Thanks to Allied for coordinating media passes to Corteo. All thoughts are my own.

Have you ever wondered what it's like to attend a clown's funeral? I'd never given a single thought to what a clown's funeral might look like, but that's exactly what the world of Cirque Du Soleil brings to audiences all over the world in CORTEO. Corteo, the latest Cirque du Soleil’s arena production, embark on a new journey throughout North America.

CORTEO's big premiere night in Charlotte


We spent last night 'under the big top,' completely mesmerized, delighted, and amazed by the sights and sounds of the world of Corteo. We had a (nearly) front row seat for this incredible performance and were wowed from start to finish. Having last attended QUIDAM a few years ago, I had high expectations for last night's premiere. Cirque Du Soleil surely didn't disappoint, as my husband and I watched, and were pulled into the beauty, excitement, and wonder of what was happening on the stage.

Corteo performers wow on the horizontal bars.

 From aerial artists gracefully dancing through hanging chandeliers to daring acts of bravery on free-standing ladders, we were on the edge of our seats the entire evening. We were charmed and laughed right along with Mauro, the lead character, who was looking down on and at some points, participating in his own funeral. I resisted biting my nails as tumblers jumped and swung, showing us their precision and strength. We marveled at the beauty of carefully choreographed mid-air dances, the gravity-defying grace of the ring spinners, and the humorous touch of the Clowness, who soars above the audience with a little lift from larger than life balloons, engaging spectators and encouraging audience participation.

The music is another reason to see this incredible show! My husband and I loved the live musicians- playing everything from drums to cello, bass, guitar, and accordion. The vocalists were phenomenal, and we would have stayed and listened to them sing all night! The female vocalist almost had my jaw on the floor as I watched her twirl mid-air, dangling from suspended vertical scarves while singing live! Absolutely stunning! The newer acts that have been added to CORTEO since it first debuted are amazing, and give Cirque fans a reason to see this show again! The costumes, makeup, the set, the music, and the stunning performances make this a must-see show. It's perfect for the whole family!


About Corteo

The show will visit Charlotte at the Spectrum Center, from August 8 to 12, 2018 for a limited run of seven performances. This unique production, directed by Daniele Finzi Pasca, first premiered in Montreal under the Big Top in April 2005. Since then, the show has been a great success and has amazed 8 million people in 64 cities in 19 countries on four continents.

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

The clown pictures his own funeral taking place in a carnival atmosphere, watched over by quietly caring angels. Juxtaposing the large with the 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 turns lyrical and playful carrying Corteo through a timeless celebration in which illusion teases reality.

The concept and disposition of the stage bring the audience in a theatrical atmosphere like never seen before in Cirque du Soleil arena shows. The set curtains, inspired by the Eiffel Tower, and the central curtains, which were hand-painted, give a grandiose feel to the stage. This sets the tone for the poetry of Corteo.

The cast of Corteo includes 51 acrobats, musicians, singers and actors from all around the world.

Take a look at what you can expect from Corteo

Show Schedule

Wednesday, August 8, 2018 – 7:30 pm

Thursday, August 9, 2018 – 7:30 pm

Friday, August 10, 2018 – 7:30 pm

Saturday, August 11, 2018 – 3:30 pm & 7:30 pm

Sunday, August 12, 2018 – 1:00 pm & 5:00 pm

Plan your Corteo experience

Tickets are available at cirquedusoleil.com/corteo.