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Corteo Creators
* Guy Laliberté - Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Cirque du Soleil
* Daniele Finzi Pasca - Creator and Director
* Line Tremblay - Director of Creation
* Philippe Leduc - Musical Director and Composer
* Maria Bonzanigo - Musical Director and Composer
* Jean-François Côté - Additional Composer
* Jean Rabasse - Set Designer
* Dominique Lemieux - Costume Design
* Dolores Heredia - Dramaturgical Analyst
* Antonio Vergamini - Acting Coach
* Hugo Gargiulo - Acting Coach
* Martin Labrecque - Lighting Designer
* Jonathan Deans - Sound Designer
* Danny Zen - Acrobatic Rigging Designer
* Nathalie Gagné - Makeup Designer
Touring Information
Corteo's 2007/2008 North American tour has already played in Atlanta, Dallas, Houston, Columbus and Denver. It will visit the following remaining cities:
Portland, OR 4 March 2008 13 April 2008
Seattle, WA 24 April 2008 1 June 2008
Vancouver, BC 12 June 2008 6 July 2008
Calgary, AB 31 July 2008 31 August 2008
Ottawa, ON 16 September 2008 12 October 2008
St. Petersburg, FL 31 October 2008 30 November 2008
Miami, FL 12 December 2008 19 January 2009
Corteo Characters
* The Dead Clown
The Dead Clown is the central character of the story, the one whom this impressive funeral is honouring ... but could it all be a dream? As a former member of the troupe that now surrounds him, he dons his old stage costume to perform one final time. What we see in Corteo is truly the Dead Clown's world, presented as his memories surface. Hence, many of the shows characters are seen through the Dead Clown's eyes: friends, lovers, coworkers, indeed, an entire village. The most important symbol for the Dead Clown is the word. It is his voice that guides the audience throughout the show. He is a very charismatic character: by and large, his other physical features hold little intrinsic importance. Dead Clown is currently played by Jeff Raz.
* The Loyal Whistler
The origins of the Loyal Whistler lie in the classic role of "Mr. Loyal", the ringleader of traditional circuses. A one-time variety show performer who turned submarine commander, who was then sent for social reintegration after a stint in a military hospital, the Loyal Whistler has retrained in the circus arts (after all, why not?), but without shedding all of his old habits. We feel the soldier and the diva competing inside him, struggling for their turn in the sun. The Loyal Whistler has an outstanding talent: he whistles. His mouth is an instrument in itself. The Loyal Whistler is currently played by Robert Stemmons.
* The White Clown
For the White Clown, appearances are what matters most. Like the Loyal Whistler, he is an authority figure ... at least, he'd like to be. Of all the colourful characters, he admires only the stars and scorns the others. It is the White Clown who opens the door to the magic of the circus for the Dead Clown.
* The Clowness
The Clowness is an actress, a veritable grande dame of the stage, who somehow found herself a part of this quirky troupe. Her professionalism and her strength of character allow her to bear the foolishness of her partners, whom she never fails to charm.
* The Little Clown
A diminutive clown who's in love with the Clowness, the Little Clown is always ready to play tricks on his compatriots. Impish and lively, he is both an endearing companion and a force to be reckoned with. He readily criticizes the audience. The Little Clown is the trainer for the Small Horses, who next to him, appear very large.
* The Giant Clown
Although only an amateur opera singer, the Giant imagines himself to be a great artist of worldwide renown. Of all the Dead Clown's friends, he is undoubtedly the Dead Clown closest friend - they are almost like brothers. The Giant is as gentle and timorous as he is physically imposing. The beauty of the world melts his heart. During the "opera on wheels" scene, when he tries desperately to mount the stage in the tiny theatre, his relationship with the Loyal Whistler - the keeper of order - becomes very tense.
Corteo Acts
* Opening
* Chandeliers
Four women, the Dead Clown's former loves, come together in dreamlike joy. They perform aerial acrobatics on three giant chandeliers that sway and spin above the Dead Clown's bed.
* Bouncing Beds
Like a gaggle of young kids playing in their grandparents room, six artists jump on two big beds that move on rotating platforms. In a playful atmosphere, they perform acrobatic feats each more daring than the last.
* Mauro's Flight
* Cyr Wheel
Four artists (Jenn, Tammy, JQ and AJ) perform solos and group figures on Cyr wheels. The simplicity of the Cyr wheel's line—a pure circle—sets off the intricate and energetic performance.
