Cirque du Soleil

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Grand
Chapiteau

Musique

Alegría
CDSMC-10007

Composer /// René Dupéré

Run Time (61:28)

   01: "Alegría"............. (5:47)
   02: "Vai Vedrai".......... (4:33)
   03: "Kalandéro"........... (5:16)
   04: "Querer".............. (4:34)
   05: "Irna"................ (4:46)
   06: "Taruka".............. (5:32)
   07: "Jeux d'enfants"...... (4:40)
   08: "Mirko"............... (5:03)
   09: "Icare"............... (7:25)
   10: "Ibis"................ (6:20)
   11: "Valsapena"........... (4:06)
   12: "Nocturne"............ (3:08)

[ Liner Notes • CD Review • Release History ]

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Production Notes

We have no illusions. The children of the street will not see Alegría. Laughter is still a luxury they cannot afford. Tonight, our cries of joy will become screams of rage that millions of young hearts will again freeze in the gutters of our good will. May Alegría be a rallying cry for those of us who have a voice.

Produced by — robbi finkel // Assisted by — rené dupéré // Arrangements — rené dupéré, robbi finkel // Additional Orchestrations — robbi finkel // Progamming of Synthesizers and Electronic Percussion — rené dupéré

Dutch Robinson, Joey Sommerville courtesy of Michael Williams Comm.

Recorded and Mixed by — rob heaney // Recorded at — studio st-vincent, studio victor, Montréal // Assistants — richard mischook, luc pellerin // Mixed at — studio st-vincent, Montréal. studio a.r.p., Ste-Anne-des-Lacs // Assistant — richard mischook // Mastering — bill kipper, Disques SNB, Montréal // Digital Editing — michel gauvin

Photographer — al seib // Illustrator — michel-thomas poulin // Graphic Design — cirque du soleil inc. // Producer — cirque du soleil musique inc. // Executive Producer — daniel aumais

Show Director — franco dragone

Song Credits

ALEGRIA - { Credit }

VAI VEDRAI - { Credit }

KALANDERO - { Credit }

QUERER - { Credit }

IRNA - { Credit }

TARUKA - { Credit }

JEUX D'ENFANTS - { Credit }

MIRKO - { Credit }

ICARE - { Credit }

IBIS - { Credit }

VALSAPENA - { Credit }

NOCTURNE - { Credit }

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Text by: Paul Roberts | December 2001
Fascination! Newsletter, Issue #4

Read

"There's a Love in me Raging"

Alegría is Cirque du Soleil's most sensitive show. If you analyze the show's theme, several interpretations can be revealed: a love story, the new replacing the old, light versus dark. The music also expresses several emotional levels as the textures follow the dynamic storyline. The soundtrack has gone platinum twice in Canada and was on Billboard Magazine's hit parade for 55 weeks in the World Music category, which almost always includes one or two Cirque du Soleil soundtracks. The song "Alegría" was also nominated for a Grammy Award in the Best Instrumental Arrangement with Accompanying Vocal(s) category. To date, this is Cirque du Soleil's most successful soundtrack. With good reason.

The show's opening theme "Mirko" includes a 2/4 time signature that provides a traditional circus feel with brass and accordion. During the opening, the performers introduce themselves by running around the stage as vocalist Francesca Gagnon (who left the show, but made a cameo comeback appearance for the filming of the show), reveals her powerful vocal chords. Adorned in a white hoop-skirt outfit, she is known as The White Singer and her voice could rival the best of any opera singer.

The overall structure of Alegría's music combines new world and old world. Synthesizers play a significant role along with the usual guitar, bass, and drums. But leave it to composer René Dupéré to include an unusual instrument in the song "Vai Vedrai." The musical saw, played by Rodrique "Chocolat" Tremblay, is just like a saw used to cut a plank of timber, but is played with a violin bow while bending the blade to change the pitch. The saws' wailing resonance is similar to chilling sound effects used in classic horror films. "Vai Vedrai" accompanies the Double Trapeze act and also features an accordion and a string ensemble. Francesca provides a passionate wide-range vocal line, sung in Italian. The graceful words roll off her tongue like the trapeze artists spinning in the air. Unfortunately, the saw is not included in the live version (probably for safety reasons).

Following "Vai Vedrai" on the soundtrack is "Kalandéro" where René offers his vocal talents with Dutch Robinson and Maria Ravetti. This song uses an imaginary language that is a staple of Cirque du Soleil music, but the three singers are over-dubbed repeatedly to sound like a massive choir. Heavy synthetic bass and staccato keyboard sounds are punctuated with a battery of drums and percussion. The song ends with a round of chanting voices that revolve from speaker to speaker - a nice headphone sensation.

