London Philharmonic Orchestra: In The Stream Of Life

Live from London’s Royal Festival Hall

Creative Director Nathan Prince and Lighting Designer Nick Gray team up to visually narrate thirteen performances of the London Philharmonic Orchestra, set in an audience-less Royal Festival Hall.

Over the past six months, the world has faced extreme hardship due to the pandemic, having to come to terms with the loss of human connection and access to the experience of shared culture, an intrinsic element of our existential matrix.

This incredible project with the LPO highlighted the necessity of restoring this connection using different tools, leading to the re-invention of established visual templates and offering a fresh take for old and new audiences. The design and filming of each performance responded to this challenge, proposing new ways of experiencing and perceiving orchestral music.

The unprecedented historical and physical context of these concerts presented an opportunity to break from a traditional visual narrative, creating additional layers of communication with the audience through the incorporation of colour, atmosphere and drama.

The lighting saturates each show with a unique character and identity as we move away from classic brown and beige hues. The lighting aesthetic is bold yet intimate, echoing the visual codes of theatre and immersing the orchestra in a dimly lit, hazy, atmospheric concert hall.

The imposing backdrop of the Royal Festival Hall took a more prominent role in the show design process. Due to the lack of audience, the lighting could be positioned in unusual places alongside the existing Grade I listed light portals, providing the freedom to bring the architectural features of the space to life.

Creating a dialogue with the external dramatic canvas of the Southbank’s brutalist buildings at night, interior elements such as the organ, the empty seats and boxes are painted by the lights, poetically manifesting their presence in each performance.

This collaboration is a tribute and a testament to the significance and opportunity this challenging time in history presented for performers and creatives; not only providing an outlet for expression but also generating work for individuals and organisations operating within the deeply affected live events industry. Music and the arts have been bringing relief and comfort to humanity in the darkest times, and we must acknowledge and celebrate their essential role in helping us to face and overcome adversity.

All concerts are available to watch on Marquee TV and will be free to access for 7 days, after which they will be added to the LPO collection of concerts, and accessible to Marquee subscribers. Find show dates and programmes at www.marquee.tv/series/lpo.