First big gig on Second Life
by Erika Gelinard
A very 21st century event will bring the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra (RLPO) and the online world Second Life together next month: a virtual concert doubling the real life one in Liverpool.
The RLPO recently announced that the first ever live performance by a professional orchestra on virtual world site Second Life will take place on Friday, 14 September, at 7.30 pm (UK time). Trying to imagine what it's going to be like?
By September 10, you can win a free ticket for the inaugural concert on the website http://www.whatisthemetaverse.com/RLPO1.html. Then your 3-D virtual alter-ego will be able to attend this performance in a replica of the Liverpool Phil's home venue in the city. As any real audience member, your avatar will be able to interact with the rest of the crowd, buy treats from Second Life shops or go to the restroom.
Under the young and brilliant Russian principal conductor, Vasili Petrenko, the Phil is to perform two world premieres by Liverpool contemporary composers Kenneth Hesketh (A Rhyme for the Season) and John McCabe (Symphony Labyrinth), as well as Symphonic Dances by Rachmaninov, and Shéhérazade by Ravel.
In the latter, the soloist is the rising young English soprano, Kate Royal. In 2004, her career was boosted by the Kathleen Ferrier and the John Christie awards. Following that, her performances around the world (Glyndebourne, Stuttgart, Washington, Paris...) reinforced her reputation. Her first solo CD, through EMI Classics, is about to be released.
Hesketh - born in 1968 - is a precocious composing talent recognised since his first work for an orchestra at age 13. After a series of works for international ensembles and awards, he's now an in-house composer with the Liverpool Philharmonic.
Prolific John McCabe says that Labyrinth "is in celebration of the 800th anniversary of the city where I spent my early childhood".
You may wonder about the real interest of a virtual concert. For the Phil it's an opportunity to reach a larger (unbelievably larger) audience and make classical music more accessible to different kinds of people. As for the audience, it will be interesting to see whether high arts have their place in a social e-network of nine million players.
Following the virtual concert, Petrenko, Royal and Hesketh will answer questions about the performance at the Grand Foyer bar of the RLPO. Is that the real one or the virtual? Sign in and find out.
