Universe of Sound: The Planets, a major digital installation that leads to a weekend exploration of music and space
Universe of Sound: The Planets, a major digital installation that leads to a weekend exploration of music and space presented by Town Hall & Symphony Hall with the Philharmonia Orchestra and featuring free family activities, film screenings and live performances, will take place in Birmingham in June 2013.
This world-class orchestra is to take on a virtual form in the free interactive Universe of Sound digital installation, resident in the disused Birmingham Municipal Bank between Saturday 25 May and Sunday 16 June 2013.
The installation has been created by the Philharmonia Orchestra’s Principal Conductor and Artistic Advisor Esa-Pekka Salonen
The installation, which has been devised and created by the Philharmonia Orchestra Digital Department and Principal Conductor and Artistic Advisor Esa-Pekka Salonen, will transport visitors into the heart of a symphony orchestra. Visitors will be able to conduct using creative digital technologies, play live and virtual instruments and learn about the roles of musicians and composers in ten separate rooms, before a planetarium-style full-dome 360 degree projection delivers the incomparable thrill of seeing and hearing 105 players performing Gustav Holst’s incredible work The Planets, conducted by Esa-Pekka Salonen.
Each room will contain the sheet music for each instrument, and visitors will be invited to bring their instruments and play along. Philharmonia and locally based musicians will also be present inside the installation, playing along live and answering questions.
The creation of the hi-definition interactive immersive experience involved what is believed to be the largest classical music film shoot ever undertaken, and has recently been shortlisted for a 2013 Royal Philharmonic Society Award. More than 67,000 people visited the work at the Science Museum, London in 2012.
The Universe of Sound classical music installation is both digital and interactive
Visitors to the Universe of Sound can being and play their own instruments along with those provided
On Friday 14 June, Universe of Sound‘s final weekend commences with a 7pm screening of Stanley Kubrick’s classic science-fiction movie 2001: A Space Odyssey at Symphony Hall, accompanied by the original soundtrack performed live by the Philharmonia and Birmingham’s Ex Cathedra choir, conducted by Benjamin Wallfisch. Majestic, unconventional and instantly recognisable pieces of music feature in the 1968 film, which is now acknowledged as one of the greatest and most influential films of all time.
Concert ticket holders will have the opportunity to experience a late night performance of Earthrise, Alec Roth’s 2010 choral masterpiece based on the view of Earth by Apollo 8 astronauts whilst in orbit, given by Ex Cathedra in Symphony Hall from 10pm.
The family friendly space of Symphony Hall Café Bar will be the base for Universe of Sound Family Day a day of free activities, workshops and demonstrations between 10.30am and 4.30pm on Saturday 15 June, featuring musicians helping families to explore the Orchestra, solar system mobiles, demonstrations of music technology, a constellation installation, creative workshops themed music and space plus much more.
Speaking about its appeal, the Philharmonia Orchestra’s Head of Digital Richard Slaney told I Am Birmingham:
“Universe of Sound is a way of experiencing what it’s like to be on the stage with the Philharmonia Orchestra as they’re playing Holst’s The Planets, which is an amazing piece of music, and basically you go through an exhibition where in one room you’re with the brass, in one room you’re with strings, one room you’re with percussion and you experience what it’s like to be on stage, what it’s like to be part of an orchestra.
“You should come here because it’s free, you can try it, you can bring instruments, try and play along, there are so many different ways you can experience it and it’s kind of a conce-in-a-lifetime opportunity. How many times will you be able to be part of the Philharmonia Orchestra playing this amazing piece of music, so come and try it.”
Richard Slaney, the Philharmonia Orchestra’s Head of Digital, helped create the interactive Universe of Sound installation
Richard Hawley, Director of Artistic Programming and Projects at Town Hall and Symphony Hall, said, “Working alongside the Philharmonia in delivering such a wonderfully immersive experience in a space as exciting as the old Municipal Bank on Broad Street is a thrilling opportunity. We invite music and science fans, families and the downright curious from across the UK to visit the installation, take part in hands-on activities at our family day and enjoy the rare performance of Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey with a live orchestral and choral score, as well as a number of other concerts, all part of a truly exciting project for the city.”
Esa-Pekka Salonen, Principal Conductor and Artistic Advisor at the Philharmonia Orchestra, said, “This project offers everyone, from the very young to the very old, from the absolute novice to the experienced musician, the chance to step right into the heart of one of the world’s finest symphony orchestras. Our world is by turns preposterously loud, pin-drop quiet, highly-charged, intense and frequently overwhelming. Come and join us – you won’t be disappointed.”
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Watch Philharmonia Orchestra’s Richard Slaney explain more about the Universe of Sound installation in Birmingham:
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The Universe of Sound weekend closes with Gustav Holst’s great astrological work The Planets, performed by the Philharmonia Orchestra and ladies of the City of Birmingham Choir conducted by Vladimir Ashkenazy in Symphony Hall, on Sunday 16 June 2013 at 7.30pm.
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Video and images by Adam Yosef.
