and aerial high bar.
- White angels: The guardians who are the youth of tomorrow. They perform Russian bars.
- White singer: One of the singers who is the storyteller who echoes in song everything she sees around her.
- Black singer: One of the singers who has a wickedness about her and hides many secrets in her dark heart.
- Clowns: The show's social commentators.
Acts
The acts of Alegría have had a bit of turnover, but continue to fit its theme: "A baroque ode to the energy, grace and power of youth."- Synchronized trapezeTrapezeA trapeze is a short horizontal bar hung by ropes or metal straps from a support. It is an aerial apparatus commonly found in circus performances...
: Two acrobats perform tricks on two separate trapezes. - Power trackTumbling (gymnastics)In gymnastics, tumbling, also known as power tumbling is an acrobatic sporting discipline which combines some of the skills of artistic gymnastics on the floor with those of trampolining. It is practised on a 25 metre long spring track...
: A group of acrobats perform flips and twists on an X-shaped power track. - Hand balancingHandstandA handstand is the act of supporting the body in a stable, inverted vertical position by balancing on the hands. In a basic handstand the body is held straight with arms and legs fully extended, with hands spaced approximately shoulder-width apart...
: An artist performs handbalancing on canes. - Fire-knife danceFire dancingFire dancing is a group of performance arts or disciplines that involve manipulation of objects on fire...
: An artist performs a dance with a fire-knife. - ManipulationObject manipulationObject manipulation is a form of dexterity play or performance in which one or more artists physically interact with one or more objects. These can be special props made for the purpose of the manipulation itself - such as balls, clubs, hoops, rings, poi, staff, devil sticks, etc. - or any other...
: Performed by Maria Silaeva. The original act by Elena LevElena LevElena Lev, born in Moscow, Russia in 1981, began her training to become a rhythmic gymnast at an early age, assisted and coached by her mother, Elena Lev Sr. She developed a signature hula hoop act incorporating gymnastics and contortion...
consisted of only hula hoops but now incorporates other props such as ribbons. - Flying manBungeeBungee may refer to:* Bungee cord, also called shock cord, an engineered stretchable cord* Bungee jumping, an adventure sport* Bungee language or Bungi creole, and its related population, existing mainly along the north-south trade routes of Manitoba, Canada* Bungee chair, a type of office or...
: An artist bounces and flies high above the stage with bungee cords. - Russian barRussian BarThe Russian bar is a circus act which combines the gymnastic skills of the balance beam, the rebound tempo skills of trampoline and the swing handstands skills of the uneven bars and the parallel bars...
s: A group of acrobats perform Russian bars. - ContortionContortionthumb|upright|Contortionist performingContortion is an unusual form of physical display which involves the dramatic bending and flexing of the human body. Contortion is often part of acrobatics and circus acts...
: Two artists create graceful and lithe figures and movements with their extreme flexibility and balance. - Aerial high bar: A group of acrobats fly and spin on an apparatus high above the stage.
Acts in rotation
- Cyr wheelCyr wheelThe Cyr wheel is an acrobatic device invented and popularized in the early 21st century...
: An artist spins and performs tricks in a Cyr wheel. - JugglingJugglingJuggling is a skill involving moving objects for entertainment or sport. The most recognizable form of juggling is toss juggling, in which the juggler throws objects up to catch and toss up again. This may be one object or many objects, at the same time with one or many hands. Jugglers often refer...
: An artist performs ball juggling.
Retired acts
- Tightwire
- Shoulder pole wire
- Strong man
- Slackwire
- Aerial cube
Costumes
Alegría's costumes have a dichotomy relating to the Old Order and the New Order. The Old Order has costumes which are reminiscent of New York's Gilded Age as they are finely decorated with feathers, lace, and other adornments. The New Order, on the other hand, representing the youth of tomorrow, have the same rich hues as the old order, while the fabrics used are lighter and softer, helping to emphasize the agility of youth. Over 400 costume pieces comprise the Alegría wardrobe set, including shoes, wigs, hats, etc. As an example of how long it takes to create each custom outfit, over 200 hours are needed to create one Old Bird costume.- Fleur: Part of the Old Order, Fleur is easily recognizable in his red velvet jacket and jeweled vest.
