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RLP pioneer on-line concert |
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The first ever, professional orchestral music concert to be presented live within a virtual online world, will be performed by the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra when it launches its new season next month.
Audience members from across the globe will ‘sit’ in a 3-D virtual version of the Orchestra’s home venue,  Liverpool Philharmonic Hall and watch and listen live as the real Orchestra performs works by Rachmaninov, Ravel and two contemporary Liverpool composers in front of them. The concert will be conducted by the Orchestra’s acclaimed young principal conductor, Vasily Petrenko.
During the cyber event on September 14th, which will take place in the virtual world, Second Life, Liverpool Phil audience members will be able to interact with each other during the concert, buy sweets from the refreshments shop and even nip to the loo.
After the concert they will be able to meet the conductor Vasily Petrenko, singer Kate Royal, and composer Kenneth Hesketh in the bar for a Q&A session.
The Liverpool Phil concert, which will be available to a potential audience of eight million Second Life users across the world the day after the live performance, is the latest in a series of Phil initiatives designed to make its music more accessible to new audiences.
The Phil has purchased an entire virtual island on which to rebuild an exact 3-D replica of Philharmonic Hall. Vasily Petrenko, Kate Royal and Kenneth Hesketh, and an audience of 100 lucky ticket winners will be represented in the virtual venue by avatars (animated characters).
Liverpool Phil Chief Executive Michael Elliott said: “Orchestras today are committed to reaching out to make their music more accessible to encourage new audiences.
“That means exploring and embracing the opportunities presented by new technology. Second Life, which has grown explosively since launching in 2003, allows us to tap into a global audience. It’s also a lot of fun and it certainly adds a different dimension to the more traditional visit to a concert hall.”
Millicent Jones, Executive Director (Marketing & Communications) added: “Our event is attempting to replace the live music experience, we’re simply using another way to share it with more people. The social aspect of Second Life means audience members will be able to chat to each other (via instant messaging) about their experience and even cough without incurring the displeasure of the conductor and fellow audience members!”
www.liverpoolphil.com
www.secondlife.com
August 2007
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