Concerts of the Future

Melbourne Symphony Orchestra (MSO) and The Sonicrats are doing some research. They want to understand what the musical instruments of the future might look like – and how people will interact with them. In this experiment, you’ll be handed a custom-made musical instrument and invited to play it first with the MSO as they perform the resounding finale to Beethoven’s Seventh Symphony. Sounds impossible? Welcome to Concerts of the Future.

Sometimes, it’s close to impossible to review immersive theatre without entirely giving the game away. In this instance, the magic’s in the tech so an overview of the action won’t spoil anything. First, you’re invited to share your name and answer a personal question on the sleek iPad. You’re led into a lab, surrounded by scientific equipment and invited to take a seat. You’re presented with your personalised futuristic instrument – mine was like a knobbly green plastic pretzel – invited to christen it for the group and then to explore its melodic range by sweeping it about in the air in front of you. It’s a bit like being a kid again when presented with a super-fancy, super-intriguing toy.

Today’s experiment runs with four participants. We’re invited to play our instruments as solo performers, then in a duet, a trio and finally a quartet. Once Erick, the ebullient scientist, is satisfied that we are ready, we’re led next door to take up our seat with the orchestra. Here you pop on a Virtual Reality headseat – and this is the bit that you need to discover for yourself. But the tech is magic, the attention to detail is magic, the overall effect is magic. If you’ve always wished you could play something, anything, there’s a peculiar satisfaction that comes from slashing your pretzel through the air and making music. If you’ve ever wished you could play in an orchestra, here’s your solution – no ten thousand hours needed. And if you love Beethoven, your heart will be fat.