- Singer in White: Part of the Old Order, The Singer in White has a hoop-skirt frame with jewels underneath which is a crinoline skirt.
Music
René Dupéré
René Dupéré is a Québécois composer from Mont-Joli, Québec, Canada.- Biography :Dupéré is best known as the composer and arranger of music for contemporary circus productions by the Canadian entertainment company Cirque du Soleil...
, who had composed numerous scores for Cirque's previous productions, including Nouvelle Expérience
Nouvelle Experience
Nouvelle Expérience was Cirque du Soleil's fourth touring circus show, which premiered in 1990. The show's tour ended in 1993 in The Mirage parking lot in Las Vegas, Nevada. Over 1.3 million people saw the production during its 3½-year run.-Cast:...
, Saltimbanco
Saltimbanco
Saltimbanco is the oldest major touring show of Cirque du Soleil that remains active in some form. Saltimbanco ran from 1992 to 2006 in its original form, performed under a large circus tent called the Grand Chapiteau; its last performance in that form was in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on December 10,...
and Mystère
Mystère
Mystère may refer to:* Dassault Mystère, a French fighter-bomber* Martin Mystère, a fictional character* Mystère , a production show* Mystère , a Canadian manufacturer of multihulls* Mystère , a 1983 thriller film...
.
The music of Alegría was released as a studio album on September 27, 1994, and remains Cirque du Soleil's best-selling album to date, having sold more than 500,000 copies worldwide. The album was nominated for a Grammy Award
Grammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
and several Félix Award
Félix Award
The Félix Award is a music award, given on an annual basis to artists in the Canadian province of Quebec.The first Félix awards were presented on September 23, 1979, by the Association du disque, de l'industrie du spectacle québécois...
s in 1995, winning two of the latter: 'Producer of the Year' for Robbi Finkel
Robbi Finkel
Robbi Finkel is an American and Canadian composer, record producer, pianist and arranger...
and René Dupéré, and 'Sound Mixer of the Year' for Rob Heaney. Alegría was also ranked on the Billboard World Music Chart
Billboard charts
The Billboard charts tabulate the relative weekly popularity of songs or albums in the United States. The results are published in Billboard magazine...
for 65 weeks.
The album's lead vocals are provided by opera-trained, French-Canadian singer Francesca Gagnon
Francesca Gagnon
Francesca Gagnon is a Canadian singer and theatre actress featured in Cirque du Soleil's Alegría and Midnight Sun...
. Gagnon also features as 'The White Singer' (principal vocalist) in the Alegría DVD, with fellow French-Canadian Ève Montpetit supporting as 'The Black Singer'.
Several versions of the soundtrack have been available since its original release. In 2002, the soundtrack was re-released by Cirque du Soleil Musique Inc., with an additional two tracks titled 'Cerceaux' and 'Malioumba' (both featuring vocals by Francesca Gagnon) recorded from live shows during Alegría’s 2001 season in Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
. In 1995, a limited employee edition, Alegría - Live at Fairfax, was created for the artists and crew of the production. This special edition features the entire score on CD and is considered a collector's item.
The tracks for the original 1994 release, including the two extended tracks from 2002 are listed below and alongside are the acts during which they are played.
- Alegría (Finale)
- Vai Vedrai (Synchronized trapeze)
- Kalandéro
- Shoulder pole wire (1994-1995)
- Tightrope (1996, 2001)
- Juggling (2002-2004, 2006 onwards)
- Slackwire (2004-2005)
- Querer (High bar setup)
- Irna (Power track)
- Taruka (Contortion)
- Jeux d'enfants (Interlude)
- Mirko (Opening)
- Icare (High bar)
- Ibis
- Aerial Cube (1994-1996, 1997-1999, 2004-2008)
- Flying Man (1996-1997, 2003-2004)
- Valsapena (Power track)
- Nocturne (Snowstorm)
- Cerceaux (Hoop manipulation)
- Malioumba (Flying man)
Alegría, the Film
In 1999, Alegría was adapted into a film of the same name, written by Rudy Barichello and directed by Franco DragoneFranco Dragone
Franco Dragone is a Italian-Belgian theatre director. He is known for his work with Cirque du Soleil.-Early life:Dragone was born in Cairano, Italy, and moved to La Louvière, Belgium at age seven. In the 1970s, he studied theatre at the Belgian Royal Conservatory of Mons...
