On April 26, 27 and 28, former Houston Symphony Principal Pops Conductor Michael Krajewski returns to Jones Hall to lead one of his signature programs: Cirque de la Symphonie. Complete with new musical selections and fresh acrobatic feats, this unique blend of great orchestral music and breathtaking circus acts is sure to amaze and astound. In this post, discover how Mike and Russian aerialist Alex Streltsov first invented this unique program right here in Houston. Visit houstonsymphony.org for tickets and more information.
Michael Krajewski, conductor
He flies through the air, with the greatest of ease that daring young man, on the flying trapeze.
When Gaston Lyle and Albert Lee wrote that song more than 150 years ago, they could not possibly have imagined that one day daring young men and women would fly over the Houston Symphony on the Jones Hall stage. And yet, thanks to former Houston Symphony Principal Pops Conductor Michael Krajewski, that is just what audiences will see at Cirque de la Symphonie when the disparate worlds of the circus and the symphony orchestra are united onstage.
The touring troupe of circus artists known as Cirque de la Symphonie was born 14 years ago, when Michael was approached by Alex Streltsov, an aerialist who would become Cirque de la Symphonie’s president and managing director. “The Symphony and I had been talking about creating a pops program that would incorporate Cirque de Soleil-style performers, but we weren’t sure how to do it,” Mike explained. “We came in contact with Streltsov, who had recently performed with a few orchestras. He said he knew some other acrobats and jugglers he could recruit.”
“Being a Moscow native, I became very well acquainted with many circus artists from around Russia as we worked together in different projects,” Alex said. “Back in the United States, I found that there were several orchestras interested in adding a cirque element to their pops programs.” Streltsov knew that introducing “some of the best Russian artists on stage” with a symphony orchestra would be “an instant hit with audiences.”
Artists of Cirque de la Symphonie. Alex Streltsov stands in the center.
Mike agreed, and thanks to his keen instincts, it was here in Houston that the newly formed Cirque de la Symphonie made its official debut in 2006. “It was with the Houston Symphony that Cirque de la Symphonie performed for the first time ever,” Alex recalled, “so you may say this is the cradle of this company. We found Michael Krajewski to be an amazing maestro and even greater mentor. Once Mike saw our production, he quickly understood the idea behind it and made a great number of music suggestions, some of which you will hear in this program too. Though he was initially skeptical about the idea of artists flying over the heads of an orchestra, Mike said ‘Let’s do it.’”
A Cirque de la Symphonie contortionist performs.
“I was very nervous during the performance,” Mike confessed. “There were juggling clubs being tossed around the stage and an aerialist soaring over the audience and orchestra. All of that was rather disconcerting. However, there were no accidents, and the program was a huge hit.”
Much of Cirque’s success comes from the frisson created by circus artists performing live to great orchestral music. Mike explained, “The music is chosen to fit the length and character of the act. The performer then listens to a recording and makes adjustments to bring the act into sync with the music.”
Alex elaborated, “The artists are all consummate professionals, and they spend hours working on new routines to go with the music. Once on stage, the artists appear to have been performing to the music all their lives, and the audience is riveted by the visual coordination of their movements to the energy of the symphony.”
Any orchestral concert is a feat of extraordinary coordination, agility and skill, but adding world-class circus artists takes this musical marvel to another level. “It is a stunning fusion of performances,” Alex said, “as is reflected by the enthusiasm exhibited by patrons. I enjoy working with Mike because he is so funny and a true ‘Ring Master’ of pops.” —Eric Skelly
Don’t miss Cirque de la Symphonie April 26, 27 and 28, 2019! Visit houstonsymphony.org for tickets and more information.
