- CONCERT REVIEW by WILLIAM NESMITH CORRESPONDENT
- Evansville Courier & Press
- Posted April 9, 2011 at 11:31 p.m.
Being an admirer of most things British (can't say I care too much for Russell Brand, but that's neither her nor there), I would like to start out with one of their most descriptive and useful colloquialisms.
Gobsmacked. I am gobsmacked. Astonished beyond words. This is not a helpful way to be when one is faced with the task of writing. Words are quite useful in such an endeavor.
But gobsmacked I was and gobsmacked I remain by Saturday evening's pops concert by the Evansville Philharmonic and Cirque du. Symphonie. This was unique and one of the most enjoyable and memorable pops concerts in my experience, with the EPO or anywhere else.
Cirque du. Symphonie is a troupe consisting of three aerialists, a juggling mime/magician, a dancer/contortionist and two really, really strong guys from Poland, all of whom perform their acts to classical chestnuts like "Danse Macabre" or music from "Carmen." Their performances are truly amazing - one might say "gobsmackingly so." These performers all come from a different circus tradition than ours, one that prizes grace, athleticism, and an almost balletic presentation.
The aerialists, Alexander Streltsov, Christine Van Loo, and Aloysia Gavre, all do marvelous beautiful things while swinging from ropes or fabric; when Streltsov took to the air trailing white fabric like sails on a ship, the audience gave an audible gasp.
Vladimir Tsarkov, the mime/juggler/musician presents himself as a Red Harlequin in whiteface and juggles rings. Six rings. With his hands, feet, neck, and occasionally the floor. (I am painfully aware that this does not sound entertaining. Trust me.)
Easily the most impressive and breathtaking moments of the evening were provided by Jarek & Darek, a duo from Poland who do a balancing act which features one of them balancing on one hand on top of the other's head-which means the fellow on the bottom is holding up an entire human with only his neck. They come on stage in what appears to be bronze body paint, looking like two statues, and move in extremely slow, fluid motion from one pose to the next. There are no quick mounts to shoulders, or jerky vaults, but simply a graceful flow from beginning to end.
I must admit that, during the juggler's turn, I briefly thought "Wow. It's the Ed Sullivan Show brought back to life." This was the kind of stuff that Ed loved. All we needed was "Sabre Dance" and the "Comedian's Galop" and it would have been perfect.
Well, what about the music? This was, after all, a concert by the Evansville Philharmonic Orchestra and Music Director Alfred Savia.
First of all, the music was clearly subordinate to the spectacle. The music was there to support Cirque do Symphonie.
Second, I enjoyed every note. The entire program was, much like the last Classics Concerts, made up of audience favorites, played with great enthusiasm.
In short, if you haven't seen Cirque du. Symphonie, go. Go now. You can trust me. (I'm a lawyer.)
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