. The cast included actors such as Frank Langella
Frank Langella
-Early life:Langella, an Italian American, was born in Bayonne, New Jersey, the son of Angelina and Frank A. Langella Sr., a business executive who was the president of the Bayonne Barrel and Drum Company. Langella attended Washington Elementary School and Bayonne High School in Bayonne...
, Mako, Julie Cox
Julie Cox
Julie Cox is an English-Scottish actress perhaps best known for her role as Princess Irulan in the Sci Fi Channel's 2000 Dune miniseries and its 2003 follow-up, Children of Dune....
and a guest appearance from Whoopi Goldberg
Whoopi Goldberg
Whoopi Goldberg is an American comedian, actress, singer-songwriter, political activist, author and talk show host.Goldberg made her film debut in The Color Purple playing Celie, a mistreated black woman in the Deep South. She received a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Actress and won...
, as well as several performers and musicians from the touring production (many appeared in both this film and the Alegría DVD). The film employs a conventional structured narrative as opposed to the abstract allegory
Allegory
Allegory is a demonstrative form of representation explaining meaning other than the words that are spoken. Allegory communicates its message by means of symbolic figures, actions or symbolic representation...
of the live show.
Alegría
Cirque du Soleil released a DVD production of the show, Alegría. It was filmed in July, 2001, in SydneySydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
, Australia. This production was directed and produced by Nick Morris
Nick Morris
Nick Morris is a film maker who began his career in the 1980s with music videos for "The Final Countdown" by Europe, "Kyrie" by Mr. Mister and "Every Time You Go Away" by Paul Young...
. He used 14 cameras and special filming techniques to create a viewing experience that transports the viewer to the center of the performance.
Tour
Alegría's tour history is quite extensive as it premiered in 1994. Since it began it has toured under the Grand Chapiteau as well as in stadium arenas. Additionally during 1999 and 2000 it played as a resident show in Biloxi's Beau Rivage. The following colorboxes indicate the region of each performance: Europe North America South and Central America Asia/Pacific Oceania2009 schedule
Halifax, NS - From 27 May 2009 to 7 June 2009St. John, NB - From 10 June 2009 to 14 June 2009
Providence, RI - From 2 July 2009 to 5 July 2009
Manchester, NH - From 8 July 2009 to 12 July 2009
Newark, NJ - From 15 July 2009 to 19 July 2009
Wilkes-Barre, PA - From 22 July 2009 to 26 July 2009
Hamilton, ON - From 29 July 2009 to 2 August 2009
Bridgeport, CT - From 20 August 2009 to 23 August 2009
Boston, MA - From 26 August 2009 to 30 August 2009
Albany, NY - From 2 September 2009 to 6 September 2009
Syracuse, NY - From 9 September 2009 to 13 September 2009
Amherst, MA - From 16 September 2009 to 20 September 2009
Rochester, NY - From 23 September 2009 to 27 September 2009
State College, PA - From 30 September 2009 to 4 October 2009
Pittsburgh, PA - From 7 October 2009 to 11 October 2009
Philadelphia, PA - From 14 October 2009 to 18 October 2009
Reading, PA - From 21 October 2009 to 25 October 2009
London, ON - From 12 November 2009 to 15 November 2009
Greenville, SC - From 18 November 2009 to 22 November 2009
