Cirque de la Symphonie Returns to Perform with the Columbus Symphony

Cirque de la Symphonie is a unique and elegant fusion of cirque and orchestra, adapting the stunning artistry of cirque with the majesty of a full symphony orchestra. Conducted by Peter Stafford Wilson, the Columbus Symphony program will feature composers such as Berlioz, Tchaikovsky, Mendelssohn, and Rimsky-Korsakov while showcasing some of the best cirque artists in the world, including aerial flyers, acrobats, contortionists, dancers, jugglers, balancers, and strongmen.

The Columbus Symphony presents Cirque de la Symphonie at the Ohio Theatre (39 E. State St.) on Saturday, April 2, at 8pm. Tickets are $20.50-$66.50 for adults and $11.50-$33.50 for children, and can be purchased at the Ohio Theatre Ticket Office (39 E. State St.), all Ticketmaster outlets, and www.ticketmaster.com. To purchase tickets by phone, please call (614) 228-8600 or (800) 745-3000. The Ohio Theatre Ticket Office will also be open two hours prior to the performance.

Cirque de la Symphonie evolved from the creative minds of Bill Allen and Alexander Streltsov. Allen, who has been involved with the entertainment business for many years, initially came up with the idea of fusing cirque artists with live orchestra performance in the mid-‘90s. During that time, he was traveling extensively in Russia and became a close confidant of administrators and performers involved with Russian circus programs, particularly the Moscow Circus. He visited various regional circuses, acrobatic training centers, and elite ballet companies in the former Soviet Union, funneling talent into established programs in the US.

Streltsov, co-founder and currently one of the artists with Cirque de la Symphonie, grew up in the circus world of Moscow. Both parents were performers, and his father became one of the directors of the Moscow Circus. Allen's long-standing friendship with the Streltsovs helped him gain an understanding of the traditional parameters and potential opportunities associated with this age-old institution.

Streltsov was considered a rising star in Russia, even at the age of 12. During that year, he won the gold medal at the prestigious Festival Mondial Du Cirque De L'Avenir in Paris before going on to star in a Broadway production. He has worked with some of the world's greatest choreographers and producers, such as Valentin Gneushev and Pavel Brun. He has performed for Presidents Gorbachev, Yeltsin, and Putin, and his aerial feats added another dimension to performances with the Bolshoi Ballet.

Allen's efforts helped Streltsov become a major cirque star in the US, resulting in various theatrical tours, television programs, and his first appearance as an aerialist with a full symphony orchestra in 1998 with the Cincinnati Pops. The television special that featured the performance was shown repeatedly for five years because of the strong and positive response received from audiences across the country.

Eventually, Streltsov settled in the US and now resides in Atlanta with his family. Allen decided to continue to experiment with the idea of cirque and symphony. Streltsov, who knew most major cirque artists in the business, became a close confidant in expanding cirque programs to offer to symphonies. Additional concerts in Florida, Alabama, Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, Oregon, and other locations convinced both Allen and Streltsov they had a successful formula with nationwide appeal. With the careful selection of professional cirque artists possessing wide-ranging experience from all the major cirque programs around the world, Cirque de la Symphonie was born.

Officially incorporated in 2005, the first major program was with the Houston Symphony conducted by Maestro Michael Krajewski. After sell-out crowds at Jones Hall and the Woodlands, Krajewski heard orchestra members calling this "the best pops concerts ever." He enthusiastically endorsed the program, and sought to have it inserted in pops series with other symphonies with which he was associated.

Today Allen and Streltsov oversee a company that has expanded its range and commitments. A wealth of talented cirque artists, additional staffing, and an efficient management system have all kept Cirque de la Symphonie on firm footing. Staying loyal to the formula which brought initial success, Allen has avoided deviating into staged tours and corporate shows.

There have been several evolutionary stages of the circus arts in the past few years, but perhaps no organization has done more to elevate the status of the circus world than Cirque de la Symphonie. Their achievements have introduced cirque artistry to thousands of people who may never have been exposed to the art form, while introducing many new people to the exhilarating experience of a live symphony orchestra.

www.cirquedelasymphonie.com

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