"Corteo"

[rbV5]

Corteo


I'm lucky to live near one of Cirque Du Soleil touring cities (Portland Or) and last night my wife and I caught the show. I scored us tickets side stagefront, in front of one of the musician stages (GREAT seats, although I didn't spring for"Tapis Rouge") It's a perfectly sized small venue, so its easy to get mesmorized by all the action going on. I doubt there is a bad seat in the house. No photography allowed in the big top, but we were able to squeeze a couple poor shots off before they politely asked us to put the camera away Shot of last nights action. (poor quality, but gives you our perspective of the show)

This is a very theatrical performance mixed with amazing carnival style acts. The stage is excellent in the round with painted transparent screen seperated hemisphere's, long stage down the center with a large round center stage.

The acts themselves were simply amazing, although you're not going to see the "best" technical individual acts you've ever seen, its more of a sum of all the parts may equal the best show you've ever seen. Even a major screw-up during a rapid-fire ring throwing act, they restaged themselves without missing a beat and repeated it again, this time perfectly....I'm sure many in the crowd didn't even catch the screw up. There were many "Wow" moments during the different acts. Studying the faces of the crowd watching said it all...it was dazzling and mesmorizing, at times almost too much to take it all in at once.

The show wasn't perfect. The beginning clown skits in the audience weren't well sync'd, so the crowd in one hemisphere would react prior to the other (the skits were mirrored in each hemisphere of the crowd) so it was a little distracting. Also, I thought the Giant clown was a bit too cornball for taste.

This is a GREAT show, and I recommend it HIGHLY if you are lucky enough to live near one of the tour cities. It runs 2 1/2 hours total with a 1/2 hour intermission.

Cliffs;
1. Artsy Circus with no animals comes to town.
2. Intimate Venue with no bad seats.
3. Dark, yet upbeat Theatrical performance wows the crowd.
4. Highly recommend you see it if you get a chance.

 

[maddogchen]

I saw Kooza, another Cirque show. Very good. one of the best I've seen. Highly recommend that one too.

 

[rbV5]

Originally posted by: maddogchen
I saw Kooza, another Cirque show. Very good. one of the best I've seen. Highly recommend that one too.

I realy enjoyed the flow of this show, and different elements worked very well together rather than straight up balance acts.

The musicians sitting literally right behind us and then mixing into the stage performance. One minute a performer pulls off an amazing balance/strength routine, then she returns as a singer, side-stage setting the stage for yet another amazing routine by other performers....incredibly talented, and not so bad to look at either .

I'd go again if they weren't about to wrap it up here in Portland, no doubt about it.

 

[T9D]

I went to Corteo in Portland last Sunday. Amazing show. Cirque Du Soleil is something every person has got to experience at least once in their life time. It's a do not miss experience. Just incredible.

I was waiting to get a shot or two but just didn't want to chance it. I got a couple of the screen before opening and got some video of the very end as they took their bows. Wish I could have gotten more but I didn't want to cause trouble.

Sheesh those girls are so dang alluring too!

 

[andylawcc]

interesting that they don't go to big cities like LA, SF, Chicago, or NY. I wonder why, don't wanna run into competition?

 

[E equals MC2]

Fucking loved Corteo. Loved it so much I immediately rushed and bought tickets for my family so they could see on the next day.

Don't see Allegria. That's the one on the Travel channel all the time.

 

[rbV5]

Sheesh those girls are so dang alluring too!

Yea, I don't think I emphasized that aspect enough, those girls were "hot".

The catcher/thrower centered in the shot I posted was tossing them around like dolls. That dude was incredible in that routine, in fact, that routine was stunning.

 

[purbeast0]

I watch the founder Guy Laliberte on that high stakes poker game weekly on the game show network.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guy_Laliberté

it's amazing to think that guy lived on the streets for 10 years and how successful he now is.

 

[E equals MC2]

I wonder how much money these people make? How much do leads make? How much do lesser roles make?

Do they get vacation? What's it like?

 

[E equals MC2]

Originally posted by: E equals MC2
I wonder how much money these people make? How much do leads make? How much do lesser roles make?

Do they get vacation? What's it like?

Cirque pays its performers a yearly salary ranging from $30,000 for an apprentice to more than $100,000 for an established artist. After

 

[rbV5]

Originally posted by: E equals MC2

Originally posted by: E equals MC2
I wonder how much money these people make? How much do leads make? How much do lesser roles make?

Do they get vacation? What's it like?