Augusta, GA - From 25 November 2009 to 29 November 2009
Hampton, VA - From 2 December 2009 to 6 December 2009
Worcester, MA - From 9 December 2009 to 13 December 2009
Montréal, QC - From 18 December 2009 to 30 December 2009
2010 schedule
Québec, QC - From 5 January 2010 to 10 January 2010Chicoutimi, QC - From 13 January 2010 to 17 January 2010
Detroit, MI - From 4 February 2010 to 7 February 2010
Indianapolis, IN - From 11 February 2010 to 14 February 2010
Austin, TX - From 17 February 2010 to 21 February 2010
Frisco, TX - From 24 February 2010 to 28 February 2010
Hoffman Estates, IL - From 3 March 2010 to 7 March 2010
Cedar Rapids, IA - From 10 March 2010 to 14 March 2010
Champaign, IL - From 17 March 2010 to 21 March 2010
Omaha, NE - From 24 March 2010 to 28 March 2010
East Lansing, MI - From 31 March 2010 to 4 April 2010
Cleveland, OH - From 7 April 2010 to 11 April 2010
Highland Heights, KY - From 29 April 2010 to 2 May 2010
St Louis, MO - From 5 May 2010 to 9 May 2010
Kansas City, MO - From 12 May 2010 to 16 May 2010
Salt Lake City, UT - From 19 May 2010 to 23 May 2010
Fresno, CA - From 26 May 2010 to 30 May 2010
Sacramento, CA - From 2 June 2010 to 6 June 2010
Rio Rancho, NM - From 9 June 2010 to 13 June 2010
Cypress, TX - From 16 June 2010 to 20 June 2010
Minneapolis, MN - From 23 June 2010 to 27 June 2010
Toronto, ON - From 30 June 2010 to 4 July 2010
Winnipeg, MB - From 22 July 2010 to 25 July 2010
Regina, SK - From 27 July 2010 to 1 August 2010
Saskatoon, SK - From 4 August 2010 to 8 August 2010
Edmonton, AB - From 11 August 2010 to 22 August 2010
Kelowna, BC - From 25 August 2010 to 29 August 2010
Kamloops, BC - From 1 September 2010 to 5 September 2010
Victoria, BC - From 8 September 2010 to 12 September 2010
Tacoma, WA - From 15 September 2010 to 19 September 2010
Spokane, WA - From 22 September 2010 to 26 September 2010
Honolulu, HI - From 15 October 2010 to 31 October 2010
Boise, ID - From 4 November 2010 to 7 November 2010
Houston, TX - From 10 November 2010 to 14 November 2010
Phoenix, AZ - From 17 November 2010 to 21 November 2010
Tucson, AZ - From 24 November 2010 to 28 November 2010
El Paso, TX - From 1 December 2010 to 5 December 2010
Oklahoma City, OK - From 22 December 2010 to 26 December 2010
Wichita, KS - From 29 December 2010 to 2 January 2011
2011 schedule
Baton Rouge , LA - From 5 January 2011 to 9 January 2011Colorado Springs , CO - From 12 January 2011 to 16 January 2011
Broomfield, CO - From 19 January 2011 to 23 January 2011
Loveland, CO - From 26 January 2011 to 30 January 2011
Laredo, TX - From 2 February 2011 to 6 February 2011
Hidalgo, TX - From 9 February 2011 to 13 February 2011
Corpus Christi, TX - From 16 February 2011 to 20 February 2011
Tulsa, OK - From 23 February 2011 to 27 February 2011
North Charleston, SC - From 17 March 2011 to 20 March 2011
Knoxville, TN - From 23 March 2011 to 27 March 2011
Charlottesville, VA - From 30 March 2011 to 3 April 2011
Atlantic City, NJ - From 7 April 2011 to 10 April 2011
Greensboro, NC - From 13 April 2011 to 17 April 2011
Biloxi, MS - From 20 April 2011 to 24 April 2011
Southaven , MS - From 27 April 2011 to 1 May 2011
Roanoke, VA - From 4 May 2011 to 8 May 2011
Columbia, SC - From 11 May 2011 to 15 May 2011
Toledo, OH - From 18 May 2011 to 22 May 2011
Louisville, KY - From 9 June 2011 to 12 June 2011
Nashville, TN - From 15 June 2011 to 19 June 2011
