Margaret River will play host to a remarkable new installation from the Australian Chamber Orchestra next month after securing one of just two WA performances with the state-of-the-art experience.
The world first digital installation will be presented free of charge at the Cultural Centre, and marketing manager Stephanie Kreutzer said Arts Margaret River were thrilled to be presenting the show.
“We are very excited to present this amazing installation, there is a huge amount of work involved with setting up and presenting such an immersive expereince, and we really hope that the community takes up this rare opportunity to come and see it,” she said.
“We are the only regional venue and the only other venue besides Mandurah in Western Australia presenting it in 2018.”
The installation allows participants to be immersed in a 360-degree virtual orchestra experience, giving the impression of being onstage surrounded by the Australian Chamber Orchestra’s virtuoso musicians.
The groundbreaking technology allows audience members to conduct and play with the Orchestra, and get up close to the musicians in a way never experienced in a traditional concert hall performance.
Developed by Sydney digital media company production Mod Productions, ACO Virtual features projections of 13 musicians surrounding the audience on all sides, with the sound of each player coming from the direction of their projection.
A touch-screen allows users to feature and listen to one musician, a section of instruments or their desired selection of players. Audiences step ‘inside’ the concert and are surrounded by the musicians, manipulating what they hear and see, just like in a video game.
The installation runs for around 30 minutes looped, and features works including Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto No.3 in G: 1st movement and Greig’s String Quartet in G minor: 1st movement.
The ACO Virtual installation is at the Margaret River Cultural Centre from Tuesday March 6 to Tuesday March 20. Arts Margaret River will be working with local schools to offer opportunities for students to experience the installation while public bookings while free are essential – call 9758 7316 to book.