Next is "Querer" which is a tender piece, sung in Spanish that highlights Francesca's vocals. When she hits the high notes during the chorus, the hairs on my neck stand at attention! I think "Querer" is the most romantic of all Cirque du Soleil songs and should be listened to by candlelight with the one you love. The live version, however, is shortened and given a drum cadence that sounds war-like. It is basically a set-up song prior to the High Bar act and I wish this charming song had remained unchanged live, as it seems to be so representative of emotional love.

Accompanying the powerful Fast Track act is the song "Irna" that includes a synthesizer bass line with the other instruments intertwining with the basic theme. On the CD, a brass section offers an off-beat blast that is uncommon for Cirque du Soleil music. During the show, the "Irna" frenzy halts and the fast track becomes a ballet track with the song "Valspena" that once again features a passionate vocal performance by Francesca. Joining The White Singer for the first time is her alter ego, The Black Singer, played by Eve Montpetit. Their harmony on this beautiful theme is spine tingling. But, just as the listener is lulled into a trance, "Irna" returns with more power to complete the Fast Track act's climax.

"Taruka" is one of my favorite René Dupéré compositions, featuring a gliding bass line supporting Asian instrument- like sounds. This song is used with the Contortion act and a majority of the piece has an airy, dreamy atmosphere. But after a fife and drum cadence, a violin joins the theme along with a powerful drum beat to highlight the performers' accomplishments.

"Jeux d'efants" includes a lightning-fast accordion riff that would be perfect for the background in a Popeye the Sailorman episode. It is playful little ditty with a nasal-tone "la la la" vocal line. The main theme carries on with brass and orchestra that includes background sound effects revealing a comedic mood. A perfect Clown act accompaniment.

In the song "Icare" an energetic combination of sequenced synthesizer, tympani, and violin illustrates an anxious feeling. The song compliments the High Bar act as the dynamics follow the intensity and apprehension of the air acrobats soaring through the air, to be trustingly caught by the swinging porters. On the soundtrack, a violin plays the main melody while the drums provide a thunderous underscore. As the acrobats jump onto the safety net, the theme and tempo swell to symbolize a successful conclusion. The audience can now take a deep breath.

With the sound of wind, which appears often in Alegría, "Ibis" features an eerie organ followed by a vocal line that is reminiscent of a sea sirens' wail. The song starts off slowly but eventually picks up steam when a harpsichord triggers the uplifting. The fading end features an electric guitar and violin trading chilling solos that advances to another breath of wind. The wind carries on to "Valspena" that was mentioned during the Fast Track act above.

The soundtracks' closing song, "Nocturne" features an unusual format of double bass and electric bass, played by long- time Cirque musician, Marc Langis, who also played on le Film soundtrack. The bass lines provide the key melody and rhythm for the song. Jazz musician Joey Sommerville contributes some tasty flugelhorn riffs that sound like they are being played in a vast cavern. Live, this song accompanies the famous Windstorm act and fulfills the sad emotions felt by the lonely and cold floune.

And finally the title track, which closes the show features a memorable melody line sung in three languages: Italian, Spanish, and English. Ironically, the first version I heard was from the "Alegría Le Film" soundtrack that has a calypso-like feel. Le Film's vocalist Irene Marc sings a wonderful rendition, but when I finally heard the original version, I found it hard to believe they were the same song. It only took a couple of listenings to realize that the original version had become one of my favorite Cirque du Soleil songs. Even though an abbreviated "Algeria" completes the live show, the melody remains in the mind long after the curtain closes. After all, "Alegría" was created to celebrate the tenth anniversary of this wonderful company. The closing verse sums it all up: "Alegría; a joyous magical feeling."

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Alternate Visuals

Audio Package
{ Original Cover }

Brisa Tin
{ Tin Cover }

{ Alternate Cover }

{ 2005 Cover }

Edition Info

RCA/Victor {1994-2002}
Released: September 27, 1994 (CAN) Released: October 11, 1994 (USA)

	• Catalog #: 09026-62701-2 [ADD] • UPC: 0-9026-62701-2-5
	• Catalog #: 09026-62701-4 • UPC: 0-90266-27014-9

Brisa (Tin) {2000}
Released: 2000

• Catalog #: 101A01 (GER)
• UPC: NONE

Cirque du Soleil Musique {2004+}
Released: July 20, 2004
Re-Release: May 26, 2009 (25th Anniv)

	• Catalog #: CDSMC-10007-2 (CAN) • UPC: 8-74751-00007-3
	• Catalog #: CDSMC-20007-2 (USA) • UPC: 8-74751-00003-5
	• Catalog #: JTR 8550-2 (CAN) • UPC: 0-68944-85502-5 [25th Anniv]