The New World Symphony’s Wallcast concerts start up again this week in Miami. The Wallcasts are free simulcasts on a stunning, outdoor, 7,000-square-foot projection wall.
Here is the official video:
And a more homespun encounter posted by Alex Ross. I love the dog barking 27 seconds in right before the orchestra starts to play:
Is this a “community” event? The ultimate marketing tool? A misguided use of technology? Is Wagner turning over in his grave? Or disappointed that he didn’t have something like this for himself?
While researching the history of ensembles in the US for a seminar class at the University of Michigan, I have found that new technology is a recurring theme. In many ways, this has been the state of orchestral music since the late 18th century. Here, composers began incorporating new instruments and greater levels of independence in instrumentation. Certainly, Beethoven’s decision to give trumpets the melody in the 9th Symphony does not sound shocking to our 21st century minds, yet it was extremely innovative at the time. In the same way, the early pioneers of radio broadcasts and sound recordings were on the cutting edge of technology, using it to their ensembles’ benefit. Leopold Stokowski was such a champion of technology. His partnership with Disney resulted in the ever-popular Fantasia and was a huge success for contemporary art and technology on many different levels.
With respect to Richard Wagner and how he may of felt about his music presented in this way, I think first that one of the primary purposes of Bayreuth was to create an acoustical space where the music could be heard in the balances he desired. This seems then like the video production’s use of many cameras to draw our attention to specific sections or soloists is a good thing. When done properly as seen in the video, this seems to be embracing both the marvels of our modern technology and the composer’s wish that the audience would hear his music in the clearest balance.
I was at Sunday’s wallcast and, in the words of the San Francisco Chronicle’s SFS Gala coverage, WOW. The production values, the projection image, the incredible sound system, the entire experience was very engrossing, visceral and had me riveted to my wet blanket (it was drizzling). The youngish looking crowd of families, teenagers and other South Beach regulars who couldn’t get tickets to hear the concert inside were treated to quite a show. Kudos to MTT and the New World Symphony for the wallcasts. Inspiring stuff.