MJ: The Immortal World Tour comes to Beijing
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E-mail CNTV, August 11, 2013
Michael Jackson was one of the first Western artists to be embraced by Chinese people in the early 1980s. Yet the late superstar never had the chance to perform live on the Chinese mainland. The internationally acclaimed Cirque du Soleil have gone some way to change that, bringing their tribute to the singer to Beijing.
A fusion of acrobatics, dance, music, and reincarnating an icon. The Cirque du Soleil immerses audiences in the legacy of Michael Jackson. Even without the man himself, the hits ring out. Every hit song is of course accompanied by a dance routine.
The show chronologically charts Michael Jackson’s career, from the Jackson Five through to his very last hits. And with that the audience feels the mood shifting from euphoria, through to anger then hope. A particular crowd-pleaser is the "Smooth Criminal/Dangerous" mix.
The evening was naturally tinged with sadness for many. "Michael would be 55 if he were still with us. And this show is such a wonderful way to remember him. I’m really thrilled to be here," an audience said.
There is something for everyone, even if you are not a Michael fan. The show presents an entertaining experience using cutting-edge technology and an elaborate set.
The Cirque du Soleil don’t do things by halves when it comes to production values. Four jumbo jets are required to carry the crew, costumes and props. In Europe, the production tours in a staggering 39 trucks. The troupe even carries its own washing machines and driers to take care of the more than 250 costumes.
Audiences can always expect something larger than life in a Cirque Du Soleil show, especially when in the Immortal World Tour. These iconic gangster jackets from MJ’s hit "smooth criminal" is just one sign that the Cirque Du Soleil think big and their enthusiasm for jaw-dropping production values won’t disappoint.
Among the wealth of props used in the show is a nearly two-metre tall white spangled glove along with a giant pair of penny loafers - the ultimate trademarks of Michael Jackson.
"All Cirque Du Soleil shows are really big and over the top. When you have a giant group like Cirque Du Soleil mixing with a megastar like MJ. This is what you get. It’s huge. It’s a giant undertaking to set these things up in as many places we’ve gone with it over the last two and a half years," said the head of props Bryan Blumeyer.
The Immortal World Tour premiered in Montreal in October 2011 in a partnership with the estate of Michael Jackson. The show is currently one of the largest touring shows in the world.
Dancer and acrobat Giulia Piolanti has been touring with the troupe since the beginning.
"The music of MJ is like a book, reading a book. Watching the show is like reading his history through his songs. And the magic of the Cirque is to make his songs alive with dance on stage," Piolanti said.
But for those who are expecting dare-devil routines might be disappointed. The music and dancing of Michael Jackson are definitely the star of the show here, with the Cirque du Soleil’s usual jaw-dropping moves relegated to second place.
Michael Jackson: The Immortal World Tour runs till Sunday in the capital before it heads to Shanghai and Hong Kong later this month.
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