Dream, starting on March 12 through to March 20, is a new multimedia performance piece from Esa-Pekka Salonen and the Philharmonia Orchestra that reimagines composition for an interactive audience, providing a living score, adapting the pre-recorded soundtrack as the production happens.
This world premiere is presented by The Royal Shakespeare Company, in collaboration with Manchester International Festival, Marshmallow Laser Feast and the Philharmonia Orchestra.
The project invites audiences to participate in Dream, inspired by Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. The installation will feature core classical repertoire and two new contemporary orchestral works including excerpts from Gemini, a recent composition by Salonen, the Philharmonia’s Principal Conductor and Artistic Advisor.
Set in a midsummer forest, the 20-minute, real-time performance will be streamed live to audiences who can watch for free or buy a ticket to participate, influencing the world of the actors. The 12 performances of Dream from March 12 -20 are timed so that audiences across the world can join. The March 13 performance will be followed by special post-show event with RSC Artistic Director Greg Doran, MIF Creative Director Mark Ball, and Robin McNicholas and Nell Whitley of MLF. Tickets are available here.
Watch the trailer to Dream
Esa-Pekka Salonen, Principal Conductor, Composer and Creative Advisor said of the project ‘Immersive technologies are going to change the way we compose, perform, and experience music, and I believe we need to reimagine the symphony orchestra for this new landscape. This is primarily an R&D project—to reimagine immersive technology for live performance—where the creative process itself is one of the most valuable aspects of the whole project. Dream has brought us together with some of the world’s leading theatre practitioners, VR world-builders and game designers to reimagine storytelling. The collaboration has moved from the stage to the real-time games engine. It has allowed composers to reimagine composition for a new landscape where the audience has agency, and the performers can become part of a living, dynamic score that is integral to the live performance.’
