The West Virginia Symphony Orchestra (WVSO) conducted by Maestro Grant Cooper performs its concert, Cirque de la Symphonie. The Symphony paints a beautiful atmosphere complemented by a circus of acrobats, aerialists, balancers, strongmen, jugglers, and illusionists.
Part of the ZMM Architects & Engineers Pops Series, Cirque de la Symphonie takes place Feb. 6 and 7, at 8 p.m. at the Clay Center in the Maier Foundation Performance Hall in Charleston.
A one-hour version with no intermission, Symphony at the Circus is part of the City National Bank Family Discovery Series and takes place Saturday, Feb. 7, at 11 a.m. Pre-concert activities such as the Instrument Petting Zoo starts at 10 a.m.
Principal flutist Lindsey Goodman reflects on Cirque de la Symphonie’s Charleston performance in 2012.
“Pairing these amazing Cirque athletes and artists with the talented musicians of the West Virginia Symphony gives both parties the opportunity to revel in one another’s skills and [gives] the audience many ‘wow’ moments for both their eyes and their ears. The repertoire is some of our most technically demanding for a Pops program, so the pyrotechnics from the musicians are sure to match those from the circus performers,” Goodman said.
Goodman, being a huge fan of gymnastics, says her favorite acts are the aerial silks and the male acrobats, and playing the flute while keeping her mouth from gaping open in amazement is no easy task.
“It’s wonderfully distracting. My inner six-year-old lights up when these performers show off their abilities with beauty, grace, strength, and artistry,” Goodman said.
Casual listeners will look forward to film scores by John Williams from “Harry Potter” and “Hook,” while committed fans of classical music will enjoy concert overtures by Shostakovich, Bernstein, and Glinka.
“We play a fantastic mixture of music – all of it very exuberant and flashy. And to see these incredible acrobats from Cirque de la Symphonie do all of their stuff above the orchestra; it is truly an extravaganza you will not want to miss,” Maestro Grant Cooper said.
Cirque de la Symphonie is sponsored in part by Brickstreet Insurance. Symphony at the Circus is sponsored by the City National Bank with additional support by Marlies Charbonniez and the Charbonniez Family Trust.
Tickets for both concerts are available through the Clay Center Box Office at 304-561-3570 or at wvsymphony.org.