* Little Horses
* Cortege
* Tightrope
A young woman walks across a wire six metres from the ground, surrounded by angels. By turns in pointe shoes, on a unicycle and barefoot, the artist performs figures with multiple hoops. Then, she takes on the challenge of climbing a diagonal wire, finally disappearing once she’s reached the top.
* Golf
* Marionette
Like a living jumping jack, a puppet artist seems to drop out of the sky. She plays with the Dead Clown in a scene that is reminiscent of days at the beach.
* Culbuto
* Helium Dance, i.e Valentyna's Flight
All dressed up in his Sunday best, the Dead Clown delicately holds the Clowness, a dwarf who is tethered to six enormous balloons. The dead clown plays games with her as she bounces off his fingers, the balloons making her fall through the air light as a feather. A hush falls as the angelic Clowness ascends and flies out into the audience, bouncing off the hands of spectators chosen by chance. Her gentle flight is charming and a delight to behold.
* Teeterboard
Surrounded by two groups of artists lending rhythm to the act with their voices and percussion work, three acrobats redefine teeterboard technique in an act where speed is rivalled only by complexity.
* Paradise
By superimposing a trampoline-like net and three standing cradle stations placed further apart from one another than ever seen before, a universe is created in which high-flying and bouncing come together, as if it were the most natural thing in the world, in a single breathtaking act.
* Crystal Bowls
Implored by the Dead Clown and the Giant as they prepare to perform a haunting melody on crystal glasses, the Loyal Whistler, a whistling virtuoso, showcases his remarkable talent in a breathtaking performance. When several artists join in on the Tibetan bowls, the result is a symphony that defies description.
* Duo Adagio
This masterful, tender pas de deux is performed by a duo of little people, using a vertical ring set into a pivoting platform.
* Juggling
Four young artists perform fast-moving feats of prowess in a surprising act that blends juggling and acrobatics. With unsurpassed style, they defy the law of gravity as they juggle successively with rings, hoops and clubs. Jugglers: Dmitry Teslenko, Victor Teslenko, Anatoly Teslenko, Elina Teslenko.
* Rhythmic Gymnastics (no longer performed)
A trio of extraordinarily flexible jugglers perform amazing manoeuvres with a combination of balls and cubes before being surprised by a torrential downpour - of chickens. In Atlanta, Dallas and Houston, the downpour was followed by several performers sweeping the floor with long brooms.
* Acrobatic Ladder
A ladder specialist amazes the audience with his unnerving balance and incomparable finesse as he performs on various ladders, trying desperately to reach the angel who is watching him from above.
* Aerial Straps
Originally performed as a solo Aerial Strap act in rotation by Veronika Teslenko. It is currently an Aerial Straps duo performed by Olesya Shulga and Dmytro Grygorov. Each incarnation of the act had its own musical piece.
* Magical Flight (a.k.a Bicycle, Vols Magique)
* Tournik
Eight artists cross paths in an act which marries horizontal bar techniques with circus arts. The artists perform on a central cube-shaped structure, with two additional bars on each side of the cube. The various parts of the structure turn, sometimes all in the same direction, sometimes in opposite directions.
* Finale
Corteo Soundtrack
The Soundtrack for Corteo was released on the 23rd of September, 2006 in Canada, and the 7th of October, 2006 in the US, under Cirque du Soleil Musique. Corteo's music was composed by primarily by Philippe Leduc and Maria Bonzanigo, however additional composers such as Jean-François Côté and Michel A. Smith contributed to several pieces. In addition, Daniele Finzi Pasca is also featured as the lyricist. Corteo was one of the first Cirque CDs in which multiple composers were featured.
The Soundtrack features the contribution of 61 musicians and singers, a 16 piece choir and a 13 piece string section, that result in a 'rich blend of authenticity and genuine artistic spirit'. Unlike other Cirque scores, Corteo's pieces are sung in Italian, French, Spanish. Below is the tracklisting of the album.
1. Funerale
2. Ritornare
3. Rêve d'Un Pantin
4. Les Chevaux à Bottes
5. Nos Dejó
6. Klezmer Moment
7. Prendersi per Mano
8. Anneaux
9. El Cielo Sabrá
10. Fugue
11. Volo Volando
12. Un Tierno y Dulce Chau
13. Balade au Bout d'Une Échelle
14. Garda Lassù
15. Triangle Tango
16. Che Finalone
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