Cirque du Soleil had already been on the road for a decade when it premiered Alegría in 1994. During those ten years, the Canadian circus had been making itself known on the five continents, but the explosion of Alegría meant its consolidation as a world reference 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 pondering how to celebrate this milestone birthday And he decided to revise the work to give it a new life. So Alegría has jumped back into the marquee and will be in Barcelona very soon. He will arrive with his trapeze artists, acrobats, balancers, clowns... and above all with his music at the grounds of the Cultural District of l'Hospitalet on March 20.
While warming up the engines, Lefebvre explains in this video conference 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 a lot. How has Cirque du Soleil recovered after this crisis?
The pandemic was a very difficult stage. Luckily, in 2021 we were able to resume the activity with a show in Las Vegas, which was the perfect place because it did not require transfers. From 2022, things went well again, we got back to shows and tours around the world. It was a happy moment as the audience roared with renewed enthusiasm after the lockdown.
Why have they decided to relaunch Alegría, one of their most successful shows?
Alegría was created in 1994 and as the 30th anniversary approached we wanted to do something special. After studying 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 in the new show?
The old and the new Alegría share the same essence, but there are many new acrobatic numbers and music. The show that the people of Barcelona will see is very, very new, because in these 30 years many technological advances have taken place and now we can do things that in 1994 we would not have even imagined.
How does Spain receive Cirque du Soleil?
The one in Spain with Cirque du Soleil is a love story. It is a very important country for us, as in every city we visit we receive the applause of a fantastic audience.
Which cities will Cirque du Soleil visit in this new Alegría tour?
We will arrive in Barcelona on March 20, 2024. Then we will go to other Spanish cities, Malaga, Alicante, Seville and Madrid. 2024 will be the Spanish year of this show.
Has Alegría's new show already premiered in other parts of the world?
The show premiered in Japan. During the month of January, he will be in London. He will then travel to Barcelona with his cast of 53 artists from a wide variety of disciplines. In Alegría there are singers, musicians, contortionists, acrobats, trapeze artists, hoop experts and even flying men.
Cirque du Solei has been diversifying and is already one of the major international companies of events and shows. Are you planning to make new business purchases?
At the moment, no. 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 the realization, for example, of multimedia productions or immersive experiences. It also participates in theme parks and organizes special events.
