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Cirque's Up

Victoria Symphony and circus performers share the stage
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One of the Cirque de la Symphonie performers

Thinking about checking out the Victoria Symphony’s Cirque de la Symphonie, which pairs the orchestra with jugglers, acrobats and aerial flyers? You might want to get on snagging tickets, since they’re going fast.

“It seems to be very popular, I think because it’s so unusual,” says conductor Giuseppe Pietraroia. Because Cirque du Soleil is popular, I think people associate it with that and think it will be something quite visually stunning. Then to have the full orchestra on stage and that, I think people are really excited by it.”

The orchestra and the cirque performers will literally share the stage; Pietraroia says he figures the Symphony will have to position themselves slightly farther back on the Royal’s stage to make room for the circus acts, but won’t know for sure until the troupe shows up for rehearsals this week.

“It’s a bit of a mystery to me,” he says. “We’ve added a third [rehearsal] for this one just for the technical requirements and that. And the repertoire, it’s challenging. It’s the well-known works, but some of them, they’re pretty hefty.”

Cirque de la Symphonie runs Thursday to Saturday, March 10-12, at the Royal Theatre, 805 Broughton. Tickets are $43.50-$73.50 at rmts.bc.ca or 250-386-6121.