ABOUT ADRIAN WYARD

Adrian M Wyard is a Seattle-based visual artist, and former designer & program manager at Microsoft. He has over 20 years experience working in digital media, including computer graphics, photography & videography, as well as software design. Adrian also has a Masters degree in the history of science from Oxford University, and has been a longtime appreciator of classical music.

For larger projects numerous world-class collaborators play key roles, including animators, illustrators, photographers, programmers, and 3D artists.

ABOUT VISUAL ACCOMPANIMENTS

What makes ‘visual accompaniments’ different from video or slide shows? In a word, musicality. The term accompaniment is helpful because the visuals are performed live and reflect the moods, rhythms, and narratives in the score, beat by beat. The intent is to always enhance the music as written, so in the case of The Planets the visuals reflect Holst’s astrological influences rather than contemporary space exploration.

A unique, no-compromises approach to performance timing means no click track is required and the conductor is freed to focus entirely on the orchestra. Behind the scenes an on-site video choreographer follows the conductor’s direction much like a percussionist and uses state-of-the-art computer software to assemble hundreds of visual ‘phrases’ into a seamless accompaniment to the music. But the audience just sees a spectacular, perfectly timed video that magically responds to the conductor’s baton.

For The Planets, synchronized lighting effects are optionally available which makes for an even more immersive and engaging audience experience.