#BristolProms - augmenting the orchestra

On Friday 19 July we were joined in the Studio by Filmmaker and Director John Durrant from BDH and Scott Fletcher from Play Nicely for a fantastic Lunchtime Talk about their upcoming projects for #BristolProms.

Digital technologies are increasingly used to distribute to and engage people with classical music: Touch Press' massively popular Orchestra app is an exploration of orchestral music with oodles of interactivity, and Glyndebourne has been streaming live opera to worldwide audiences, for free, for years. But how can we use new technologies to bring audiences closer to classical performance? How can we let the audience feel the music in new ways?

To answer these questions and recover the interactive spontaneity classical music has historically enjoyed, Watershed has joined up with Bristol Old Vic and Universal Music Arts and Entertainment to launch #BristolProms, a festival that will use digital technology to bend music into fantastical new shapes.

From Every Angle

Filmmaker and Director John Durrant from BDH spoke to us about developing From Every Angle, an intimate interpretation of a simultaneous live solo piano performance at Bristol Old Vic, using multiple close-up cameras and live vision mixing to bring you closer than ever before to an extraordinary of selections from Chopin's groundbreaking Études. John explained they were originally going to strap cameras to Jan but after talking with the musician they realised that even lightweight cameras would affect his balance and performance. So instead they decided to use 10 fixed ‘Bradley’ cameras, typically used in nature and reality tv programmes, as they can be controlled remotely. John went on to explain the project is an experiment; by creating an experience that relies heavily on digital technology and screening it in a cinema, do they attract a different audience? You lose the performative element that the Bristol Old Vic has but does it still feel like a live element? We’re really excited to see what happens. Unfortunately the event has now sold out but you can call Box Office on 0117 927 5100 to join the waiting list, and you can watch a trailer of the event here.

Max Richter’s re-composition of Vivaldi’s four seasons

Then Scott Fletcher from Play Nicely spoke to us about creating a unique visual accompaniment to Max Richter’s The Four Seasons Recomposed. He describes it as ‘a fixed narrative built in Unity 3D with reactive elements controlled by the realtime audio/performance.’ Scott explained that he has found working on the project a really exciting because of the creative freedom they have been allowed. He showed us a demo and showed us how the visuals are affected by the pace and tone of the musicians, for example the lightening in the clouds happens in time to the music. Scott said that one of the most challenging aspects has been that they will be practising with the orchestra that will be playing on the night for the first time just three hours before the performance, but they have been practising with a stand in orchestra. Clare our Studio director went to see some recent testing last week and said she thinks it’s going to be an extraordinary and unforgettable event. Unfortunately the show has also sold out but you can call Bristol Old Vic Box office on 0117 949 3993 for returns.  

Hack The Quartet

Next week on Tuesday and Wednesday the Studio is playing host to Hack The Quartet as part of #bristolproms. For 48 hours the award-winning Sacconi Quartet will be working intensively with artists, technologists and producers to explore how new technologies can be used to open up and enhance chamber music. Then on Friday we are hosting a very special Lunchtime Talk at Bristol Old Vic which offers audiences an opportunity to hear about the hack, peer behind the process and play with the demos produced. You can find out more on our events page here. Hack The Quartet is produced by Watershed in association with The Sacconi Quartet and Bristol Old Vic.

You can find more information and a full programme of all the #bristolproms events on their website here.