Difference between revisions of "Main Page"

Revision as of 22:44, 24 December 2017 (view source) Djando (Talk | contribs) ← Older edit		Revision as of 21:32, 1 September 2018 (view source) Djando (Talk | contribs) Newer edit →
(146 intermediate revisions by the same user not shown)
Line 15:		Line 15:
	==In The Spotlight==		==In The Spotlight==
−	===ANATOLY DUROV===	+	===THE CIRCUSES OF MOSCOW===
−	[[File:Anatoly_Durov_Portrait.jpg|right|300px]]	+	[[File:Circus_Salamonsky_in_Moscow.jpg|right|450px]]Although the name ''Moscow Circus'' is familiar to the public all over the world, there has never been one specific “Moscow Circus” whose troupe toured internationally. The name was a generic term for the circus shows from the USSR traveling abroad during the Soviet Era. It has, over time, become synonymous with “Russian circus.” Yet, there are today (2017) two resident circuses in Moscow, Circus Nikulin on Tsvetnoy Boulevard, and the Bolshoi Circus (''bolshoi'' means ''big'', in Russian) on Vernadsky Avenue—and there have been indeed several others before them.
−	The Durovs are among Russia’s most prestigious circus dynasties. From the brothers Vladimir and Anatoly Durov, the founders of the circus dynasty, to a host of Anatolys, Vladimirs, Yurys, Natalias, and Terezas, all bearing the Durov name, they have given the Russian circus an impressive number of talented clowns, animal trainers, and entertainment entrepreneurs—and a few actors too.	+
−	In Soviet circus lore, Anatoly and Vladimir Durov are often associated with the Bolshevik revolution. As clown-satirists who took an anarchistic stance against the autocratic tsarist government, they became popular heroes in the waning decades of the Russian Empire. The Soviet regime, always eager to play the populist card, did not hesitate to claim them as its own.	+	The first circus built in Russia was established by the French equestrian Jacques Tourniaire, who settled in 1827 in what was then the Russian capital, St. Petersburg. The building, designed by the architect Smaragd Shustov and named ''Cirque Olympique'', was located near the Fontanka canal, practically where St. Petersburg’s Circus Ciniselli stands today. Tourniaire’s circus had only a short existence: it was bought back by the government of St. Petersburg in 1828 to be transformed into a theater. Still, the event didn’t fail to catch the attention of the Muscovites, who always took exception to the influence of Peter The Great’s Baltic capital.
−	In fact, however, Anatoly Durov—the more virulent of the two brothers—was opposed to any form of authority; it's reasonable to assume, therefore, that, had he lived to see it, he would have rejected the authority of the Soviet regime. As for Vladimir, who became an iconic figure in the Soviet era, he eventually gave up clowning, came to specialize in animal training, and just followed the path of political correctness. For the Durovs, like most popular entertainers of their time, were first and foremost intent on surviving and succeeding, whatever the regime and the circumstances. As a matter of fact, the Durov family's origins clashed with Soviet ideology.	+	The previous year, Tourniaire had exhibited his equestrian prowess in Moscow, in the manège of the Pashkov mansion (today the Russian State Library), on Mokhovaya Street. Another famous trick rider, Jacob Bates, had long preceded him in the former Russian capital, where he performed in 1864, and since then, Moscow had welcomed several equestrian companies—among which that of Pierre Mayheu, the famous Spanish rider, in 1790—but contrary to most European major cities, the great Russian metropolis didn’t have a permanent circus of its own.
