Since 1904, the LSO has been driven by a pioneering spirit. Every season we bring this to life in new artwork that draws on imaginative interpretations of human data to express the emotional power, texture and movement of orchestral music.
After several years of taking inspiration from the energy and movement of the conductor, our artwork this season places the focus on the experience of the audience, and the impact of the Orchestra’s music-making. It’s something Chief Conductor Sir Antonio Pappano is passionate about. ‘I think music needs to move people,’ he says. ‘After listening to something, we should be enlightened somehow, shown different emotional corners in the human experience.’
The new creative direction from Design Bridge and Partners brings together two elements: the innovation and pioneering spirit that has been part of the LSO’s identity since its formation and the powerful emotions provoked by every performance.
In collaboration with the UCL Ear Institute, we used EEG technology to capture the emotions of a member of the audience as they listened to the LSO playing ‘Jupiter’ from Gustav Holst’s The Planets, featured in one of Sir Antonio Pappano’s first concerts in the season as Chief Conductor. With 64 sensors tracking their brain activity and additional sensors monitoring heart rate and skin conductance we were able to capture nuances of the emotional journey that the music inspired.
This season, XK Studio have used this data to create a film that transports us to a new world. From delicate luminescent synapses to vast dramatic landscapes, the visuals reflect the power of music to move and inspire.
Behind the Scenes
