John Saxby reports in Wednesday’s (9/25) Sydney Morning Herald, “One of the problems of being ‘Australia’s busiest performing arts company’ is that the in-demand Australian Chamber Orchestra can only be in one place at any one time. Until now. In October, the orchestra performs Brahms and Dvorák in the concert hall of the [Sydney] Opera House. Performing at the same time in the studio in the Opera House will be ACO VIRTUAL, an interactive installation that offers a digital ACO experience, in either 2D or 3D. Launched in Sydney on Tuesday, the installation surrounds an audience with video screens of ACO musicians and allows them to single out performers and instruments via a touch screen, or even play along. ‘This breaks down the barrier between the listener and performer in a concert hall,’ said artistic director Richard Tognetti, who hopes to see the technology introduced across school halls and community centres around the country.’ … The prototype—a half-hour program of music by Grieg, Bach, Piazzolla and Australian composer Roger Smalley—is available for hire from $5,000 [$4,687 US], for up to four weeks, including installation and technical support. In comparison, a tour by ACO2, the orchestra’s regional touring ensemble, costs about $120,000 [$112,488 US].”
Posted September 27, 2013
