Wings: Backstage With Cirque Du Soleil!!! [Hardcover]

Guy Laliberte (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1892041103 | ISBN-13: 978-1892041104 | Publication Date: December 30, 1899

Wings presents the work of Veronique Vial, Parisian-born photographer who, for years, has been candidly documenting Cirque du Soleil, the world renowned circus of mystery and illusion. Cirque du Soleil is dedicated to bravely reinventing the circus and to introducing popular audiences to the rich history of this medieval performance medium. Over the previous decade the company has performed for millions of people throughout the world. Taken while on tour and behind the scenes, Vial's photographs show a more personal side of the circus performers as they prepare themselves for the "big top." Vial's photographs reveal all the pageantry and spirit for which this band of performers has come to be recognized, while giving us an intimate view of the diverse personalities that have made this troupe so famous. Eighty-three photographs are sumptuously reproduced in this superbly illustrated and beautifully designed book.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Who hasn't reveled in the dream of running away to join the circus? This collection of stunning photographs will delight and inspire anyone who has always wanted to cast away the day-to-day and fly through dark and twinkling skies, defying gravity (and other rules). Photographer Veronique Vial has captured the essence of the circus immemorial. In the 83 black-and-white plates, we are privy to the world of the performers, some still in character and some not, some in a nonchalant mood while others playfully engage the camera. The images--strange, beautiful, and spectacular--epitomize the allure of the Cirque du Soleil. Turning the pages, one can hear the music filling the tent, and feel the awe and anticipation of the performance. --Elise Tissot

About the Author

Veronique Vial was born in Paris, France and moved to Los Angeles in 1989. Her first celebrity portraits appeared in A Day in the Life of Hollywood (HarperCollins, 1991). The photographer for the famed circus troupe Cirque du Soleil, Vial's first monograph Cirque du Soleil (Rizzoli, 1993) enjoyed enormous success. Wings will be released Spring 1999 and follows the photographer's critically acclaimed books of celebrity portraits, Women Before Ten (PowerHouse, 1998) and Men Before Ten (Beyond Words, 1996).

Product Details

• Hardcover: 151 pages
• Publisher: Arena Editions (December 30, 1899)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1892041103
• ISBN-13: 978-1892041104
• Product Dimensions: 12.1 x 9.6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,608,103 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Wings, January 11, 2000

By 

"binkleysm" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Wings: Backstage With Cirque Du Soleil!!! (Hardcover)

I have loved Cirque since I saw Mystere several years ago and hoped seeing the 'behind the scenes' photos in Wings would offer more insight into the beauty of Cirque. I was slightly disappointed that all of the photos are B&W. Cirque is incredibly colorful and to leave out the color in the name of art seems almost sinful. The book covers Mystere, Quidam, Saltimbanco, and New Experience, so if you are hoping to see O, Dralion, Allegria or La Nouba, I'm afraid you won't. Even with these negatives, the book is still very interesting and offers up many beautiful images of cirque performers before and after their performances.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Beauty of Cirque du Soleil, December 26, 2000

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Wings: Backstage With Cirque Du Soleil!!! (Hardcover)

Let me start by saying that the photography that this book exhibits is fantasticly Cirque. Vial has conveyed the surrealism of some of Cirque's better shows. Mystere being my personal favorite, i immediately began look for photographs from the show. I only found a few, which was a little disappointing. However, other shows are well documented. i have mixed feelings about the use of only black and white prints. Since Cirque is so colorful ot seems strange to leave this important aspect out. However, on the whole the book is a nice brush of Cirque for fans, clowns, or anyone with a spark of imagination.

3 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "Wings": Backstage With Cirque Du Soleil!, December 15, 1999

By 

JC Obando (Los Angeles, California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Wings: Backstage With Cirque Du Soleil!!! (Hardcover)

There's not many expressions of pure art this times. "wings" reflects what Cirque Du Soleil is all about "LOVE FOR PURE ART" simple, romantic and with lots of great emotional pictures that communicate the passion of performing language.