Cirque pays its performers a yearly salary ranging from $30,000 for an apprentice to more than $100,000 for an established artist. After

I saw

Laliberté says the performers' annual earnings can range from an apprentice rate of $30,000 (which includes free food, lodging and training) to $250,000 for a veteran who owns creative rights to his or her act. There is no danger pay.

this was 10 years ago Link

 

[NuclearNed]

I've seen Mystere, O, Zumanity, and Love. All were great shows.

 

[silverpig]

I could do that but I don't wanna...

 

[Atomic Playboy]

I also caught Corteo in Portland. I sprung for Tapis Rouge tickets; a Christmas present for my girlfriend. Unfortunately, we broke up in Feruary, but we're staying friends, so I ended up getting to go, which was good, because if I had shelled out $215 a ticket and not been invited, they'd still be looking for her body.

The show was amazing. I love a good gymnastics exhibition, and this had it all; trapeze work, trampolines, jugglers, rings, tightropes and midgets. Midgets! Yes, I know it's more politically correct to call them "little people," but this is not Darby O'Gill. I mean, pretty soon they're going to want to be called Lilliputians or representatives of the Lolly Pop Guild... where does it end? There's nothing inherently offensive about the word midget, it merely describes a condition in which someone is smaller than the average person. Changing the name won't change the condition.

Back to the show, I loved that section where they came out with the midget strapped to giant balloons; not enough to make her float off, but she sank very, veeeeerrrrryyyyy slowly. So the guy is doing tricks with her and then he just casts her off over the audience. And the audience has to put their hands up and push her around like a beachball at Woodstock. She came over towards my section, and I started to get worried. Not because I'm prejudiced against "little people," mind you. But I know myself too well; if she had come to me, I would've put my hands up, but I wouldn't have pushed. I would've grabbed on tight and yelled "Hey, free midget!" I've heard of giving T-Shirts away at shows, but never a midget. These Canadians are so progressive...

I told my ex that, she gave me that look that said "No wonder I broke up with you." But she laughed, so she's going to hell too.

 

[rbV5]

Originally posted by: andylawcc
interesting that they don't go to big cities like LA, SF, Chicago, or NY. I wonder why, don't wanna run into competition?

Zumanity is playing at "New York, New York" thats almost like NY?

Its not much of a drive to Vegas for LA for several shows that run permanently, "Kooza" did have a run at AT&T Park in San Fran last year at the very least, I'm pretty sure "Corteo" did have a run in Chicago as well. Mybe you're just missing the shows in the big cities, they don't even hit Portland every year, but sometimes they come a couple times in a year.

 

[spacejamz]

We saw the Vegas shows (Mystere and O) before watching one of the tour shows.

Needless to say, you instintively compare the two when you shouldn't and we left dissappointed with the tour show.

 

[rbV5]

I loved that section where they came out with the midget strapped to giant balloons; not enough to make her float off, but she sank very, veeeeerrrrryyyyy slowly. So the guy is doing tricks with her and then he just casts her off over the audience. And the audience has to put their hands up and push her around like a beachball at Woodstock.

Grigor and Valentyna Pahlevanyan (le midgets) were both f'ng awesome :thumbsup: They were showcased throughout the show, and more than just a couple of cute midgets, they are gifted acrobatic performers, and have excellent stage presence. Some of my favorite performances.

 

[conehead433]

So how does KA rank? I'll be in Vegas the end of May and definitely want to see a Cirque show. KA is at the MGM Grand which is where I'm staying so that make it an easy choice, but if another show is better I might try another one. Thanks.

 

[rbV5]

Another noteworthy act was ringmaster Robert Stemmon's whistling...thats right, whistling. He did a number trading "runs" with a very capable violinist that was utterly fantastic....absolutely incredible, I'm still in awe over that performance.

btw, all the music is performed live for the show. There are 4 seperate mini musician stages (two opposite for each hemisphere) which realy sets the mood for the show. The musicianship was all excellent.

 

[Modeps]

I saw 'O' in Vegas. I don't think I'll bother spending the money to see another Cirque Du Soleil show. I enjoyed Blue Man Group much more, and it was much less expensive.

 

[Mxylplyx]

Originally posted by: conehead433
So how does KA rank? I'll be in Vegas the end of May and definitely want to see a Cirque show. KA is at the MGM Grand which is where I'm staying so that make it an easy choice, but if another show is better I might try another one. Thanks.

I want to know this myself. I'm booked for this show in June.

 

[rbV5]

Originally posted by: Mxylplyx

Originally posted by: conehead433
So how does KA rank? I'll be in Vegas the end of May and definitely want to see a Cirque show. KA is at the MGM Grand which is where I'm staying so that make it an easy choice, but if another show is better I might try another one. Thanks.

I want to know this myself. I'm booked for this show in June.

Here's some reviews of KA Link Some give comparison's to the other Vegas Cirque shows.