Tale of the Firebird – Concerto for Violin, Fire & Acrobatic Orchestra

Classical precision meets circus adrenaline in this genre-bending work composed by Chloé Charody for The Freestyle Orchestra - where musicians double as acrobats and virtuosity literally takes flight. Uniting classical mastery, theatrical storytelling and breathtaking circus, the twelve artists combine their instrumental work with dynamic group acrobatics, aerial arts, fire manipulation, contemporary dance and aerial harp. The piece unfolds as a vivid, fairytale-like deconstructed narrative inspired by the legend of the Phoenix - the mythical creature with the ability to be reborn through flame. Beneath the spectacle lies a deeper resonance - a story of resilience and renewal, speaking to urgent global realities and the enduring power of one of humanity’s greatest weapons against oppression: hope.

“string players, leaping, dancing and tumbling, often with instruments in hand, without ever dropping a note.” - Limelight Magazine “Sonja Schebeck “plays classical like a motherf—er” – Nigel Kennedy (violinist), quoted in the Sydney Morning Herald “...managed to channel both the improvisatory joy of a raging party around a bonfire and something of the multi-disciplinary spectacle and magic of Diaghilev’s ballets.” - Limelight Magazine “ A sublime and moving admixture of circus and art music that invigorates both art forms. ” - Fever Pitch Magazine "Seeing music stretched to these extremes - physically and artistically - leaves an indelible mark, resulting in an unforgettable evening in heart, mind, and spectacle." - My Melbourne Arts "Marvellous performances of marvellous music written in, and for, our own distracted times." - Limelight Magazine CD review