Cirque du Soleil's 'Corteo' returns to Atlanta this year

BY MELISSA RUGGIERI/AJC Music Scene

The Cirque du Soleil arena production, “Corteo,” will visit Infinite Energy Arena this summer for a run of seven performances.

The production premiered in Montreal in April 2005 and has since played 64 cities in 19 countries. The Aug. 29-Sept. 2 performances mark a return of “Corteo” to Atlanta (it first played the Grand Chapiteau in Atlantic Station in 2006). Tickets, priced at $43-$139, will go on sale at 10 a.m. May 25 at cirquedusoleil.com/corteo.

Advance tickets are available online now for Cirque Club members. Visit www.cirqueclub.com for more information.

The show, which has been reconfigured for an arena setting, is named for the Italian word meaning “cortege,” which is a ceremonial procession. The theme of “Corteo” – as much as Cirque productions have a theme – features a clown who pictures his own funeral taking place in a carnival atmosphere and is watched over by angels.

The cast of “Corteo” includes 51 acrobats, musicians, singers and actors.