The magic of Cirque with the Spokane Symphony

Apr 15, 2009

For Immediate Release

Contact: Annie Matlow 464-7071

Note: An additional performance of this unique concert has been scheduled for Sunday, April 26, 7:20 p.m. This is an addition to the previously announced schedule.

SPOKANE – Cirque de la Symphonie combines the excitement of Cirque with the magic of the Spokane Symphony. Resident Conductor Morihiko Nakahara will play ringmaster and Cirque de la Symphony will enchant audiences at the INB Performing Arts Center on Saturday, April 25 at 8 pm. and on Sunday, April 26 at 7:30 p.m.

Cirque de la Symphonie is a new production that brings the excitement of cirque to the music hall. It is an exciting adaptation of artistic performances widely seen in theaters and arenas everywhere. Collaborating with the maestro, Cirque de la Symphonie brings the most amazing veterans of exceptional cirque programs throughout the world to the same stage as world class musicians. The artists include aerial flyers, acrobats, contortionists, dancers, jugglers, balancers, and strongmen, and are among the best in the business.

The blending of the best the circus world has to offer with a full symphony orchestra provides an energized performance that is greater than the sum of its parts. Audiences will be thrilled as aerial artists fly over head and acrobatic feats are performed to classical masterpieces and popular contemporary music.

The Seattle Times said, “A symphony orchestra has a lot in common with circus acts. Both involve developing and maintaining suspense. Both involve spectacle and modulating emotional pitch. Both involve spectacle and modulating emotional pitch, capturing the rapt attention of an audience willing to surrender to every nuance or peak.”

This concert is underwritten by River Park Square.

Ticket prices range from $23 to $53 and are available in advance at the Spokane Symphony Ticket Office, located at 1001 W. Sprague inside the Martin Woldson Theater at The Fox, or by calling 509-624-1200. Tickets are also available at all TicketsWest outlets or by calling 1-800-325-SEAT or at spokanesymphony.org.

Bios for Cirque de la Symphonie

Alexander Streltsov is a Russian aerial artist who started working with future Cirque du Soleil choreographer Pavel Brun and famed producer Valentin Gneushev when he was only twelve, performing on Broadway at the Gershwin Theater.  The same year he won the gold medal at the prestigious Festival Mondial Du Cirque De L'Avenir in Paris.  Also known as “Sasha,” he has performed for three Russian presidents and the Bolshoi Ballet.

The strength and agility of Jarek and Darek of “Duo Design” is unmistakably one of the most powerful acts to be included in Cirque de la Symphonie’s captivating program. This dynamic and exciting strength and hand-balancing act from Warsaw, Poland, consists of Jaroslaw Marciniak and Dariusz Wronski, former Polish national hand-balancing champions. They have competed and performed throughout Europe and the United States, winning championships in Evian, France and Sarasota, Florida.

Vladimir Tsarkov provides a spell-binding performance with combinations of mime and juggling feats. A favorite of the younger members of the audiences, Vladimir’s Red Harlequin act features rings, balls, and batons, and he’s even been known to teach the maestro a trick or two! Vladimir graduated from Russia’s prestigious State College of Circus and Theater Arts and won the gold medal at the Cirque de Demain International Festival in France.

Aloysia Gavre is an incredible aerial performer from the Ecole National de Cirque, Montreal, with early training from Master Lu-Yi and the PickleFamilyCircusSchool. Aloysia was the Special Prize Winner at the International Circus Festival in Monte Carlo. A veteran of stage and theater performances worldwide, Aloysia is best known as a veteran of Cirque du Soleil’s “Quidam” and “O.” Her five years with Quidam established her as one of the best aerial artists in the world.

Irina Burdetsky lives in New York, but travels worldwide as one of the most entertaining hoops performers in show business. She grew up in a circus family in Moscow, trained by some of the greatest names in acrobatics, gymnastics, and hoops, and traveled as one of the youngest performers with the Moscow Circus. She was awarded the Grand Silver Medal by the Queen of Monaco at the Concours International Des Ecoles de Cirque in Monte Carlo, and has earned numerous other awards as well. Irina starred in such programs as Japan’s Circus-Mircus, world tours of Cirque Ingenieux, Cirque La Masque, and Showboat in Atlantic City.

Vladimir Malachikhin began his career before he was five years old, performing handstand acrobatics with his father in an act that traveled through Asia, Africa, Europe, and the Americas. He is a veteran of Circus Circus, Cirque Productions, Ill Cirque, and other major productions.  Vladimir is the winner of the Gold Clown award in Monte Carlo, the Gold Medal in Italy, and the Bronze Lion Award in China.

Elena Tsarkova, the “Lady in White,” is a graduate of the famed MoscowCircusSchool and first-place winner of the prestigious National Russian Circus Festival. From her “Master of Sports” in gymnastics, Elena developed into a unique and graceful performer with the Big Apple Circus, Switzerland’s Circus Knie, and Germany’s Circus Roncalli.