Cirque Carmen with the Omaha Symphony

March 7, 2026 – Holland Performing Arts Center – Omaha, NE

It was a beautiful Saturday night on March 7, 2026, and the Holland Performing Arts Center was the perfect place to spend the evening. The Omaha Symphony teamed up with the incredible performers of Troupe Vertigo to bring Cirque Carmen to the stage, and it turned into a really memorable night of music and jaw-dropping performances.

Led by Resident Conductor and Principal Pops Conductor Ernest Richardson, the symphony sounded absolutely amazing all night. The combination of a full orchestra playing live while circus performers moved through the air above the stage made for a really unique experience. It was one of those shows where you almost didn’t know where to look because something impressive was always happening somewhere on stage.

The evening opened with several lively Latin-inspired pieces that immediately set the tone. The first half of the show featured:

España Cañi – Marquina (arr. Dragon)
Chiapanecas – Fernández (arr. Dragon)
Brasil: Aquarela do Brasil – Barroso (arr. Wasson)
Córdoba – Albéniz (arr. Everly)
Cuban Overture – Gershwin
Lady of Spain – Evans (arr. Dragon)
El Choclo – Villoldo (arr. Tyzik)
Three Latin Dances – Various (arr. Tyzik)

These pieces gave the performers plenty of opportunities to show off their skills. There were aerial artists spinning high above the stage, dancers moving gracefully with the music, and acrobats doing things that honestly didn’t seem possible. The whole thing felt like a perfect mix of elegance and pure athleticism.

After intermission, the show shifted to the main event with selections from Carmen by French composer Georges Bizet. The orchestra performed selections from Carmen Suites No. 1 & 2, including:

Les Toreadors
Aragonaise
Intermezzo
Seguedille
Les Dragons d’Alcala
March des Contrebandiers
La Garde Montante
Danse Boheme
Prelude
Habanera
Chanson du Toreador

This part of the show really brought everything together. Bizet’s dramatic music paired perfectly with the cirque performances happening above and around the orchestra. Troupe Vertigo is known for blending aerial acrobatics, ballet, and contemporary movement, and they really delivered. Every routine seemed to top the one before it.

By the end of the night, it was clear the crowd at the Holland Center had experienced something special. The symphony was outstanding, the performers were breathtaking, and the entire production felt polished from start to finish.

It was a fantastic show and a wonderful night. If you ever have the chance to see the Omaha Symphony and/or Cirque Carmen with Troupe Vertigo, make sure you do!