New West Symphony Presents
2024 MASTERPIECE SERIES 2nd CONCERT
Cirque de la Symphonie
Thousand Oaks and Camarillo, March 2 and 3, 2024
Eileen Roberts
626-826-8253
eroberts@newwestsymphony.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 15, 2024
Thousand Oaks, CA – New West Symphony presents the highly entertaining concert Cirque de la Symphonie on March 2nd in Thousand Oaks and March 3rd in Camarillo. As a follow-up to its wildly successful January concerts, Cirque de la Symphonie is a program filled with symphonic favorites, in tandem with synchronized precision cirque acts from some of the world’s greatest performers to bring audiences an enthralling experience with live orchestra and visual interpretation.
“Cirque de la Symphonie had performed all over the world in prestigious venues such as The Sydney Opera House with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, The Kennedy Center with the National Symphony Orchestra, and with the Boston Pops at Tanglewood,” says Artistic and Music Director Michael Christie. “We are delighted to bring this level of entertainment and talent to our audiences in Thousand Oaks and Camarillo. We know it will be thrilling to watch as our amazing orchestra performs well-known symphonic classics, and what a great way to introduce young people and children to the orchestra.”
Cirque de la Symphonie is an exciting production designed to bring the magic of cirque to the music hall. It is an elegant adaptation of some of the most amazing cirque acts performed on a stage, shared with the full symphony orchestras and showcasing many of the best artists in the world. The audience is thrilled and bedazzled by acrobats, contortionists, dancers, juggler, and balancers. These accomplished veterans include world record holders, gold-medal winners of international competitions, Olympians and some of the most original talent seen. Each performance is perfectly choreographed to classical masterpieces, raising cirque artistry to a fine arts level.
The program will feature hand-selected pieces by Music Director Michael Christie that enhance the visual performances and showcase the mastery of the orchestra. Some audience favorites on the program are Peer Gynt Suite No. 1. Op. 36 by Edvard Grieg, Overture to The Barber of Seville by Gioachino Rossini, and Les Toréadors from Carmen Suite No. 1 by Georges Bizet.
“Cirque de la Symphonie is another example of how New West Symphony continues to bring world-class programming into our community, attracting and introducing new audiences to the beauty of our region and the rich cultural experiences we can offer. We are so fortunate these types of organizations want to partner with us on our mission of presenting the finest symphonic music and entertainment in Ventura County and beyond,” says CEO Natalia Staneva.
New West Symphony will also be presenting its 2024 Symphonic Adventures concert featuring Cirque de la Symphonie. Symphonic Adventures, the Symphony’s flagship education program, is a live, interactive concert for students in the 3rd, 4th, and 5th grades. This program provides many students their first opportunity to hear classical music. Each 50-minute interactive concert supports the Symphony’s goal to bring orchestral music to children. This is an annual concert that has been presented for 29 years by New West Symphony. Students from Crystal School of Rhythmic Gymnastics will also be performing as a community partner. Performances are scheduled for March 5th at Oxnard Performing Arts Center and March 6th at Kavli Theatre, Bank of America Performing Arts Center.
Bios of Performers
Alexander Streltsov is a former Russian aerial artist who started working with famed cirque choreographer Pavel Brun and producer Valentin Gneushev when he was only twelve, performing on Broadway at the Gershwin Theater. The same year he won the gold medal in the competition among international cirque artists at the prestigious Festival Mondial Du Cirque De L’Avenir in Paris. His combination of natural strength, artistic expression, and grace sets his performance apart from other aerialists. Also, known as “Sasha,” he has performed for three Russian presidents and the Bolshoi Ballet, numerous symphonies in the US and Europe, and elaborate theater and stage productions worldwide. He has made many television appearances, such as the star-studded ABC-TV special “Christopher Reeve- A Celebration of Hope” and the PBS nationwide broadcast of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra’s Fourth of July Celebration. He continues to be a favorite at music halls, where he soars out over the audience in a spectacular display of aerial artistry or when he sets his riveting spinning cube act in motion. Since 2005, he has been a creator and producer of Cirque de la Sympnonie.
