In a fast-paced performance featuring hit songs from the movies, the Boulder Philharmonic joined forces with Cirque de la Symphonie on Saturday to wow audiences of all ages.
No stuffiness here. If the two "Cirque Goes to the Movies" concerts from Saturday, February 3, are any indication, the Boulder Phil is fueled by youth and driven by innovation. The Cirque de la Symphonie collaboration -- at the University of Colorado's Macky Auditorium -- featured favorite movie tunes from the past 80 years, all while the Cirque's troupe of talented aerialists and contortionists performed synced choreography. [gallery type="rectangular" size="medium" ids="33058,33057"] A visual experience with recognizable music, the concert attracted many families with young children, leaving everyone mesmerized. The audience reacted with laughter to magic tricks and playful on-stage antics during "All That Jazz" from Broadway's Chicago, then groaned and winced in reaction to the contortionist's bendy act during "My Heart Will Go On" from Titanic.
But it was the aerial performers that took the cake, specifically violinist Janice Martin who has the extraordinary ability to play her electric instrument while suspended in the air via silk ribbons, sometimes while upside down.
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Even more breathtaking than Martin's first appearance, though, was her post-intermission act that required that she perform acrobatics on a hoop above the stage, all while playing the incredibly difficult intermittent solos from Vivaldi's The Four Seasons to the Boulder Phil's accompaniment. As soon as each solo ended, she'd connect her magnetic bow to the violin and hoist herself into a new position on the apparatus just in time for the next solo. The amount of simultaneous physical and mental skill that Martin is able to put out is truly incredible!
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The other aerialists also drew the crowd's amazement and applause during epic music by John Williams -- from Superman and Star Wars: Episode II, Attack of the Clones.
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As always, conductor Michael Butterman and the talented Boulder Phil musicians played with passion and enthusiasm, obviously having a great time and even sneaking glances at the stage and air performers when they could. And Butterman narrowly dodged being hit by a juggler's metal cube frame as it was exiting the stage!
The most movingly beautiful piece of the evening, however, was the theme to Gone with the Wind, which was one of the four tunes that the orchestra played on their own, without the Cirque performers. The iconic melody filled the concert hall, carrying us away to the crumbling world of Scarlett O'Hara in 1860s Georgia and reminding us all of the enduring power of film.
"Cirque Goes to the Movies" was truly a delightful and fascinating spectacle -- a mesh of all of our favorite things: live symphony, the movies, and incredible stunts.
The Boulder Phil will hold a free family concert on March 4, called "Reach for the Stars." The last two concerts of the Philharmonic's 60th season will continue to showcase their versatility with the more classical "A Song for Swans" on April 7 and a tribute to "West Side Story" (featuring the Central City Opera) on April 28.
To reserve your tickets for any of these upcoming shows, visit the Boulder Phil's website.
Did you go to one of Saturday's Cirque concerts? What did you think? Please leave a comment below!
