Ars Electronica Festival: The Grand Concert Night

For the first time, the Ars Electronica Grand Concert Night will take place at the Posthof in Linz. 

For the first time, the Ars Electronica Grand Concert Night will take place at the Posthof in Linz. With "Orbit - A War Series," the audience can look forward to an extraordinary 3D audio-spatial oratorio by composer Brigitta Muntendorf. Surrounded by speakers on different levels, the audience becomes part of an acoustic universe that powerfully explores systemic violence and its effects, enhanced by a light choreography by Begoña Garcia Navas.

No physical performers appear in this audiovisual experience. Instead, the audience encounters the voices of women who, as AI voice clones, circle the audience as “immortal, posthuman warriors”—based on interviews and reports from Afghanistan, Iran, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Poland, the U.S., and World War II in Asia. The inspiration comes from the American artist Nancy Spero and her “War Series” (1966–70), which depicted the entanglements of violence, sexuality, and power.

*Orbit* is an “opera of the future” that takes place not on a stage but entirely in the audience’s minds, thereby addressing a central question of this year’s festival: How can societies remain capable of dialogue and action in times of increasing polarization, conflict, and crisis?

Performances take place between 6 p.m. and 11 p.m.
Trigger warning: The production addresses sexualized violence. The piece includes moments with intense strobe lighting, fog, and loud music.
Language: English, AI voice clones
Duration: 60 min
Age: 16 and older

These concerts are supported by Liveurope, the first pan-European initiative supporting concert venues in their efforts to promote emerging European artists. Liveurope is co-funded by the Creative Europe program of the European Union.