CNN interview with Sheldon Adelson, chairman of the Las Vegas Sands; home to Cirque Du Soleil’s ZAIA show. We will have more news regarding Adelson and Cirque within the next month or so.
November 12, 2009 was the celebration for the 500th performance of the ZAIA show by Cirque Du Soleil in Macau, China. Cirque founder Guy Laliberte flew in for the performance and toasted the artists and crew. Family and friends were also invited for the occasion.
Conrad Askland and Guy Laliberte
Conrad Askland (ZAIA keyboards and assistant bandleader) and Guy Laliberte.
Chinese Opera filmed May 1, 2009 on Coloane Island, Macau (SAR) China. These performances every year on Taipa Island (Macau, China) also. I’ve stood by the musician pit many times to watch them play and it’s fascinating. I have to admit I cringe a little when the Chinese opera sopranos start singing, but I’m starting to acquire a taste for the male voices.
Indian movie stars at the “green carpet” outside the ZAIA Cirque Du Soleil Theater in Macau, China at the Sands Venetian June 11, 2009. The Bachchan family, as well as other dazzling stars, are greeted on the green carpet for the 10th Annual IIFA awards in Macau.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IMpKaO5gQ5A
In this “part one” video you will also see some photo shots of Cirque Du Soleil “ZAIA” artists.
The Videocon IIFA 2009 awards will be televised from the Venetian Macau June 11-13, 2009. This award for the Indian film industry is popularly called the “Bollywood Awards”. Artists from Cirque Du Soleil’s ZAIA show will perform during the ceremony. I am told these awards are televised to 300-500 million people worldwide.
Yes, this is a pretty big deal. I don’t know when the ceremonies are aired in the USA but I’ll add info to this post if I find out before the airing. We’ll have extra shows of Cirque Du Soleil’s ZAIA for attendees of the event – and you can bet that the artists are working VERY hard right now to prepare for this presentation, in addition to their regular show schedule.
And did you know Cirque Du Soleil’s 25th Anniversary is the middle of June 2009? Things are jumping at the Venetian Macau in June!
Gondoliers of the Venetian in Macau (SAR) China, March 2009. You can take a ride with them and be serenaded on the second floor of the Venetian by the retail shops.
Kung Hei Fat Choy 2009 (Happy Chinese New Year) from the cast of ZAIA. 2009 is the Year of the Ox. Macau will be a crazy one week party starting the week of January 26 2009 for the week long Chinese New Year celebrations.
Around 1996 I was in Tokyo for New Years Eve celebrations with monks ringing gigantic bells with wooden rams. But this is my first CHINESE New Years in China. Techs of Cirque’s ZAIA show were here for the 2008 Fat Choy, but this is the first one for artists of Zaia. We’ve been told “Macau will shut down” during the holiday week.
We’ve all been given red envelopes with the ZAIA embossed logo to fill with money and give to locals for good luck; another traditiion of Chinese New Years. Our work week includes 11 shows for the celebrations, along with many special mini performances around the Venetian in Macau. Anyone know where I can buy some fireworks?
Macau Business Magazine has a chilling front page article in their December 2008 issue called “You’re Fired – Expat Exodus” about the mass exodus of Expats working in Macau. You can read the original article at: http://www.macaubusiness.com/index.php?id=1451
Overview from Macau Business Magazine The wave of lay-offs that has hit the expat community has left a bad taste in the mouth. The whiff of betrayal is in the air and for many, there will be no coming back.
Two recent articles on the global economy impact on the Venetian Macau and the Las Vegas Sands Corporation. I will decline my own commentary at this time.