Project Overview
Summary: This case study details the creation of a groundbreaking concert experience presented at the VI International Classical Music Festival at the Bogotá Planetarium. “Francia en el piano: sonidos y retratos” was a multidisciplinary project that combined live classical music, storytelling, and full-dome animated illustrations. This unique collaboration between Colombian pianist Manuela Osorno and Colombian musician, illustrator, and project manager Claudia García transformed the planetarium into an immersive art space, bringing the music of Debussy and Ravel to life through dynamic visuals projected onto the dome. The project demonstrates the potential of combining classical music performance with cutting-edge dome content creation techniques to create engaging and memorable experiences for audiences.
Project Title: Francia en el piano: sonidos y retratos
Role: Illustrator, Animator, Dome Content Creator, Project Manager.
Industries: Music Performance, Live Music, Visual Arts, Illustration, Animation, Full-Dome Content, Classical Music.
Year: 2023
Deliverables:
✓ Created 11 original animated illustrations designed specifically for the full-dome format.
✓ Oversaw the project from concept to completion, managing timelines and resolving any issues that came up.
Competencies: Illustration and Animation, Project Management, Strategy and Process Design, Creative Collaboration, Problem-Solving, Dome Content Creation, Music Score Reading, Communication.
What if your first experience with music as an audience is through an immersive dome experience that simulates entering a new world? A world where you are surrounded by art in many forms?
Context
Client/Organization: Personal project in collaboration with Colombian pianist Manuela Osorno.
Stakeholders: VI International Classical Music Festival, Teatro Julio Mario Santodomingo, Claudia García, Manuela Osorno.
Venue: Bogotá Planetarium
Objective: To craft an innovative concert experience that merges classical music with dynamic illustrations. The project aimed to utilize the planetarium dome’s unique capabilities to create an immersive environment where animated illustrations complement the live performances of Debussy and Ravel. Additionally, the concert was designed as an educational experience, tailored for families and children, to make classical music more accessible and engaging for younger audiences.
Challenges: The project involved moving from a traditional concert setting to a planetarium dome in a short period of time. Creating large-scale illustrations suitable for the dome format required meticulous attention to visual composition and detail, adding complexity to the creative process. Learning new skills in full-dome content creation and animation from scratch also presented challenges that required dedication and resourcefulness.
Additionally, we encountered limited rehearsal time at the venue for technical testing and uncertainty about the quality of the piano for the performance.
Despite these challenges, the project ultimately succeeded in delivering an innovative and educational experience for audiences of all ages.
Repertoire:
Claude Debussy – Images (Book 1 & 2)
Reflets dans l’eau
Hommage à Rameau
Mouvement
–
Cloches à travers les feuilles
Et la lune descend sur le temple qui fut
Poissons d’or
Maurice Ravel – Miroirs
Noctuelles
Oiseaux tristes
Une barque sur l’océan
Alborada del gracioso
La vallée des cloches
Approach to Dome Content Creation
To bring this project to life, in november 2022 I first attended a Dome Content Creation Laboratory offered by Idartes at the Bogotá Planetarium. This laboratory provided essential knowledge and techniques for dome content creation, easing the transition from a regular flat screen to a spherical large-area screen.
Constant communication and creative collaboration with the pianist was essential in understanding her relationship to the Debussy and Ravel pieces, ensuring that the visual content resonated with the music without the visuals overshadowing the musical performance.
Originally proposed for a traditional screen, the project was adapted for the planetarium dome, requiring new skills, including learning how to illustrate for a full-dome screen and self-taught animation to animate static illustrations and take advantage of the dome’s capabilities.
I developed detailed scripts and time markers to ensure smooth integration of the animations with the musical score and storytelling narratives to connect the music and visuals. Collaboration with festival organizers and planetarium staff was critical to ensure technical compatibility, optimal use of the dome’s capabilities, and alignment with the overall vision of the event.
The production was completed within six months, with two days of technical testing to ensure compatibility with the dome’s projection system and to guarantee an immersive and engaging visual experience for the audience.
Tools:
✦ Digital Illustration: Wacom Intuos Pro
✦ Illustration Software: Adobe Fresco, Adobe Photoshop
✦ Animation Tools: Adobe After Effects
✦ Dome Projection Software: Amateras Dome Player
Results and Impact
✦ Animated Illustrations for Full Dome: Successfully created and projected 11 animated illustrations in the planetarium dome.
✦ Engaging Concert Experience: Delivered a captivating and immersive concert experience that blended live music with dynamic visual storytelling.
✦ Positive Feedback: Received positive feedback from the audience, festival organizers, and planetarium technical staff, praising the innovative approach and immersive quality of the performance.
✦ Educational Value: Made classical music more accessible and engaging for families and children, fulfilling the educational objectives of the project.
✦ Enhanced Musical Connection: Enhanced the audience’s connection to Debussy and Ravel’s music through visually engaging narratives that complemented the live performance.
✦ Multidisciplinary Integration: Demonstrated the potential of integrating multiple art forms—classical music, visual arts, storytelling, and animation—within unconventional venues like planetariums.
✦ New Ways of Concert Experience: Expanded the scope of traditional concert experiences by introducing a multidisciplinary approach. This innovative model can be replicated in similar venues to create engaging and immersive experiences for diverse audiences.
“This was my first time in a dome and the concert experience was amazing. The artists blended visuals and live music in a way I had never seen before.”
Stella Giraldo
/
Concert Attendee
Reflections
Learnings:
The project provided valuable experience in large-scale illustration and animation. Overcoming the challenges of scaling up and translating illustrations into dynamic animations significantly improved my technical and artistic skills. The unexpected shift from a traditional screen to a full-dome format required quick thinking and adaptability. This experience underscored the importance of being flexible and open to learning new skills quickly, which was critical to the success of the project. Additionally, focusing on human-centered experience design ensured that the visual and musical elements were cohesive and resonated deeply with the audience, enhancing their overall engagement and satisfaction.
Future Applications:
The skills gained in animation, dome content creation, and large-scale illustration can be applied to similar multidisciplinary projects and other immersive concert experiences. This opens up new possibilities for innovative concerts and educational programs in unconventional venues. The project demonstrated the potential for cross-disciplinary collaborations, combining music, visual arts, storytelling, and technology. Such collaborations can inspire new forms of creative expression and encourage artists from different fields to push the boundaries of their respective disciplines.
By integrating visual art, storytelling, and live performance, arts and cultural organizations can attract diverse audiences and provide more immersive experiences that deepen the connection between the audience and the art.
Conclusion
The concert at the Bogotá Planetarium for the VI International Classical Music Festival, organized by the Julio Mario Santodomingo Theater, exemplifies the transformative power of combining classical music with innovative and engaging visual storytelling. Thanks to meticulous planning, creative collaboration, and adaptability, the project succeeded in delivering an immersive experience that resonated with audiences of all ages. By pushing the boundaries of traditional concert experiences, this project demonstrates the potential of multidisciplinary collaborations to engage diverse audiences and increase appreciation for the arts.
From an educational perspective, this experience sparked a profound reflection: “What if your first experience with music as an audience is through an immersive dome experience that simulates entering a new world? A world where you are surrounded by art in many forms?” This thought has planted in me the desire to create more dome content that connects art with audiences.
The success of this project opens up exciting opportunities for arts and cultural organizations to explore new ways of presenting classical music and other art forms. The integration of multiple art forms and live performances in unconventional venues like a dome offers a fresh perspective on concert experiences and enriches the cultural landscape. In the future, these innovative approaches can inspire further cross-disciplinary collaborations, ultimately leading to more dynamic and engaging experiences for audiences worldwide.
