“Seattle Symphony is detailing plans for a new venue that can morph from traditional concert performances into a 360-degree chamber for shared immersive experiences,” writes Frank Catalano in last Thursday’s (6/21) Geekwire.com “Octave 9, as it will be called, is expected to open as the Symphony’s third performance space inside Benaroya Hall in Seattle in February 2019, with construction beginning this month. The new venue replaces the Soundbridge music education center and classroom that closed in late 2016. More formally known as Octave 9: Raisbeck Music Center, the $6.7 million project will be able to seat up to 120 people in 2,500 square feet … Technology will be either front-and-center or in the background at Octave 9, depending on the performance. The Symphony says a modular surround video screen with 13 movable panels will be combined with 10 ultra-short-throw projectors, motion-capture cameras, and a Meyer Constellation Sound System … ‘In this time of virtual reality and questions of whether we need physical environments or digital experiences, Octave 9 is both,’ said Mark Reddington of LMN Architects in a statement. ‘It is not just a new performance venue for the Symphony, it is also an exploration into the future of musical performance and education.’ ”
In photo: A rendering by LMN Architects of the Seattle Symphony’s planned Octave 9: Raisbeck Music Center shows the space configured for educational and traditional programs.
Posted June 29, 2018
