As always my husband, John, was most impressed by the music, always his favorite part of a Cirque performance. He said it was nice to have the band visible on the stage this time, not hidden away behind a screen or suspended in the air on a platform. He also commented that the music had more of a rock edge, with several numbers reminiscent of Pink Floyd. Oh, and he thought the duo trapeze work of artists Ruslana and Taisiya Bazalii done without a net and with only thin wires as safety devices was incredible. As for me, I just soaked in the spectacle of sights and sounds, color and movement, that is Cirque du Soleil. Yes, there is an underlying story that of the multicultural mix of city life as seen through the eyes of a cast of characters that frames the acts of Saltimbanco (which by the way, comes from the Italian saltare in banco ... literally to "jump on a bench"), but as with any Cirque performance, you don't need to follow the plot to enjoy the show. Saltimbanco will be in residence at the Mullins Center through Sept. 7 with nightly performances at 7:30 p.m., Fri. and Sat. matinees at 3 p.m., and Sunday performances at 1 and 5 p.m. Adult tickets are $41, $61, $71 and $91; children under 12 are $33, $49, $57 and $73. UMass students, faculty and staff tickets - available at the box office with ID are prices at $31,41,71, $91. For tickets and more information call the box office at 413-733-2500 or visit www.cirquedusoleil.com.