Aristotle and Rules of Greek Tragedy

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ze_SKWrHrjY

This video on “How to Write an Opera” is not extremely useful, but it DID lead me to Aristotle and the Rules of Greek Tragedy. These “rules” might now be considered common sense by the avid theater goer or content creator. I never studied theater formally at the university so this historical background was new and interesting to me.

Before the essay below on Aristotle and an overview of Greek drama (essay written in 1927), I’d like to highlight my favorite portions of Aristotle’s view of drama and theater that I consider still very relevant today:

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Daniel Lamarre – Cirque Du Soleil

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YS7NHktfyEw

Happened to see this interview with Daniel Lamarre of Cirque Du Soleil and noticed the interview takes place in the Green Room of our ZAIA theater in Macau, China. It looks like they were still doing construction so I’m guessing this interview is from mid-2008 before the show opened.

Here is another interview with Daniel Lamarre which I would guess is at the beginning of the 2008 recession where he talks about Cirque’s visions to navigate through that time.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iinPELvQHm0

Cirque Performer Dies of Injuries

A sad day today for our Cirque family. This is the first time a Cirque artist has died while rehearsing/performing their discipline. Here in Macau at the ZAIA show it’s very quiet today. Artists are thinking of the family and their pain, as I’m sure artists in other Cirque shows worldwide are also doing today.

The Canadian Press
Date: Saturday Oct. 17, 2009 8:18 PM ET

MONTREAL — A Cirque du Soleil performer, who fell off a trampoline during a training session Friday, has died of his injuries. The company said Oleksandr Zhurov (Sacha) died in a Montreal hospital Saturday.

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Cirque du soleil performer suffers head trauma after fall

cirque-ovo

Performers take part in the closing act during a Cirque du Soleil OVO pre-opening show for family, friends and members of the media Wednesday, July 29, 2009 in Quebec City. A Cirque du soleil performer was injured after a fall on Friday.

(Jacques Boissinot / THE CANADIAN PRESS) The Canadian Press Date: Friday Oct. 16, 2009 2:34 PM ET MONTREAL — A Cirque du soleil performer was rushed to hospital with head injuries Friday morning after falling off a trampoline. The 24-year-old performer was doing exercises for the world-famous circus when the incident happened.

Emergency-services workers say the man was unconscious when they arrived on the scene, and they rushed him to hospital. The performer’s condition in hospital is not yet known. The incident happened at a Montreal facility where the international troupe rehearses for shows. Cirque du soleil spokesmen were not immediately available for comment.

Violaine Corradi on the Music of Zaia

violaine-corradi-zaia

This is an interview by Keith Johnson (Seattle, Wa – USA) of “Cirque Fascination” with the music composer of Cirque Du Soleil’s ZAIA show, Violaine Corradi. I hope Keith will not mind me posting the full article here on my blog for three reasons:

  1. I will include a link to his original ezine article here: Corradi Zaia Interview
  2. I am quoted in the article with comments mined from my blog. (Which I think is very cool).
  3. Many people come to my blog here for info on Zaia, and they may also be interested in following Keith’s ezine “Cirque Fascination”. (Follow the article link).

As assistant bandleader for Zaia and in writing the string arrangements for the Hong Kong Symphony on the Zaia album – I’ve had the pleasure of working very closely with composer Corradi. Because of Violaine and Cirque’s influence, terms that are now part of my regular music vocabulary include “organic”, “cosmic”, “evoke”, “provoke”.

Thank you Keith for the wonderfully detailed article. Even being in the middle of all of it, I learned quite a bit from the article! And now for the Cirque music buffs – read and enjoy….

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Space Odyssey: Clown’s first performance

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3cdxpZHYc6I

A Soyuz spacecraft has brought Canadian circus tycoon and space tourist Guy Laliberte to the International Space Station.

The current ISS team welcomed the unusual passenger along with Russian cosmonaut Maxim Suraev and American astronaut Jeffrey Williams.
Laliberte says he is going to create a festive mood in orbit and amuse his crew mates – he even brought along red noses for them.