Imagine being able to walk through a world-class symphony orchestra as 100+ musicians perform. RE-RITE and Universe of Sound, immersive digital installations devised and created by the Philharmonia Orchestra and Esa-Pekka Salonen, do just that. The projects allow audiences to see, hear and interact with the music from the perspective of the conductor, composer and orchestra musicians in these award-winning installations. Using HD video projections and high-quality audio, the projects transforms any space into a large, virtual orchestra. Each room features a different section of the Orchestra – violins and violas, flutes, trumpets, and so on – up close, projected onto HD screens, and playing as a part of the larger ensemble. Through it, visitors can see what they see, and hear what they hear. The footage for RE-RITE was filmed on 29 cameras, whilst Universe of Sound used 37 - believed to be the largest classical film shoot ever undertaken.
Simply watching – great. But how about actually conducting the Orchestra? Through the use of Kinect technology (as used on the Xbox), Universe of Sound features conducting ‘pods’ where visitors can try their hand at conducting the Orchestra. Visitors to both installations can also play on real instruments, under the guidance of the Philharmonia’s players; and listen to commentaries from the musicians and Esa-Pekka Salonen. Both projects aim to act as an introduction to the orchestra for the novice, and a fascinating experience for those that already know more
You can find out more about the Universe of Sound or RE-RITE at their dedicated websites.
