Main Page

From Circopedia

Revision as of 22:30, 11 March 2016 by Djando (Talk | contribs)

Welcome! • Bienvenue! • Willkommen! • Добро Пожаловать!
Bienvenida! • Benvenuto! • 歡迎 ! • Vítejte! • Καλώς ήρθατε!
Üdvözöljük! • Добре Дошли! • Welkom! • Ласкаво Просимо!
Velkommen! • Tervetuloa! • Дабро Запрашаем! • Välkommen!

Circopedia is a project of the Big Apple Circus,
inspired and funded by the Shelley & Donald Rubin Foundation.

In The Spotlight

Les Bario.jpg

LES BARIO

Rare have been clown trios that have held the top of the bill of the most important European circuses for such a long time. Artists of great virtuosity, particularly loved by the public—they had their fan clubA juggling pin.!—the Barios were also true innovators in the realm of clown comedy.

Manrico Lionello (Nello, 1918-1999), the elder, was born August 28, 1918 in Alingsås, in Sweden. Alfredo Darius Bruno (Freddy, 1922-1988) was born in Brussels on December 18, 1922. Like all circus children, the two sons of Manrico Meschi, known as Bario (1888-1974), and Lily Eva, née Magrini (1902-1985), made their debut in the family act, the Dario-Bario clown trio, which included their uncle Dario (Dario Meschi, 1880-1962), their father, and a third partner that changed over the years: Félix Gontard, Rhum, Mimile, or Pépète Pauwels.

Over time, their sister, Tosca, and their cousin, Willy Dario (Dario’s son), joined the troupe to participate in the act’s traditional musical finale. At age fourteen, Nello began to develop a threadlike hobo character named Siméon, and embarked in earnest on his clown apprenticeship, while Freddy, dressed as a rollicking groom, continued to be a mere extra in the act.... (more...)

New Biographies

New Videos

Featured Oral Histories

A Message from the Editor

CIRCOPEDIA is a constantly evolving and expanding encyclopedia of the international circus. New videos, biographies, essays, and documents are added to the site on a weekly—and sometimes daily—basis. So 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
Editor/Curator