This month, the Orlando Philharmonic will feature cirque performers from around the globe in a concert entitled Cirque de la Symphonie on March 30 at 2:00pm and 8:00pm. Concerts will be held at Bob Carr Performing Arts Centre, 401 W. Livingston Street in Downtown Orlando. Tickets are $17-71, available at 407-770-0071 or www.OrlandoPhil.org. The concert is sponsored by Darden Restaurants, Merrill Lynch and IOA Insurance. (Some tickets still available via StubHub.com)

Conducted by Music Director Christopher Wilkins, the concert will consist of recognizable classical music favorites, from Bizet’s Carmen to Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake and Bach’s Toccata and Fugue in D minor. As the orchestra performs, a variety of circus performers, including aerial acts, quick change artists, jugglers, strongmen and dancers, will present solo and duo acts choreographed to the music.

Wilkins says the music and movement are well suited for each other.

“The connection between music and movement is always intriguing to me,” he said. “In the case of Cirque de la Symphonie, the circus performers have chosen the selections themselves. The music serves to amplify the mood of the moment, whether it is the power of the strongmen, the tension of the acrobats, or the grace of the aerialists.  I find myself fascinated by their choices, and loving the connections that they have made between their art and the world of classical music.”

Currently celebrating its 20th Anniversary Season, the Orlando Philharmonic is Central Florida’s resident professional orchestra, comprised of accomplished musicians recruited from around the world. With more than 125 performances each year, the orchestra provides captivating musical experiences to people of all ages, provides enriching education programs for students and adults, and helps build a rich, sustainable future for symphonic music in the Central Florida community. Learn more at www.orlandophil.org.