Move over, Ringling Brothers, the Finnish contemporary circus Circo Aereo is coming to Brigham Young University's de Jong Concert Hall Tuesday, Feb. 15, at 7:30 p.m. in the de Jong Concert Hall.
The troupe will be performing its acclaimed “Espresso” production, featuring four artists who create scenes and stories, earthbound and in mid-air, through the art of juggling, dance and aerials. Tickets range in price from $11 to $21 for students, $15 to $25 for alumni and senior citizens and $18 to $28 for the public and are available from byuarts.com/tickets or (801) 422-4322.
Under the direction of Maksim Komaro and Jani Nuutinen, Finland’s Circo Aereo is widely recognized throughout Europe as a pioneer of New Circus. This beautiful “theatre without words” mixes traditional circus arts such as juggling and aerial work.
Performers for the group’s tour at BYU include Ilona Jäntti, Antoni Klemm, Maksim Komaro and Denis Paumier. The event will also feature jugglers from Les Objets Volants, a group that mixes juggling with humor, movement and theatre .
Critics call Circo Aereo’s modern performance “a sparkling tribute to the circus” (Le Figaro, France), “half circus, half cabaret” (Le Monde, France) and “a treasure chest full of the things of which circus is made, filled with beautiful sights, meticulous joint efforts and inventive surprises” (Helsingin Sanomat, Finland).
Currently one of the most active Finnish groups in terms of performing abroad, Circo Aereo has become one of the flagships of Finnish cultural exports by producing theater with a profoundly human touch. Active since 1996, the group has visited several distinguished festivals and theaters in more than 20 countries. Circo Aereo's barrier-breaking and open approach to the various forms of the performing arts mesmerizes and astonishes audiences around the world.
For more information about this circus, contact Ken Crossley at (801) 422-9348 or ken_crossley@byu.edu. View more information about Circo Aereo at circoaereo.net and about Les Objets Volants at lesobjetsvolants.com.
Writer: Philip Volmar
