BWW Reviews: CIRQUE DE LA SYMPHONIE Brings Magic to Columbus Stage

The Ohio Theatre's gilded halls were transformed into a dazzling display of majesty and mystery in Columbus Symphony's performance of "Cirque de la Symphonie" on Saturday, Jan. 24.

Conducted by Stuart Chafetz, the Columbus Symphony provided the perfect accompaniment to two hours of enthralling performances by some of the most accomplished international cirque performers.

From a breathtaking aerial silk performance set to Camille Saint-Saens' "Dance Macabre, Op. 40" to a stunning display of human strength and flexibility by Polish national hand-balancing champions "Jarek and Darek" (Jaroslaw Marciniak and Dariusz Wronski) set to "Los Toreadors" from Suite No. 1 from "Carmen," each act mesmerized audiences with a powerful marriage of unparalleled visual and aural expression.

Scored with a diverse program of classical favorites, "Cirque de la Symphonie" masterfully coupled exhilaratingly dynamic acrobatics with equally bombastic musical works and highlighted playful juggling and dance routines with pieces that accentuated the performers' every move.

Performing in close proximity to the conductor's podium, the cirque performers precisely executed kinesthetic movements that blended seamlessly into the music of the orchestra, creating a spellbinding reinterpretation of the beloved music of Johann Strauss, Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, John Williams and more.

Carefully choreographed dance steps brought to life the notes that dotted the pages of the orchestra's score, while the sweeping strokes of the conductor's baton mirrored the red silk flapping in the breeze as an acrobat flew through the air in a graceful arc above the audience.

In its unique adaption of symphonic favorites, "Cirque de la Symphonie" elegantly fused two art forms to create a vivid collaboration that inspired and amazed.

Credit: Cirque de la Symphonie