Review: ODYSSEO by Cavalia is a Gorgeous Spectacle

A celebration of the majestic unity of man and nature - ODYSSEO is a mammoth of a show. Presented by Cavalia under a 125-foot tall Big White Top, the show features 65 horses of various breeds and 50 versatile artists (horseback riders, acrobats, aerialists, singers and dancers). ODYSSEO is a thrilling experience - and one of the prettiest shows on earth.

Created by Artistic Director Normand Latourelle, ODYSSEO is a feat of theatrical design. A video backdrop the size of three enormous cinema screens, using 18 projectors, transports you to various locations around the world. More than 6,000 tonnes of dirt, sand and stone create the impressive stage. At one point, 40,000-gallons of water is used to create a lake before your eyes. Visually stunning is an understatement.

The show owes a large part of its charm to composer Michael Cusson. The mystical music (performed by live musicians and singer Valentina Spreca) is largely responsible for the entrancing mood of the piece. Sung entirely in Italian, Cusson's compositions are romantic and moving - especially when accompanied by the natural beauty of the horse.

The talented horses are a mix of different breeds - Lusitano, Arabian and Thoroughbred - to name a few. Using spoken French commands, the riders are able to guide the horses through impressive choreography, even without riders on their backs - it is surreal. The riders are just as talented, incorporating several different riding disciplines - dressage, jumping and an acrobatic style unique to Cavalia that includes leaving the saddle to balance (standing) on pairs of horses.

When the horses need a break, the stage erupts with hoards of acrobats and aeralists, defying any preconceived notions of what is physically possible. It can be terrifying at times, watching them perform backflips at a jaw-dropping speed with incomparable stamina - or watching them perform choreography from rings, hanging at death-defying heights.

ODYSSEO is a truly unique theatrical experience - catch it before the tent comes down.

ODYSSEO by Cavalia runs through July 23, 2017 at the White Big Top next to the Hershey Centre, 5506 Rose Cherry Place, Mississauga, ON.

For 15% off tickets, enter promo code: SOCIAL

Visit cavalia.com/live for more information and to purchase tickets