−	Anatoly Leonidevich Durov was born on November 26, 1864 to a wealthy aristocratic family in Moscow. He was the fifth child and second son of Leonid Dmitrievich Durov (1832-67), a hereditary Lord from the Province of Moscow, who was an officer in the Moscow Police—a job he did more because he wanted to than because he had to. Anatoly’s brother, Vladimir Leonidevich (1863-1934), was his elder by a year.... ([[Anatoly Durov|more...]])	+	In 1830, Mikhail Zagoskin, a popular novelist who was Moscow’s Director of the Theaters, supported the creation of a summer circus in the Neskuchny Garden, on the banks of the Moskva River, southwest of central Moscow. The circus, which was probably a light wooden construction, lasted only three seasons. For the ensuing twenty years, Russian circus history was written exclusively in St. Petersburg: Although Moscow was still the commercial hub of Tsarist Russia, the giant city didn’t have yet the rich cosmopolitan atmosphere of the Russian capital, or its cultural diversity. ([[The Circuses Of Moscow|more...]])
	==New Biographies==		==New Biographies==
−	* [[The Owl and The Pussycat]], Trapeze Act	+	* [[Baptiste Loisset]], Circus Owner and Equestrian
−	* [[Walter Nones]], Circus Director, Animal Trainer	+	* [[The Kornilov Dynasty]], Elephant Trainers
−	* [[Norman Crider]], Juggler	+	* [[Sergei Korolev]], Acrobat
−	* [[Zhejiang Acrobatic Troupe]], Chinese Acrobatics	+	* [[Victor Fomine]], Acrobat, Circus Coach
−	* [[Gene Mendez]], High Wire Artist	+	* [[Annie Fratellini]], Clown, Circus Director
	==New Videos==		==New Videos==
−	* [[Aleksandr_Kiss_Video_(1970)|Aleksandr Kiss]], Juggler (1970)	+	* [[Tanya_Drobot_Video_(2018)|Tatyana Drobot]], Dog Act (2018)
−	* [[Pio_Nock_Video_(1954)|Pio Nock & Max Van Embden]], Clowns (1954)	+	* [[Thierry_Bouglione_Video_(c2010)|Thierry & Sandrine Bouglione]], Magic Act (c.2010)
−	* [[Vertical_Tango_Video_(2005)|Vertical Tango]], Chinese Pole (2005)	+	* [[Pellegrini_Video_(2016)|The Pellegrini Brothers]], Hand-to-Hand Balancing (2016)
−	* [[Sergey_Akimov_Video_(2005)|Sergey Akimov]], Aerial Straps (2005)	+	* [[Moira_Orfei_Video_(1991)|Moira Orfei]], Elephant Act (1991)
−	* [[Duo_Volkov_Video_(2001)|Duo Volkov]], Roman Rings (2001)	+	* [[Martin_Lacey_Video_(2000)|Martin Lacey, Jr.]], Lion Act (2000)
−	==Featured Oral Histories==	+	==New Oral Histories==
		+	* [[Rosa_Bouglione_Video_(2012)|Rosa Bouglione]]'s interview on Franch Television (2012)
		+	* [[Circo_Price_Video_(2017)|A Short History of Madrid's Old Circo Price]], Documentary (1970)
	* [[Anastasia_Dementieva_Video_(2017)|Anastasia Dementieva-Kornilova]] – Vadim Vernik Interview (2017)		* [[Anastasia_Dementieva_Video_(2017)|Anastasia Dementieva-Kornilova]] – Vadim Vernik Interview (2017)
	* [[Freres_Knie_Video_(1962)|''Les Frères Knie'']], Documentary (1962)		* [[Freres_Knie_Video_(1962)|''Les Frères Knie'']], Documentary (1962)
	* [[Jean_Richard_Video_(1979)|Jean Richard and Jean-Pierre Richard]] at the Cirque Jean Richard – Christian Boner Interview (1979)		* [[Jean_Richard_Video_(1979)|Jean Richard and Jean-Pierre Richard]] at the Cirque Jean Richard – Christian Boner Interview (1979)
−	* [[Buster_Keaton_Video_(1947)|Jérôme Medrano about Buster Keaton]] at the Cirque Medrano (1947)	+
−	* [[Moira_Orfei_Video_(2012)|Moira Orfei]], Circus Owner – Davide Maggio Interview (2012)	+	==New Circopedia Books==
		+
		+	* [[Circopedia Books|Philip Astley & The Horsemen who invented the Circus]], by Dominique Jando (2018)
	==A Message from the Editor==		==A Message from the Editor==

