Cirque Du Soleil: Experience the Mesmerizing Music of Varekai

Music is a universal language. For Filipinos, the love for music is in their bloodstream as proven by their rich musical heritage. All over the world, it will not be a surprise to find Filipino singers and instrumentalists who exude excellent musicality. When they watch shows, on the big screen or on stage, they know the value music plays in every scene. It can stimulate the right emotions and make a tear fall at the right moment. It can make you leave the theater in disgust or humming to a tune. In other words, music can make or break your theater experience.

Cirque du Soleil believes in this same principle when it comes to all their shows. The music is very important because it is one of the elements that guide the audience through the emotions of the show.

Unlike musical theater or opera, the music in a Cirque du Soleil production needs to follow what is happening on stage and not the other way around. To do so, the band leader, the musicians, the singers and the sound staff are in constant communication via headsets and microphones.

Every Cirque du Soleil show, except when it is a tribute to an artist, has its own original music specifically written for that show. The music for Varekai, composed by Violaine Corradi is inspired or influenced by the vast repertoire of world music. Each piece seems to evoke a meeting or juxtaposition of different cultures, which are not always identifiable. She combined the sounds of Hawaiian ritual, the songs of 11th-century troubadours from the south of France, traditional Armenian melodies and gospel music with contemporary arrangements to conjure up the unique musical universe of Varekai. Denise Dion, the show’s band leader shares,

“The music of Varekai is energetic and happy. It has a lot of rhythm and intensity. There are many colors to the music which creates a very special atmosphere for the show.”

The live music is performed by a 7-piece band including the bandleader who plays the keyboards, second keyboard player, drummer, percussionist, bassist, violinist and a wind instruments player, plus 2 singers—one male (The Patriarch) and one female (The Muse).

Cirque du Soleil searches the world to find the perfect singers to interpret the music of Varekai. Dion says, “Yes, Cirque du Soleil does travel around the world to find all the artists and musicians for our shows. The male singer from Varekai is American and the female singer is originally from Italy but resides in Quebec.”

According to Isabelle Corradi who plays The Muse, she interprets the character as one who “lives in the realm of the angels and comes to the land of Varekai knowing what will happen. She brings love and harmony to the tribe and the essence of her character is like air and water flowing around the tribe which is reflected in her choreography. She floats around the tribe bringing light and love with graceful, luminous movement.”

Singing the music of Varekai is not easy an easy task adds Isabelle, who is already a veteran with Cirque du Soleil having previously lent her voice to Alegria and Saltimbanco: “The music of Varekai is very difficult. You must be very conscious of what you’re doing. There are many elements that make it challenging such as the precision you must approach the songs with, and even the costume. The vocal range itself is also difficult.”

The singers also need rehearsals and warm-up sessions to make sure they do justice to the songs show after show after show. Isabelle, for one, meditates, visualizes, stretches, does something physical like swimming or yoga, eats well, warms up the voice and does breath work. “I spend the whole day incorporating the voice, body and breath.”

Since the songs are not in any recognizable languages, the singers had to learn the ‘language’ the songs are written in. Isabelle adds, “Everything is written with a reason. For example, the vowels are placed specifically for the voice to go through.” It is to her advantage that she finds similarities in Varekai’s music to some of her favorite artists such as Kate Bush, Peter Gabriel, Annie Lennox and Sting.

The audiences of Varekai will have something to look forward to; not only the jaw-dropping acts, eye-popping costumes, amazing set, thrilling choreography but also the mesmerizing music that blends everything into one perfect show. For tickets, visit www.hoopla.ph or www.cirquedusoleil.com. For inquiries, call 775-0939, 881-0947, 0919-4508125 and 0917-4436463.