Elena Tsarkova, the “Lady in White,” is a graduate of the famed Moscow Circus School and first-place winner of the prestigious National Russian Circus Festival. From “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. Her combination of contortion, balance, and graceful dance moves made her a major star with Cirque de la Mur in Florida and Circus Circus in Las Vegas. Elena’s experience with major stage and theater productions offers a professional background that allows for a truly elegant performance with the live symphony.
Vladimir Tsarkov provides a spell-binding performance with combinations of mime and juggling feats. A favorite of audience members of all ages, Vladimir’s Red Harlequin act features rings, balls, and electric batons, and he’s even been known to teach the maestro a trick or two! He is a veteran of Circus- Circus, Cirque Ingenieux, and various entertainment productions globally. 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. His performance with the symphony is pure entertainment.
Jessica Elena Sanders is a multidisciplinary circus artist. She is based in Las Vegas and is currently a resident performer at Lost Spirits Distillery. She has also performed in multiple Spiegelworld shows, toured with Dita Von Teese and was on season 12 of America’s Got Talent. In circus world she is considered to be one of the most talented acrobats in her field of aerial acts, contortion, balancing, and hula hoops. It is her stage presence, originality of elements, and choreography that set her apart.
Nelson Pivaral is a multitalented artist specializing in balancing, trapeze, acrobatics, juggling, and unicycle. He began his bright carrier at age 12 traveling with the Fuentes Gasca Circus in South America and training with the Flying Gaona trapeze family. His versatile acrobatic and balancing talents have made him a popular performer with Ringling Bros. and Barnum and Bailey Circus as well as a wide range of cirque productions, corporate events, and international festivals. The Passion 2 duo tango act that he performs with his partner, Goulia Rozyeva, is a thrilling mix of strength, choreography, and artistry.
Goulia Rozyeva can officially be called an “audience favorite” having been bestowed that honor in such competitions as the Fourth International Circus Festival. Goulia started her career at age 7 at the National Gymnastics Academy of USSR, followed by training in ballet. She eventually transformed from successful “Elite” level competitor to performer and has been delighting audiences ever since. Her skill in acrobatics knows no bounds, as exemplified by the variety of her acts. She is a veteran performer in productions in Las Vegas and Atlantic City, along with appearances on Univision television broadcasts and half-time entertainment events in the United States. She performs a one-of-a-kind duo tango balancing act with her partner, Nelson Pivaral.
Cirque de la Symphonie Tickets & Information
Starting at $30 with student tickets at $10
https://newwestsymphony.org/2024-masterpiece-series/cirque-de-la-symphonie/
866.776.8400
Dates & Venues
March 2, 2024, 7:00pm | Thousand Oaks
Kavli Theatre, Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Center
2100 Thousand Oaks Blvd, Thousand Oaks, CA 91362
March 3, 2024, 3:00pm | Camarillo
Rancho Campana Performing Arts Center
4235 Mar Vista Dr., Camarillo, CA 93010
Program for Cirque de la Symphonie
Michael Christie, conductor
Beethoven | Coriolan Overture, Op. 62
Barroso | Brazil
Grieg | Peer Gynt Suite No. 1. Op. 36
1. Morning Mood
2. In the Hall of the Mountain King
Gimenez | Intermedio de La Boda de Luis Alonso
Strauss Jr. | Thunder & Lightning Polka, Op. 324
Chabrier | Dance Slave from Le Roi Malgre
Gounod | Ballet Music from Faust
Mirror Dance
Rossini | La Danza Tarantella Napolitana from Les soirées musicales
Anderson | Blue Tango
Bizet | Les Toréadors from Carmen Suite No. 1
About the New West Symphony
Now in its 29th season, the New West Symphony draws its players from the rich talent pool of professional accomplished Southern California-area musicians. Performances are held at the Bank of America Performing Arts Center in Thousand Oaks and Rancho Campana Performing Arts Center in Camarillo.
About Michael Christie
Named Artistic and Music Director of the New West Symphony in December 2018, GRAMMY® Award-winning conductor Michael Christie is a thoughtfully innovative conductor, equally at home in the symphonic and opera worlds, who is focused on making the audience experience entertaining, enlightening, and enriching. Deeply committed to bringing new works to life, he has championed commissions by leading and emerging composers alike. For further information, visit michaelchristieonline.com and follow him on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
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