Philadelphia, PA (May 9, 2016) — The final Philly POPS show of the Subscription Series season is a world premiere! Cirque Goes to the Movies, created by POPS Music Director Michael Krajewski, combines the awe-inspiring acts of Cirque de la Symphonie with fan-favorite movie music from Stars Wars, Harry Potter, West Side Story, Pirates of the Caribbean, Titanic, Back to the Future, Mission: Impossible and more.
Eight celebrated acrobats from around the world will wow audiences as aerialists fly and dangle 30 feet above the 65-piece POPS orchestra, strong men balance on top of each other’s heads, an acrobat rolls across the stage in a giant German Wheel, and the flexible bend in unimaginable ways. View a video preview.
Musical selections were carefully curated to pair with the Cirque routines. Cirque de la Symphonie performs exclusively with symphony orchestras, typically pairing its acts with classical music, making this POPS show a rare treat. Philly POPS patrons particularly adore hearing film scores performed.
“It’s sensory overload for both the eyes and the ears,” says Bill Allen, Executive Director of Cirque de la Symphonie. “We’ve worked with Michael more than any other conductor. He knows us well, and it’ll be a great pairing.”
Ticket prices range from $35-$135 and can be purchased at http://phillypops.org/cirque.
Schedule of events:
Friday, May 20
6:30pm: Pre-concert conversation with Music Director Michael Krajewski and Cirque de la Symphonie’s Executive Director Bill Allen
7pm: Roman Catholic High School Concert Choir sings movie music on the Plaza Stage
8pm: Performance
Saturday, May 21
1:30pm: Pre-concert conversation with Music Director Michael Krajewski and Cirque de la Symphonie’s Executive Director Bill Allen
2pm: Roman Catholic High School Concert Choir sings movie music on the Plaza Stage
3pm: Performance
Saturday, May 22
1:30pm: Pre-concert conversation with Music Director Michael Krajewski and Cirque de la Symphonie’s Executive Director Bill Allen
2pm: Andrew Jackson Elementary’s rock band “Home” performs on the Plaza Stage
3pm: Performance
About Cirque de la Symphonie
Cirque de la Symphonie is an exciting production designed to bring the magic of cirque to the music hall. Founded by Alexander Streltsov and Bill Allen and celebrating its 10th anniversary, it is an elegant adaptation of some of the most amazing cirque acts performed on a stage shared with the full symphony orchestra, showcasing many of the best artists in the world. The audience is thrilled and bedazzled by aerial flyers, acrobats, contortionists, dancers, jugglers, balancers, and strongmen. These accomplished veterans include world record holders, gold-medal winners of international competitions, Olympians and some of the most original talent ever seen. Each performance is perfectly choreographed to classical masterpieces, raising cirque artistry to a fine arts level. Adding a stunning visual element to the concert experience, these aerialists and acrobats provide a three-dimensional entertainment extravaganza. Orchestras play with enhanced enthusiasm, while patrons marvel at the jaw-dropping spectacle of aerialists flying overhead and astonishing acrobatic feats. Fusing the power and majesty of the live orchestra with the best of cirque artistry, Cirque de la Symphonie is the only cirque company in the world that performs exclusively with symphony orchestras. Over one hundred orchestras worldwide have featured Cirque de la Symphonie in sold-out venues, adding energy and excitement to the concert experience. Learn more: www.cirquedelasymphonie.com.
About The Philly POPS
The Philly POPS, the largest standalone pops orchestra in the United States, delights audiences with the inspired performance of American popular music. The POPS celebrates this distinctive musical heritage through an expanding repertoire of innovative concert presentations and a robust set of educational and engagement initiatives.
Now in its 37th season, the official POPS orchestra of Pennsylvania serves a consistently growing audience of over 100,000 annually. Music Director Michael Krajewski and the 65-peice Philly POPS orchestra keeps listeners tapping their toes to an impressive repertoire of songs from American traditions of music up through today’s chart toppers.
Outside the concert hall, Salute Series performances – including POPS on Independence on July 3 and the I’ll Be Home for Christmas: A Salute to the Military and First Responders – celebrate the American tradition of service around important national holidays; POPS in Schools enhances music education for Philadelphia School District students; and POPS Outside brings POPS music to local communities.
The Philly POPS performs as a founding resident company of The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, and at venues throughout the mid-Atlantic region.