By Beth Barhydt
The Greenwich Symphony Orchestra concludes its 2023-2024 season with a revolutionary performance featuring the notable visual artist Adrian Wyard, scheduled for April 13 and 14 at the Performing Arts Center of Greenwich High School. The program includes an innovative visual accompaniment to Gustav Holst’s “The Planets”, along with compositions by Kernis, Debussy, and Williams.
Adrian Wyard, a Seattle-based visual artist with a background in digital media, computer graphics, and software design, brings over two decades of experience to this collaboration. His work in choreographing visuals to music has been recognized for its artistic depth and technical proficiency. The visual presentation titled “The Planets Live” utilizes original animations and NASA media, carefully synchronized with the live performance. This method allows for a seamless integration of visuals with the music, without the need for a click-track, ensuring that Holst’s music remains the focal point of the experience.
“The Planets Live” has been presented by several orchestras since its premiere in 2014, including notable performances by the Northwest Symphony Orchestra, the South Dakota Symphony Orchestra, and The Florida Orchestra. These presentations have been met with acclaim, particularly for the way Wyard’s visuals enhance the musical experience, capturing the essence of each movement of Holst’s suite. His work is praised for adding an authentic artistic dimension to the music, a sentiment echoed by various music directors, such as Jason Thornton of the Bath Philharmonia and Delta David Gier of the South Dakota Symphony Orchestra.
This collaboration is an example of how modern technology and classical music can intersect to create an enriched and immersive experience. It highlights the continuing evolution of concert experiences, where the integration of visual elements adds a new dimension to traditional music performances. The inclusion of “The Planets” by Holst, a seminal work known for its thematic exploration of the astrological characteristics of planets in our solar system, is particularly apt for such a visual interpretation.
For the Greenwich Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of Stuart Malina, this concert represents an opportunity to showcase their versatility and willingness to embrace innovative approaches to classical music. The selection of works for the concert, ranging from the ethereal tones of Debussy’s “Clair de Lune” to the cinematic grandeur of Williams’ “Close Encounters of the Third Kind”, complements the visual spectacle promised by Wyard’s contribution.
The concert is expected to be a significant event for our community and fans of classical music, promising an unforgettable experience that transcends the conventional boundaries of a symphony concert.
