Concerts of the Future at Summerhall – Edinburgh Fringe review

Concerts of the Future arrives at Summerhall promising an ambitious blending of technology and orchestral performance, placing audience members right alongside the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra via a virtual reality headset.

On a surface level, it offers an agreeable, accessible entry point into immersive media: sitting in the space, you are invited to turn your head and take in a full 360-degree view of the ensemble, accompanied by a rich, pleasant score. For a quick, low-key half-hour at the Fringe, it makes for a perfectly amiable diversion.

However, the experience ultimately struggles to live up to its forward-looking title. The core novelty hinges on the concept of futuristic music-making, encouraging participants to interact with novelty, 3D-printed instruments that function similarly to Wii Remotes or Nintendo Switch controllers. Unfortunately, this element feels distinctly gimmicky. Because there is little tangible feedback, it is hard to tell whether your inputs are actually shaping the sound, leaving you feeling more like a passive observer than a true collaborator.

The tech setup also feels surprisingly conservative for a show explicit in its futuristic intent. The show missed a clear trick by failing to integrate the instruments directly into the virtual environment, allowing participants to visually see their hands and instruments rendered in front of their faces, a standard feature in modern VR. 

While Concerts of the Future is a harmless and agreeable way to pass 30 minutes, it suffers from a lack of true innovation. It just doesn’t seem to break new ground, nor elevates the musical technology it seeks to champion. It is an enjoyable distraction, but far from the revolutionary leap forward its title suggests.