Tampa, FL - From 22 June 2011 to 26 June 2011
Jacksonville, FL - From 29 June 2011 to 3 July 2011
Raleigh, NC - From 6 July 2011 to 10 July 2011
Florence, SC - From 13 July 2011 to 17 July 2011
Sunrise, FL - From 20 July 2011 to 31 July 2011
Charlotte, NC - From 3 August 2011 to 7 August 2011
Estero, FL - From 10 August 2011 to 14 August 2011
Oberhausen, DE - From 7 September 2011 to 11 September 2011
Leipzig, DE - From 14 September 2011 to 18 September 2011
Stuttgart, DE - From 21 September 2011 to 25 September 2011
Munich, DE - From 28 September 2011 to 2 October 2011
Salzburg, AT - From 5 October 2011 to 9 October 2011
Berlin, DE - From 12 October 2011 to 16 October 2011
Bremen, DE - From 19 October 2011 to 23 October 2011
Cologne, DE - From 26 October 2011 to 30 October 2011
Frankfurt, DE - From 2 November 2011 to 6 November 2011
Mannheim, DE - From 9 November 2011 to 13 November 2011
Málaga, ES - From 1 December 2011 to 4 December 2011
Santiago, ES - From 7 December 2011 to 11 December 2011
Zaragoza, ES - From 14 December 2011 to 18 December 2011
Lisbon, PT - From 21 December 2011 to 8 January 2012
2012 schedule
Granada, ES - From 11 January 2012 to 15 January 2012Bilbao, ES - From 18 January 2012 to 22 January 2012
Toulouse, FR - From 25 January 2012 to 29 January 2012
Nantes, FR - From 1 February 2012 to 5 February 2012
Lyon, FR - From 22 February 2012 to 26 February 2012
Toulon, FR - From 29 February 2012 to 4 March 2012
Nice, FR - From 7 March 2012 to 11 March 2012
Montpellier, FR - From 14 March 2012 to 18 March 2012
Strasbourg, FR - From 21 March 2012 to 25 March 2012
Manchester, UK - From 4 April 2012 to 7 April 2012
Glasgow, UK - From 11 April 2012 to 15 April 2012
Birmingham, UK - From 18 April 2012 to 22 April 2012
Dublin, IE - From 25 April 2012 to 29 April 2012
Budapest, HU - From 17 May 2012 to 20 May 2012
Prague, CZ - From 23 May 2012 to 27 May 2012
Hamburg, DE - From 30 May 2012 3 June 2012
Hanover, DE - From 6 June 2012 to 10 June 2012
Nuremberg, DE - From 13 June 2012 to 17 June 2012
Vienna, AT - From 20 June 2012 to 24 June 2012
1994 schedule
Montréal, QC - From 21 April 1994 to 29 May 1994 (show première)Québec, QC - From 9 June 1994 to 26 June 1994
San Francisco, CA - From 12 July 1994 to 14 August 1994
San Jose, CA - From 25 August 1994 to 25 September 1994
Santa Monica, CA - From 6 October 1994 to 18 December 1994
1995 schedule
Costa Mesa, CA - From 24 January 1995 to 12 March 1995New York, NY - From 28 March 1995 to 4 June 1995
Toronto, ON - From 16 June 1995 to 9 July 1995
Chicago, IL - From 26 July 1995 to 27 August 1995
Boston, MA - From 8 September 1995 to 1 October 1995
Washington, DC - From 12 October 1995 to 5 November 1995
Atlanta, GA - From 17 November 1995 to 30 December 1995
1996 schedule
Tokyo, JP - From 22 March 1996 to 15 September 1996Fukuoka, JP - From 30 September 1996 to 20 October 1996
Hong Kong, HK - From 1 November 1996 to 25 December 1996
1997 schedule
Singapore, SG - From 1 January 1997Amsterdam, NL - From 6 March 1997 to 3 May 1997
Munich, DE - From 15 May 1997 to 29 June 1997
Berlin, DE - From 11 July 1997 to 31 August 1997
Vienna, AT - From 12 September 1997 to 27 October 1997
Düsseldorf, DE - From 14 November 1997 to 21 December 1997
1998 schedule
London, UK - From 7 January 1998 to 8 February 1998Madrid, ES - From 19 February 1998 to 22 March 1998
