Nashville Symphony's FirstBank Pops Series:
Cirque de la Symphonie
Jan. 14 – 16; All ages
Schermerhorn Symphony Center
1 Symphony Place, Nashville
615-687-6400 • nashvillesymphony.org
Remaining showtimes: Fri – Sat 8 p.m. Tickets: $34 – $128
An exquisite, dazzling, mind-blowing night of family entertainment fills the concert hall of the Schermerhorn Symphony Center this weekend with the spectacular Cirque de la Symphonie. This combination of amazing cirque techniques and live classical music is a must-see experience for your family. In fact, Cirque de la Symphonie is the perfect family show that kids of all ages will love.
Lots of "oohs" and "aahs" crossed the lips of youngsters — and us older folk! — on opening night and for good reason: the talented cast of cirque performers delivers awe-inspiring, jaw-dropping feats throughout the two-hour, eye-popping evening.
Eight cirque artists present 12 sequences during the night, including ones on stage and in the air. Aerial artists Alexander Stretsov, Christiane Van Loo and Aloysia Gavre deliver majestic, graceful moves in the air in duo and solo pieces using silks, a rope and a hoop. There's something simply magical during the moments when the artists take to the air and seem to effortlessly fly above both the orchestra and the audience! Vladimir Tsarkov brings an effervescent child-like charm to the stage as the colorfully clad mime who serves up masterful skills while juggling several hoops as well as glow-in-the-dark bowling pins.
Andrew Moraru and Elena Tsarkova are highly entertaining to watch as they show off their hand-balancing and contortionist work that combines a lot of dance and tight choreography. Tsarkova's "Lady in White" routine provides one of the night's biggest "WOW" moments when she's in an upside down balancing stance doing ballet-like "swan arm" movements with her legs! A pair of golden strongmen, Jarek and Darek, end the show with their captivating strength and dexterity as they balance off of each other. The former Polish national hand-balancing champions shimmer in the spotlight while performing mind-boggling stunts together, including handstands off their partner's head.
It's awesome to watch each act in such an intimate, up-close setting, and the Nashville Symphony's accompaniment is perfect for adding a lush, live musical backdrop that succinctly works with the cirque performers. It's a great night of classical numbers, featuring works by great composers like Dvorak, Saint-Saens, Shostakovich, Strauss, Tchaikovsky and Stravinsky.
Kids will certainly perk up more when recognizing the John Williams number in Act II, "Flight to Neverland" from Hook. Cirque de la Symphonie is definitely the hot ticket in town this weekend, and it's a magical experience your family will always remember.
