Abilene Philharmonic, Cirque troupe aim to elevate orchestral music Modern Music

Abilene Philharmonic, Cirque troupe aim to elevate orchestral music

Written by Leah Gillies on May 5, 2011 – 5:43 am

If you go

What: Cirque de la Symphonie with the Abilene Philharmonic

Where: Abilene Civic Center

When: 8 p.m. Saturday

Cost: $20 to $35

Information: 677-6710, Abilene Philharmonic

In addition to the main event, Cirque performer Christine Van Loo will host a master class at 3 p.m. Friday in the National Center for Children’s Illustrated Literature. The class is free and open to the public.

The circus and the symphony don’t seem like ready-made partners.

One’s all about immediate thrills, while the other rewards patience and chin-stroking thought.

But when the two meet halfway, each art form reveals a new level of depth. The symphony can dazzle. The circus can make the audience think.

Cirque de la Symphonie, which comes to the Abilene Civic Center Saturday, is part of that new breed of hybrids that elevate acrobatics into something more than mere spectacle.

As president, co-owner and aerial performer, Alexander Streltsov has been one of the key figures in getting Cirque de la Symphonie off the ground.

About a decade ago, Streltsov performed as a solo guest artist with a number of symphonies. Soaring through the air on a pair of ribbons, Streltsov’s balletic approach to acrobatics meshed perfectly with orchestral music.

So much so, that a conductor asked him if he could bring in a few more performers for the next concert.

A lifetime performer born to a circus family, Streltsov knew where to look.

Six years later, he and business partner Bill Allen have a strong and varied performance troupe going, with performances scheduled across North America.

“It’s a unique fusion,” Streltsov said. “A lot of people have a different imagination about a piece of music after seeing it with performers.”

The Cirque company doesn’t actually “tour” per se, as most of the performers have their own studios or commitments to attend to elsewhere. As Streltsov explains it, they do a weekend performance together, scatter, and then reconvene for the next date. The troupe’s roster changes from show to show.

This loose system works because all of the performers are so experienced. Really, the local symphony just has to establish a tempo and the performers tailor their acts from there.

“It’s a true collaboration,” Streltsov said. “When we come in, it’s not like we’re taking over. We’re still featured as guest performers.”

Saturday’s performance with the Abilene Philharmonic Orchestra will feature several orchestral works, including selections from Tchaikovsky’s “Swan Lake,” Bizet’s “Carmen” suite and Khachaturian’s “Gayane.”

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