Barcelona, ES - From 2 April 1998 to 10 May 1998
Hamburg, DE - From 27 May 1998 to 12 July 1998
Antwerp, BE - From 23 July 1998 to 6 September 1998
Zurich, CH - From 17 September 1998 to 1 November 1998
Frankfurt, DE - From 12 November 1998 to 20 December 1998
1999-2000 schedule
London, UK - From 5 January 1999 to 7 February 1999Biloxi, MS - From 20 May 1999 to 2 October 2000 (Alegría was a resident show at the Beau Rivage during this time)
2001 schedule
Auckland, NZ - From 10 January 2001 to 18 February 2001Melbourne, AU - From 6 March 2001 to 13 May 2001
Sydney, AU - From 29 May 2001 to 5 August 2001
Brisbane, AU - From 24 August 2001 to 23 September 2001
Adelaide, AU - From 10 October 2001 to 18 November 2001
Perth, AU - From 5 December 2001 to 27 January 2002
2002 schedule
Singapore, SG - From 28 February 2002 to 7 April 2002Denver, CO - From 12 June 2002 to 4 August 2002
Minneapolis, MN - From 21 August 2002 to 22 September 2002
Mexico City, MX - From 10 October 2002 to 29 December 2002
2003 schedule
Dallas, TX - From 23 January 2003 to 23 February 2003Houston, TX - From 6 March 2003 to 13 April 2003
Austin, TX - From 24 April 2003 to 18 May 2003
Calgary, AB - From 4 June 2003 to 29 June 2003
Vancouver, BC - From 10 July 2003 to 10 August 2003
Seattle, WA - From 21 August 2003 to 21 September 2003
Portland, OR - From 2 October 2003 to 26 October 2003
San Francisco, CA - From 6 November 2003 to 21 December 2003
2004 schedule
Miami, FL - From 9 January 2004 to 8 February 2004St. Petersburg, FL - From 19 February 2004 to 14 March 2004
Atlanta, GA - From 25 March 2004 to 25 April 2004
New York, NY - From 6 May 2004 to 27 June 2004
Philadelphia, PA - From 8 July 2004 to 8 August 2004
Toronto, ON - From 19 August 2004 to 26 September 2004
Tokyo, JP - From 29 October 2004 to 23 January 2005
2005 schedule
Fukuoka, JP - From 9 February 2005 to 3 April 2005Nagoya, JP - From 20 April 2005 to 12 June 2005
Osaka, JP - From 25 June 2005 to 25 September 2005
Tokyo, JP - From 13 October 2005 to 27 November 2005
2006 schedule
London, UK - From 5 January 2006 to 12 February 2006Milan, IT - From 23 February 2006 to 16 April 2006
Rome, IT - From 27 April 2006 to 25 June 2006
Amsterdam, NL - From 14 July 2006 to 20 August 2006
Brussels, BE - From 31 August 2006 to 15 October 2006
Madrid, ES - From 27 October 2006 to 17 December 2006
2007 schedule
London, UK - From 5 January 2007 to 11 February 2007Barcelona, ES - From 22 February 2007 to 29 April 2007
Paris, FR - From 10 May 2007 to 15 July 2007
Gijon, ES - From 26 July 2007 to 26 August 2007
Curitiba, BR - From 14 September 2007 to 7 October 2007
Brasília, BR - From 19 October 2007 to 11 November 2007
Belo Horizonte, BR - From 22 November 2007 to 16 December 2007
Rio de Janeiro, BR - From 27 December 2007 to 27 January 2008
2008 schedule
São Paulo, BR - From 7 February 2008 to 4 May 2008Porto Alegre, BR - From 15 May 2008 to 8 June 2008
Buenos Aires, AR - From 20 June 2008 to 27 July 2008
Santiago, CL - From 14 August 2008 to 21 September 2008
Seoul, KR - From 14 October 2008 to 28 December 2008
2009 schedule
Taipei, TW - From 14 January 2009 to 22 February 2009Dubai, AE - From 5 March 2009 to 5 April 2009
External links
Music links
- Alegría Music and Vocalists at The Cirque Tribune
- Composer René Dupéré interview (Las Vegas Sun)
- Composer René Dupéré's website
- Singer Francesca Gagnon's website