Built by architect Jacques Hittorff, the Cirque d'Hiver has become, over its rich history, for young and old in Paris, a veritable institution. Initially called Cirque Napoléon, named after the emperor who inaugurated it on December 11, 1852, it only became Winter Circus in 1873. In 1934, the four Bouglione brothers took it over: it was the beginning a passion that will never stop. From then on, all the great artists passed on his track, from Pauline Borelli, the first tamer, to Emilie Loisset, crushed by her horse, from Léotard to Lilian Hetzen, from Fratellini to Grock and Zavatta, from Alex to Pipo, Albert Rancy to Gilbert Houcke…

In 1954, Gilles Margaritis created his television show La Piste aux étoiles in his large room. A year later, it was Hollywood director Carol Reed's turn to shoot “Trapeze” with Gina Lollobrigida, Burt Lancaster and Tony Curtis. From the 80s, various shows followed one another, musicals, singing tours, recitals, fantasies, such as "Émilie Jolie" (1985), "Barnum" (1981), "Les Aventures d'Astérix" (1988), Jacques Higelin (1982 and 1994) and also the Chinese Circus (1989), the “Cirque du Soleil” for the Cirque Reinventé show (1990), the nautical show by Muriel Hermine “Crescend'O” (1997). In 1999, the young Bouglione generation took up the torch, renewing its success. The Winter Circus then hosted a classic circus season for several months, producing shows such as "Salto" (1999), "Le Cirque" (which in 2002 celebrated the 150th anniversary of the monument) or "Virtuoso" (2011).

World Circus Stars

This year, the Bouglione family celebrates their 80th birthday at the head of the Cirque d'Hiver. It presents until 1^er mars a representation at the height of its excess entitled "Giant". “With this show, we are trying to create a break in continuity. The artists presented are among the biggest stars in the circus world. Today, the performances are more and more spectacular. We have gone from double to quadruple somersaults. But the basis and the essence of our work still lives in us ” says Francesco Bouglione, director of the Cirque d'Hiver. In the Bouglione family, we seem to have set a rule: never force young people to avoid disgusting them. Some begin by performing the most thankless tasks before claiming to integrate juggling lessons and scenic games under the marquee.

Photo: DR

Others choose, like Francesco Bouglione, to remain in the shadows to orchestrate this great, well-established enterprise with a master's hand. “There is a crisis, obviously, but in our business nothing is never won in advance. Of course I am careful, especially since in Paris everything costs more than elsewhere: advertising, space, services. Paris is also a more exposed city: competition from shows, strikes, demonstrations, the strengthening of Vigipirate can do us harm very quickly. But I think the quality of our work allows us to dominate the situation: the public feels it well ” adds Joseph Bouglione, the artistic director of this circus which, with 307 spectators last year, remains the most frequented in France.

Exceptional number of elephants

With the exceptional arrival of René Casselly's family in the show, it was necessary to set up a huge logistical preparation beforehand. Reinforce the track below to support the weight of the four elephants and the horses, remove the coconut mat, which was placed on the track, and replace it with a special tartan track, cast on site. " For this issue, we have set up real “boxes” for the elephants, with a heated foot bath, air conditioning… Because the elephants, like the artists, will not sleep there: they will come to work at the Cirque d'Hiver by truck. They will be in their enclosure between the shows and, in the evening, will return to a very large place of relaxation, outside of Paris ” recalls Joseph Bouglione.

Inside the Cirque d'Hiver, the Bouglione family's private museum reveals its treasures. A true tribute to the circus arts, it stretches over 180 m2 and retraces the history of this very special artistic world. Hundreds of objects are on display there, collected with passion by Emilien Bouglione and then by his son, Louis-Sampion: costumes, photos, bronzes, paintings, documents and posters that have made the legend of this mythical place.

Tour in France

In October 2015, for the first time in 25 years, the Cirque d'Hiver Bouglione set out again on the roads of France with “Bravo”, a show which will present in several cities the equivalent of what the Cirque d'Hiver is offering to Paris. It will therefore be possible to applaud near you members of the Bouglione family on the track, international artists, animals, dancers and an orchestra, all of course under a deluge of light ...

David Raynal

Information: http://www.cirquedhiver.com/

Show times:

Photo: DR

Outside school holidays:

Saturday: 14 p.m. and 17:15 p.m. - 20:30 p.m.

Sunday: 10:45 a.m. (1) - 14 p.m. ET 17:15 p.m.

School vacation :

Every day at 14h and 17h15

Holidays : every day at 10:45 a.m., 14 p.m. and 17:15 p.m.

Public holidays and eves of holidays:

November 11: 10:45 a.m., 14 p.m. and 17:15 p.m.

December 24 and 31: 14 p.m., 17:15 p.m. and 20:30 p.m.

December 25 and January 1: 14 p.m. and 17:15 p.m.