[From The Guardian]
Berlin Philharmonic comes to British cinemas – in 3D
Concert conducted by Sir Simon Rattle will be shown in 140 UK cinemas as orchestras hope the technology will raise funds
Dalya Alberge
Monday 4 April 2011
When Sir Simon Rattle brought the Berlin Philharmonic to London for a series of rapturously received concerts in February, tickets rapidly disappeared. But fans who missed out will get another chance to see the acclaimed orchestra in cinemas next month, and for the first time in 3D.
Britain’s most celebrated conductor is aiming to reach new audiences by screening 3D concerts in hundreds of cinemas across the world, including 140 in Britain. The technology aims to give cinemagoers the sensation of not only sitting in the front rows but right among the orchestra, offering close-ups of the virtuoso players.
The first film features a performance of Mahler’s First Symphony and Rachmaninov’s Symphonic Dances, recorded in Singapore.
Rattle, principal conductor of the Berlin Philharmonic since 2002, is hoping to replicate the success of opera, ballet and theatre in cinemas. The Metropolitan Opera in New York has reached 1,500 screens in 46 countries and last season tripled its audience, selling a record 2.4m tickets and raising $48m. The latest season looks set to earn $60m, an indication of the potential.
Cineworld and Empire are among the UK cinema chains that will show the Berlin Philharmonic concert on 9 May, under the watchful eye of other orchestras. If it proves popular, such concerts could be lucrative as public funding is cut. The initial experiment is a recorded concert, but live performances are next.
The concerts could also raise the profile of classical music’s unsung heroes – the rank-and-file musicians overshadowed by soloists and conductors.
Stanley Dodds, a violinist with the Berlin Philharmonic, spoke of his excitement: “Nothing of its kind has ever been done before. It gives the feeling of being in an orchestra. When you see the winding tubes of a horn, or a very nice old Italian violin in 3D, you feel you could touch it. You can observe the concentration and intensity of the musicians’ facial expressions and body language.”
Kate Pidgeon, of Arts Alliance Media, said the UK film distributor had jumped at the chance to take on world-class classical music. The Berlin Philharmonic’s recent concerts in London were sold out and drew rave reviews, suggesting there is a huge potential audience for classical music. She said: “If you live in Derby or Stroud, it’s a big effort to trek to London for a great performance. At your local cinema, you can go to a concert for the price of a cinema ticket rather than hundreds of pounds with travel and hotels.”
Days after the Arts Council cut its grants to symphony orchestras, Horace Trubridge of the Musicians’ Union spoke of the potential for other orchestras: “UK orchestras are on red alert for any kind of new idea that’s going to help them get through this period. They are stripped to the bone in terms of their funding. The only way they’re going to survive is by developing new audiences.”