CIRQUE MUSICA
The symphony meets the circus for some acrobatic acoustics
1 A Careful Balance Stephen Cook, the creator and producer of Cirque Musica, started his career in the circus world before moving over to symphonies. When he founded TCG Entertainment, he realized that the two practices could be married for a unique live show. The first Cirque Musica tour paired circus performers with famous classical works by Tchaikovsky and Beethoven. It was only a matter of time before the idea of a Christmas show hit him.
2 Everybody Loves Christmas After a wildly successful debut year, the Cirque Musica Holiday Special has expanded greatly. In 2016, there are two troupes touring the program, allowing it to play over 25 North American cities. In fact, Cook wagers he’ll have three units on the road by next year.
3 Logistical Contortions Touring two productions of a large show requires some serious organization. In addition to transporting massive crews—operations people, riggers and roadies—the show must find a suitable venue in each town, which could vary from a symphony hall to a basketball arena. Fortunately, Cirque Musica has learned to adapt. “We’re used to playing in different types of venues, so the show has flexibility to work in those different places,” Cook says.
4 Orchestral Manoeuvres In Calgary, Cirque Musica is fortunate to work with the Calgary Philharmonic. Elsewhere, it might have to hire orchestras made up of freelance musicians. As Cook explains, the changing lineup keeps him on his toes. “That’s part of the excitement of it,” he says. “Each show has its uniqueness, and its idiosyncrasies, and that’s part of live entertainment.”
5 Progression The show’s marriage of classical music with circus theatrics is part of a larger push to introduce classical music to non-classical audiences. And while it might fog up the proverbial monocles of traditionalists, wide swaths of people are responding to the art form’s reinvention. TCG Entertainment creates everything from hip-hop and rock-themed performances to spy-themed James Bond tributes. “We’re seeing all across North America that this is the way the industry is going,” he says. “That’s not to say that classical music isn’t important, and that’s the primary function of these orchestras…. But what we’re seeing is that this other type of concert presentation is growing exponentially, and it’s bringing a lot of new people to the halls and a lot of revenue for the orchestras.”