The 9th Artistika 2021, the popular acrobatic artistry festival from Valais, has managed to successfully defy the Corona pandemic. This year, the popular live show from Valais was transformed from the originally planned live audience event into a high-quality TV production "Artistika Hope". In this way, all artists, musicians and technicians were able to work as usual COVID safe. As a theme for the new TV-Artistika came the idea of interweaving Big Band and Jazz music to accompany the international superior acts. For this, Visper show producers Karim Habli & Olivier Imboden did not have to search long nor far.
The "Alex Rüedi Big Band" - a permanent fixture in the Jazz scene of the Rhone Valley - enthusiastically agreed to fully supporting the Artistika TV show despite the fact that they had to cancel their own concerts and rehearsals for the past year. Bandleader Joel Schmidt and pianist and composer Tal Balshai rearranged and rehearsed 15 songs into a new, strong, big band sound for the occasion.
Performing in the "Artistika Hope" are: Stefanie Heinzmann (VS), Sam Gruber (VS), Pat Burgener (VS), Stefan Margelisch (VS), Ephraim Salzmann (VS), Philipp Fankhauser (CH), Rolf Stahlhofen (D), Yamil Borges (USA) and Tal Balschai (D).
Thanks to the following of strict hygiene measures as well as daily Corona tests of the entire team, the circus artists were finally allowed to perform. During the show, Nina Burri (BE), contortionist and former Artistika presenter, received the Lifetime Achievement Award. Claudius Specht (CH), one of the world's best jugglers, showed his unique performance. And the world-famous clown "Housch ma Housch" from Ukraine brought great joy with his performance.
The originally planned sponsorship by top musician and 25-time Grammy winner Chick Corea (USA), who sadly passed away on February 9 of this year, was changed into a dedication to the unforgettable Jazz pianist. Accepting the tribute on Corea's behalf, his long-time manager Kris Campbell. We would like to thank everyone who contributed to this great project. We offer you here a TV show, project documentation as well as a radio show enhanced with the beautiful photography by Klaus Polkowski.
We will celebrate next year the tenth edition of the Artistika with cast of 2019 at the 26th of March 2022. Hopefully we see us soon. Stay healthy! Long live the circus and the culture. Karim Habli & Olivier Imboden
