Great conversation, Joseph. I first learned of Cirque du Soleil back in the 80s from a late-night cable show called "Night Flight". The program was a stream of visual arts for the new cable media and highlighted new performance artists. CDS was still in its fledgling years and was presenting as authentic and of the heart. I knew I had to follow the progress of this troupe. I'm happy to have experienced the 35 live performances I've attended, and continue to patronize them. You are absolutely spot on: this was the Golden Age of Cirque du Soleil and Franco Dragone.
Thank you for starting this! I'm a huge Cirque fan and I agree the modern shows don't hold a candle to the Dragone era Cirque shows even though I quite like a lot of them. Franco's shows had a good mix of light and dark while the modern shows try way too hard to be happy most of the time which makes them feel a bit shallow.
This is exactly a myth about Cirque du Soleil that bothers me in the modern shows (not all but many of them). The golden age shows were about all human emotions. The new shows are often glitz and expensive costumes and stages, but I think they treat the audience like they’re not very smart, and they don’t dare to be dark, sad, mysterious, or intellectually challenging. There are so many fans that know this and yet it doesn’t seem to penetrate the corporate consciousness.
@@rowelle IDK, I think it misses the mark on what the original show was supposed to be. Tries to be superficially happy which drains the weight of the themes of the original.
uughhh im so happy to find someone doing like deep dive/history thing on cirque du soleil. it's been my biggest obsession literally for as long as I can remember. it actually got me into clowning, clown/circus inspired fashio/makeup and some other circus arts (trapeze, juggling and contortion, tho admittedly I rlly only do clowning and the fashion stuff now lol)
I don't know much about Cirque do Soleil, but it was very interesting watching you talk about it. I do know Robin Finck from Nine Inch Nails played guitar in Quidam, and that's where he met his wife Bianca, who is an aerial acrobat and dancer.
@@RafaelOliveira-go1iw Yup, same guy. Robin Finck. He's gone back and forth between playing for Guns N' Roses and Nine Inch Nails multiple times. He has quite a resume.
Excited for more! I don’t know much about the shows other than the VHS and other reproductions I’ve randomly scene over the years, so happy to sort of get a historical and critical grounding!
We want more videos! Talk about the shows from the golden age and what you think is wrong with the new ones. Also, don’t you think KA and specially Varekai could be considered golden age, if not in time at least in style?
Just found your series by chance. I consider myself a Cirque du Soleil “Freak” / “passionate fan” since I saw Alegria back in 98 with 12 years old... so I would look forward to see and comment every episode of your series. Thanks for your work. Last week, after seen Alegria in a new Light, I was discussing with my wife If Cirque had lost it’s “Magic” or it’s just me that I “grow up” and I compare every show with what I consider “Cirque best ages” (form Saltimbanco to La Nouba). As you point in this first video, we talk about the productions, not the artists. I also consider that the only Director who has recovered some of "that magic" and whose shows stand out from the rest after the "Dragone era" is Daniel Finzi Pasca. What do you think?
Thanks! Well I used to live near the show in Orlando (La Nouba) and then for several years my work took me to Las Vegas 3-4 times per year, so I’d catch them in the evenings. The rest was me going out to my watch to catch them when they were nearby.
Great conversation, Joseph. I first learned of Cirque du Soleil back in the 80s from a late-night cable show called "Night Flight". The program was a stream of visual arts for the new cable media and highlighted new performance artists. CDS was still in its fledgling years and was presenting as authentic and of the heart. I knew I had to follow the progress of this troupe. I'm happy to have experienced the 35 live performances I've attended, and continue to patronize them. You are absolutely spot on: this was the Golden Age of Cirque du Soleil and Franco Dragone.
Franco Dragone is the genius behind the golden age of CDS with an amazing team behind also. #francodragone
Thank you for starting this! I'm a huge Cirque fan and I agree the modern shows don't hold a candle to the Dragone era Cirque shows even though I quite like a lot of them. Franco's shows had a good mix of light and dark while the modern shows try way too hard to be happy most of the time which makes them feel a bit shallow.
This is exactly a myth about Cirque du Soleil that bothers me in the modern shows (not all but many of them). The golden age shows were about all human emotions. The new shows are often glitz and expensive costumes and stages, but I think they treat the audience like they’re not very smart, and they don’t dare to be dark, sad, mysterious, or intellectually challenging. There are so many fans that know this and yet it doesn’t seem to penetrate the corporate consciousness.
Alegria: In A New Light is FANTASTIC
@@rowelle IDK, I think it misses the mark on what the original show was supposed to be. Tries to be superficially happy which drains the weight of the themes of the original.
Really looking forward to watching this! First episode was great ❤
uughhh im so happy to find someone doing like deep dive/history thing on cirque du soleil. it's been my biggest obsession literally for as long as I can remember. it actually got me into clowning, clown/circus inspired fashio/makeup and some other circus arts (trapeze, juggling and contortion, tho admittedly I rlly only do clowning and the fashion stuff now lol)
This is amazing!
I don't know much about Cirque do Soleil, but it was very interesting watching you talk about it. I do know Robin Finck from Nine Inch Nails played guitar in Quidam, and that's where he met his wife Bianca, who is an aerial acrobat and dancer.
What a amazing story! Former Guns guitarist joined Quidam in 1996
@@RafaelOliveira-go1iw Yup, same guy. Robin Finck. He's gone back and forth between playing for Guns N' Roses and Nine Inch Nails multiple times. He has quite a resume.
@@ACinematicMind I knew it that name but only now I realize who is him. His name was familiar since I create cirque’s musicians timeline
Excited for more! I don’t know much about the shows other than the VHS and other reproductions I’ve randomly scene over the years, so happy to sort of get a historical and critical grounding!
I love cirque du soleil. But le cirque reinvente and Nouvelle experience is my favorite show❤❤❤
When Nouvelle experience and cirque reinvente episodes?
We want more videos! Talk about the shows from the golden age and what you think is wrong with the new ones. Also, don’t you think KA and specially Varekai could be considered golden age, if not in time at least in style?
Good stuff!
Just found your series by chance. I consider myself a Cirque du Soleil “Freak” / “passionate fan” since I saw Alegria back in 98 with 12 years old... so I would look forward to see and comment every episode of your series. Thanks for your work.
Last week, after seen Alegria in a new Light, I was discussing with my wife If Cirque had lost it’s “Magic” or it’s just me that I “grow up” and I compare every show with what I consider “Cirque best ages” (form Saltimbanco to La Nouba). As you point in this first video, we talk about the productions, not the artists. I also consider that the only Director who has recovered some of "that magic" and whose shows stand out from the rest after the "Dragone era" is Daniel Finzi Pasca. What do you think?
Thanks for your comment. I actually was planning on showing the Daniele does seem to have the closest style to Dragone, so we are in agreement!
Love this video but how have you watched all of these shows so many times in person
Thanks!
Well I used to live near the show in Orlando (La Nouba) and then for several years my work took me to Las Vegas 3-4 times per year, so I’d catch them in the evenings.
The rest was me going out to my watch to catch them when they were nearby.
Bro really touching what you said about Franco Dragone. I'm the son of Franco
@@LookaLoopa you are an honored guest on this channel!