---

Revision as of 21:32, 1 September 2018

Welcome! ✫ Bienvenue! ✫ Willkommen! ✫ Добро Пожаловать! Bienvenida! ✫ Benvenuto! ✫ 歡迎 ! ✫ Vítejte! ✫ Καλώς ήρθατε! Üdvözöljük! ✫ Добре Дошли! ✫ Welkom! ✫ Ласкаво Просимо! Velkommen! ✫ Tervetuloa! ✫ Дабро Запрашаем! ✫ Välkommen! Circopedia was originally created with the support of the Big Apple Circus, and has been inspired and funded by the Shelley & Donald Rubin Foundation.

In The Spotlight

THE CIRCUSES OF MOSCOW

Although the name Moscow Circus is familiar to the public all over the world, there has never been one specific “Moscow Circus” whose troupe toured internationally. The name was a generic term for the circus shows from the USSR traveling abroad during the Soviet Era. It has, over time, become synonymous with “Russian circus.” Yet, there are today (2017) two resident circuses in Moscow, Circus Nikulin on Tsvetnoy Boulevard, and the Bolshoi Circus (bolshoi means big, in Russian) on Vernadsky Avenue—and there have been indeed several others before them.

The first circus built in Russia was established by the French equestrian Jacques Tourniaire, who settled in 1827 in what was then the Russian capital, St. Petersburg. The building, designed by the architect Smaragd Shustov and named Cirque Olympique, was located near the Fontanka canal, practically where St. Petersburg’s Circus Ciniselli stands today. Tourniaire’s circus had only a short existence: it was bought back by the government of St. Petersburg in 1828 to be transformed into a theater. Still, the event didn’t fail to catch the attention of the Muscovites, who always took exception to the influence of Peter The Great’s Baltic capital.

The previous year, Tourniaire had exhibited his equestrian prowess in Moscow, in the manège of the Pashkov mansion (today the Russian State Library), on Mokhovaya Street. Another famous trickAny specific exercise in a circus act. rider, Jacob Bates, had long preceded him in the former Russian capital, where he performed in 1864, and since then, Moscow had welcomed several equestrian companies—among which that of Pierre Mayheu, the famous Spanish rider, in 1790—but contrary to most European major cities, the great Russian metropolis didn’t have a permanent circus of its own.

In 1830, Mikhail Zagoskin, a popular novelist who was Moscow’s Director of the Theaters, supported the creation of a summer circus in the Neskuchny Garden, on the banks of the Moskva River, southwest of central Moscow. The circus, which was probably a light wooden construction(French) A temporary circus building, originally made of wood and canvas, and later, of steel elements supporting a canvas top and wooden wall. Also known as a "semi-construction.", lasted only three seasons. For the ensuing twenty years, Russian circus history was written exclusively in St. Petersburg: Although Moscow was still the commercial hub of Tsarist Russia, the giant city didn’t have yet the rich cosmopolitan atmosphere of the Russian capital, or its cultural diversity. (more...)

New Biographies

• Baptiste Loisset, Circus Owner and Equestrian
• The Kornilov Dynasty, Elephant Trainers
• Sergei Korolev, Acrobat
• Victor Fomine, Acrobat, Circus Coach
• Annie Fratellini, Clown, Circus Director

New Videos

• Tatyana Drobot, Dog Act (2018)
• Thierry & Sandrine Bouglione, Magic Act (c.2010)
• The Pellegrini Brothers, Hand-to-Hand Balancing (2016)
• Moira Orfei, Elephant Act (1991)
• Martin Lacey, Jr., Lion Act (2000)

New Oral Histories

• Rosa Bouglione's interview on Franch Television (2012)
• A Short History of Madrid's Old Circo Price, Documentary (1970)
• Anastasia Dementieva-Kornilova – Vadim Vernik Interview (2017)
• Les Frères Knie, Documentary (1962)
• Jean Richard and Jean-Pierre Richard at the Cirque Jean Richard – Christian Boner Interview (1979)

New Circopedia Books

• Philip Astley & The Horsemen who invented the Circus, by Dominique Jando (2018)

A Message from the Editor

CIRCOPEDIA is a constantly evolving and expanding archive of the international circus. New videos, biographies, essays, and documents are added to the site on a weekly—and sometimes daily—basis. Keep visiting us: even if today you don't find what you're looking for, it may well be here tomorrow! And if you are a serious circus scholar and spot a factual or historical inaccuracy, do not hesitate to contact us: we will definitely consider your remarks and suggestions.

Dominique Jando

Founder and Curator