Cirque du Soleil performs 'Alegria' for first time since Covid in Korea

Music & Performance

Published: 24 Oct. 2022, 12:39 Updated: 24 Oct. 2022, 19:39

Cirque du Soleil performs 'Alegria' for first time since Covid in Korea

Flying trapeze performers on 10 meter (33 foot) high swings during a press preview of Cirque du Soleil's "Alegria in a New Light" at Jamsil Sports Complex’s Big Top Theater in Songpa District, southern Seoul, on Thursday. [YONHAP]

Cirque du Soleil is bouncing back to the international stage after the global pandemic that shuttered dozens of its shows across the world.

“Alegria in a New Light” by the Canadian circus behemoth opened in southern Seoul’s Jamsil Sports Complex on Thursday, its first international show since Covid-19.

Of the Cirque’s 20 shows, “Alegria” is one of the its classics, which premiered in 1994. It has toured around 255 cities in 30 countries and has been seen by some 14 million people, including those in Seoul in 2018.

Artistic director Michael Smith said that the entire show has been reimagined since, hence the “in a New Light” added to the show’s title.

“We did a complete music rearrangement along with technologies added to our new set, costumes, makeup and LED lights, in order to make the show relevant and meet the expectations of the audiences today,” Smith said during a press conference for the show on Thursday at Jamsil Sports Complex’s Big Top Theater in Songpa District.

Cirque du Soleil' "Alegria in a New Light" artistic director Michael Smith speaks during the press conference of the show at Jamsil Sports Complex’s Big Top Theater in Songpa District, southern Seoul, on Thursday. [YONHAP]

“Alegria” depicts a kingdom that has lost its king and a power struggle begins between the old order and a new movement yearning for hope and renewal. Alegria means joy in Spanish.

Cirque du Soleil’s relationship with Korea began in 2007 through the local entertainment company Mast Entertainment. “Alegria in a New Light” marks the Cirque’s sixth show in Korea.

“Back then, barely anyone knew about the show, and I remember we were scrambling to fill the seats for the first five weeks of performances,” said Kim, “but once the word got out, we began to sell thousands of tickets.”

The show saw its biggest success in Seoul in 2018 when it opened with “Kooja,” attracting some 200,000 audience members and recording 25.8 billion won (about $18 million) in profit.

Performer Falaniko Solomona Penesa does the "Fire Knife Dance" during a press preview of Cirque du Soleil's "Alegria in a New Light" at Jamsil Sports Complex’s Big Top Theater in Songpa District, southern Seoul, on Thursday. [YONHAP]

“Nothing excites me more than bringing Cirque du Soleil to Korea,” said Kim Yong-kwan, CEO of Mast Entertainment. “It is a show larger in scale than any big musical. Setting up for the show isn’t easy either. But seeing their magic unfold here at Big Top, it is no question why this group is part of one of the most creative companies in the world.

“I am honored to be the messenger of such a great show.”

“Alegria in a New Light” has a multicultural cast consisting of 54 performers including acrobats, clowns and singers of 25 different nationalities.

Many performers come from a family of circus performers.

The entire cast of Cirque du Soleil's "Alegria in a New Light" that is current on tour poses for cameras during the press conference for the show at Jamsil Sports Complex’s Big Top Theater in Songpa District, southern Seoul, on Thursday. [YONHAP]

“I am the third generation of my circus family, starting with my grandfather and grandmother doing acrobatics in traditional circus,” said Ammed Tuniziani, a flying trapezist and an artistic coach from Venezuela.

“Circus is my life and my passion. The first thing that I fell in love with was flying on the trapeze. But what ultimately keeps me going at the end of the day is the audience. It gives me joy every time to perform in front of thousands of audience members and see their reactions when we are flying.”

Tuniziani’s wife, Estefani Evans is also a flying trapeze performer who is the fifth generation in a family of circus performers from Brazil.

“Circus is in my blood and something I see my kids growing into as well,” she said. “Circus is my family.”

A flying trapeze performer swings from a 10 meter (33 foot) high swing during a press preview of Cirque du Soleil's "Alegria in a New Light" at Jamsil Sports Complex’s Big Top Theater in Songpa District, southern Seoul, on Thursday. [YONHAP]

The performers also shared stories about their struggles during the pandemic and the moment they heard that the Cirque was back on track.

“It was surreal to think that we couldn’t do what we loved,” said Benjamin Todd from Australia, who plays the drums in the show.

“When I received the message from Michael about the potential of the Cirque coming back again, it was a very special moment as I thought, ‘We are saved!’”

Evans said that she began working at a restaurant because she felt so uncertain about her future.

“At first, we were told that the break would be for just about three weeks, but that got longer and longer. It was a very depressive time. But when the Cirque called, it was a huge relief, not just for me but for all the other circus performers.”

Cirque du Soleil's “Alegria in a New Light” runs through Jan. 1, 2023 at Jamsil Sports Complex’s Big Top Theater in Songpa District. Tickets are available via local ticketing platforms Yes24 and Interpark.