Presented by Adelaide Symphony Orchestra
Reviewed 29 July 2016
Cirque de la Symphonie is a world-renowned circus company that works exclusively with symphony orchestras. On Friday night they collaborated with the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra for a sold-out audience. The crowd, including mature symphony-goers and children sitting on booster cushions, buzzed with excitement as the lights dimmed, .
The first piece of the evening, Dvořák’s inimitable Carnival Overture, was performed without any circus display and beautifully celebrated the collective talents of the Orchestra.
Next Saint-Saëns’ symphonic poem Danse Macabre accompanied Christine Van Loo on the aerial silks. Van Loo twisted and twirled in mid-air, in perfect unison with Concertmaster Natsuko Yoshimoto’s devilish violin.
Each symphonic piece and circus performance was in itself a highlight. Vitalii Buza’s flight through the air to John Williams’ Hook: The Flight to the Neverland; Alexander Streltsov’s spinning cube to Bizet’s Carmen; Jaroslaw Marciniak and Dariusz Wronski’s astounding strongman act, perfectly timed with Sibelius’ powerful Finlandia.
Cirque de la Symphonie also provided the Orchestra with a rare opportunity for informality and humour. Guest conductor Guy Noble encouraged the audience to applaud whenever the mood struck them, as they would in a circus tent. Contortionist Elena Tsarkova and harlequin mime Vladimir Tsarkov created whimsical magic acts. After interval they enlisted Noble as their assistant, which left the Orchestra to perform Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake: Dance of the Cygnets alone. They eventually returned Noble in time for him to conduct the final notes.
Delivering both visual and auditory spectacles, Cirque de la Symphonie creates a unique and dazzling display – big top meets concert hall.
Review by Nicola Woolford.
Season ended
More News
