A magnificently toned body soars overhead attached to red
silk cloths that flare out like wings while the Philadelphia Orchestra plays a Tchaikovsky
Waltz from Swan Lake.
A man dangles suspended overhead holding on to a large
circle only by his feet. A woman sparkling in white does contortions while
standing on two stools. A juggler juggles, a woman changes costumes in seconds within
a silken tube, two muscular men perform an impossible balancing act, a man does
impossible things with only a rope.
I should be loving this, but I’m not. I’m fascinated. I can’t
look, but I can’t look away. The audience applauds, cheering them on. And I’m
closing my eyes because I can’t stand the tension. This is the Philadelphia
Orchestra Cirque de la Symphonie program at the Kimmel Center. The Orchestra,
conducted by associate conductor Cristian Mǎcelaru, plays short pieces to accompany the acts. Mǎcelaru, dressed in a red
shirt and black vest, jokes with the performers, makes occasional comments, and
touches his hair a lot.
I’m aware that I’ve just taken a pill to ease the pain in my
back and leg and meanwhile there are all these people doing things that I could
never even contemplate on a good day. Their feet touch their heads, they
support each other by counterbalancing their weight, they do handstands on one
arm, they fearlessly soar overhead, and they keep on smiling. It’s Cirque de
Soleil without the lighting and special effects, so we’re very aware of the
muscles it takes to perform these feats while making it seem effortless.
