Musical Acrobatics

Nothing quite says "feats of strength" like classical music. This seems to be the odd but inspired logic behind Cirque du Symphony, in which the Houston Symphony, conducted by Michael Krajewski, teams up with circus performers. The feats of strength will be provided by Jarek and Darek, two Cirque du Soleil alums who specialize in hand balancing — often upside down, one atop the other's head. Aerial performer Alexander Streltsov will use swooping cloths to dangle his somersaulting self high above the stage. There's also a contortionist (Elena Tsarkova) and an old-school juggler (Vladimir "Red Harlequin" Tsarkov, complete with diamond-print shirt and pink-circled cheeks). And the ringleader? Violinist Ferenc Illenyi, playing with the Gypsies, whose tunes are easygoing but far more refined than anything you'll hear under the big top.
Fri., May 26, 8 p.m.; Sun., May 28, 7:30 p.m.