Three questions with Tina Guo, cellist for ‘Michael Jackson Immortal’

Cirque du Soleil

By John Katsilometes (contact)

Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2011 | 4:36 p.m.

How has your life changed since you’ve been on tour with Immortal? I’m technically now a homeless, gypsy, nomad musician (laughs). There’s been a lot of traveling around, moving around. I feel great, very free. You’re often referred to as “the hot cellist.”

Are you at all concerned that your physical appeal, and appearing onstage in fishnets and leather, can actually detract from what you are playing? Well, I am a firm believer in aesthetics and theatricality. It’s awesome if you look great, and even better if you look great and can do something very well and have a talent and are intelligent and can maximize your full potential as a human being, in every way. If you are pleasant to look at, even better.

You write poetry and have actually written a book of poetry and philosophical musings. Is Las Vegas the sort of place that inspires your writing? Um, no (laughs). Honestly, I don’t really go out very much, in general. That’s true back in LA, where I was living before, and here. So I think it’s yes and no. Everything is what you make it. Depending on what is going on, you can be inspired anywhere.