Cirque de la Symphonie is a touring circus troupe based in Athens, Georgia (Photos: Cirque de la Symphonie)
The circus lift our heart with acts that defy gravity and push the human body to new limits. Concerts touch our soul with music that resonates because it is familiar, catchy or astounding.
Malaysians can savour a stunning mix of both when Cirque de la Symphonie and the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra (MPO) team up again at Dewan Filharmonik Petronas on Feb 8 and 9, at 8.30pm and 3pm, respectively.
This will be the third collaboration between the Georgia, US-based troupe and the MPO. Like in 2015 and 2018, it is bringing in strongmen, acrobats, jugglers, contortionists who will do their magic in tune with classical works and contemporary numbers specially choreographed for a concert hall. This time around, a violinist will perform aerial stunts above the stage as she draws her bow.
The music, all originally scored for symphony orchestras, will have the audience thumping or leaning back on their seats with eyes peeled and heart in mouth as the performerspit their strength, skills and daring against the force of nature.
Among the compositions lined up are Vivaldi’s Four Seasons: Winter; Strauss’ Thunder & Lightning Polka Op. 324; Moon River by Henry Mancini; Hooray for Hollywood by Richard A Whiting, themes from Avatar and Midnight Cowboy; and music from Superman, Gladiator, Out of Africa, Adventures of Indiana Jones and Diamonds are Forever.
Korean-American conductor Gene Chang, who led the MPO last year at its Emily Saves the Orchestra concerts, will wield the baton again. Chang, a former assistant and associate conductor of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, has worked with the Cincinnati Pops, Pittsburgh Symphony and the Louisiana, Savannah and Seoul Philharmonics.
Tickets for the Cirque and MPO shows are RM141, RM198, RM254 and RM358. Call 03-23317007, email [email protected] or buy tickets here.
