Cirque du Soleil returns to Portugal with Corteo

Lisbon: Corteo is a one-of-a-kind production, written and directed by the brilliant Daniele Finzi Pasca. Premiering for the first time in Montreal under the Grande Chapiteau in April 2005, Corteo has already enchanted more than 9 million spectators in 22 countries on 4 continents.

Corteo, which means procession in Italian, is a joyous procession, a festive parade imagined by Mauro the Dreamer clown. The show brings together the passion of the actor with the grace and power of the acrobat to immerse the audience in a theatrical world of fun, comedy and spontaneity set in a mysterious space between heaven and earth.

The clown pictures his own funeral taking place in a carnival atmosphere, watched over silently by caring angels. Juxtaposing large with small, the ridiculous with the tragic, and the magic of perfection with the charm of imperfection, the show highlights the strength and fragility of the clown, as well as his wisdom and kindness, to illustrate the portion of humanity that is within each of us. The music both lyrical and playful, carries Corteo through a timeless celebration in which illusion teases reality.

This unmissable show brings an international cast and crew, representing more than 18 nationalities with performers from Argentina, Armenia, Belarus, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Finland, France, Hungary, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Romania, Russia, United Kingdom, Ukraine, United States and Uzbekistan.

For the first time at Cirque du Soleil, the stage is central to the arena and divides the venue, with each half of the audience facing the other half, providing a unique perspective not only of the show but also of an artist’s view of the audience. An atmosphere never before seen in Cirque du Soleil’s arena shows. The scenery’s curtains, inspired by the Eiffel Tower, and the central curtains, hand-painted, lend a grand air to the stage, setting the tone for Corteo’s poetry.