Culture
What a celebration at Conelli!
Who needs Las Vegas when you have Conelli!
If you found the Conelli Circus amazing before, then wait until you see this year’s show! For their 30th Jubilee Conelli is bringing back only the best artists of the last thirty years. So how could someone new to Conelli or a returning guest be disappointed? With its first performance on Thursday night for its official VIP opening night the following Monday, Conelli is now ready for another year of Christmas circus celebration on the Bauschänzli Island.
The Conelli red tent with its bright stars located near the Limmat has not always been there. When Conny Gasser, started the circus in 1982, the performances were at Bellevue near the Zurich Opera House. Conny Gasser named the circus after himself and a decade later moved it to the island. It became really popular over the years and beloved by the people of Zurich.
Conelli dancers at the Conelli circus for their 30th anniversary – Copyright Vivamost
Who does not know Conelli? As Roby Gasser, the son of Conny and actual director of the circus said to me last year, “Conelli belongs to Zurich”.
Since the past five years it is Roby who runs the business with the help of his wife, his sons, sister and brother-in-law. His wife, Cindy, is a dancer and used to dance in Las Vegas. Jeremy and Tyron also work in the circus and you can see them often during the show. Jeremy plays the guitar in the Alex Maliszewski Big Band Orchestra. He has performed just like his older brother in the well-known circus, the Cirque de Monte Carlo.
The 2012 show called “Celebration” is a true celebration with quality circus acts, amazing dancing, music, light spectacles and remarquable decoration hanging on the ceiling. Everything is thought through carefully. You are constantly reminded the circus is celebrating its 30th!
The family Gasser is there to greet the guests and check out all details to make sure every guest has a special and unforgetable time. The manège is small, which makes the atmosphere so convivial. You are almost a part of the show.
Familly Gasser at Conelli circus – Copyright Vivamost
Who are the artists who transport you into another world for over two hours?
The artists of the twelve circus acts come from all over the world: Switzerland, Eastern Europe, Canada and Asia.
One of the friends of Roby Gasser is the Swiss juggler, Kristian Gaston Kremo known as Kris Kremo. Kremo has more than 40 years of experience. He is so famous having toured all around the world with his hats, balls, cigars and cigar boxes and performed in front of the queens and kings of Europe. He worked for many years at the Lido and at the Stardust Resort and Casino in Las Vegas. He came to Zurich with his beautiful, talented and graceful wife, Russian Yelena Larkina. The two met at the Cirque de Monte Carlo in 1995 and got married. The couple has two children. At Conelli, Yelena performed a spectacular show of Hula Hoop with at one time 30 rings. She got a silver medal at the 1985 Russian championships in rhythmic gymnastic.
Jelena Kremo (Yelena Larkina) at circus Conelli – Copyright Vivamost
Another artist, who came to Conelli last year, is the Swiss entertainer, Pino Gasparini. Pino has worked with famous stars such as Frank Sinatra, the Rolling Stones, Udo Jürgens and has toured with the Pepe Lienhard Band. He even went to the musical contest, the Euro-vision. This year again he will enchant you especially when he sings with the Conelli dancers.
The dancers perform quite often in the manège in between shows. They constantly change their costumes, which are colorful and beautiful. Sometimes you feel like you are back in time with the French Cancan or at the Lido in Paris and other time you feel like you are in the Orient. Cindy Gasser is responsible for choreography and training of the dancers.
Duo MainTenant at Conelli Circus – Copyright Vivamost
Other artists, who are back this year, are Iurie Basuil from Moldavia, Duo MainTenant, the Farellos, Sea World, Dominique Lacasse, Darkan, the Yunnan troupe, Dream Chasing in the Sky and of course the Swiss clowns and comedians Gaston and Roli.
Iurie Basuil was there for the 25th Jubilee. In 2012 he shows once more a stunning hand equilibrium’s circus act. The group Sea World from the Ukraine comes all dressed in water colors. They have been seen in the Cirque de Monte Carlo. Another artist, who performed in the Monte Carlo circus is the Canadian, Dominique Lecasse, known as the flagman. Dominique has long been the world record man of holding a human flag. A very acclaimed group at Conelli is Duo MainTenant, with Shenea Booth and Nicolas Bresnand. Together they give a powerful show and demonstrate their talent as dancers and acrobats. No wonder they won a prize at the Cirque de Demain in Paris!
No doubt after you see “Celebration” you will become a regular visitor of Conelli.
The end of the show with Jeremy Gasser and Conelli dancers – Copyright Vivamost
To book an afternoon, evening performance or gala dinner please click here or call the circus directly at +41 44 / 212 33 33.