Cirque du Soleil had already been around for a decade when it premiered Alegría in 1994. During those ten years the Canadian circus had become known on all five continents, but the outbreak of Alegría meant its consolidation as a world leader in the circus sector.
As the 30th anniversary of the unforgettable show, whose soundtrack was nominated for a Grammy, approached, Cirque du Soleil president and CEO Stéphane Lefebvre began to ponder how the milestone birthday could be celebrated. And he decided to revise the work to give it a new life. So Alegría has jumped back into the tent and very soon she will be in Barcelona. She will arrive with her trapeze artists, acrobats, tightrope walkers, clowns... and above all with her music at the Cultural District of L'Hospitalet on March 20.
Meanwhile, to warm up the engines, Lefebvre explains in this videoconference interview with La Vanguardia the details of the new show and other questions about the most famous circus in the world.
During the pandemic the entertainment sector suffered greatly. How has Cirque du Soleil recovered after that crisis?
The pandemic was a very difficult stage. Luckily, in 2021 we were able to resume activity with a show in Las Vegas, which was the perfect place because it did not require transfers. As of 2022, things were going well again, we got shows and tours all over the world back. It was a happy moment because the public came out with renewed enthusiasm after confinement.
Why have you decided to relaunch Alegría, one of your most successful shows?
Alegría was created in 1994 and when the 30th anniversary approached we wanted to do something special. After considering several options we decided to relaunch the show, which has been one of the company's most important. We remodeled it with the participation of some of the original creators.
What news will we see?
The old and the new Alegría share the same essence, but there are many new features in the acrobatic numbers and music. The spectacle that Barcelonans will see is very, very new, because in these 30 years many technological advances have occurred and now we can do things that in 1994 we would not have even imagined.
How does Spain receive Cirque du Soleil?
That of Spain with Cirque du Soleil is a love story. It is a very important country for us, because in every city we visit we receive applause from a fantastic audience.
What cities are you going to visit on this new Alegría tour?
We will arrive in Barcelona on March 20, 2024. Then we will go to Malaga, Alicante, Seville and Madrid. 2024 will be the Spanish year of this show.
Has it already been released elsewhere?
The show premiered in Japan. Throughout the month of January, he will be in London. Afterwards, he will travel to Barcelona with his cast made up of 53 artists from a wide variety of disciplines. In Alegría there are singers, musicians, contortionists, acrobats, trapeze artists, hoops experts and even flying men.
Cirque du Solei has been diversifying and is now one of the largest international event and show companies. Are you planning to make purchases from new companies?
Not for the moment. Cirque du Solei has many platforms to make content in various formats. Right now, the company has 45 shows, some traveling and others fixed, such as the six that are available in Las Vegas or the one in Orlando at the Disney park. In addition, the business group has other divisions for, for example, the creation of multimedia productions or immersive experiences. It also participates in theme parks and organizes special events.
