L’Orchestre de la Suisse-Romande Releases VR App

The Swiss company Cybel’Art has developed a VR app allowing audiences to experience performing alongside the Orchestre de la Suisse Romande. The app was launched at Art Genève in late January.

Les nouvelles: At Geneva’s illustrious Art Genève festival, the Orchestre de la Suisse-Romande recently launched the first VR app dedicated to live orchestral performance. The app, Virtual Hall®, was developed by the company Cybel’Art and allows the user to feel as if they were onstage with the orchestra. Developers used seven cameras to simultaneously record 360 degrees around the orchestra. Users have the option of switching their perspective between the vantage of different members of the orchestra and conductor.

Un peu plus…: While Virtual Hall® is the first app for classical music VR, other orchestras have played with the idea before. In 2024, the Mahler Chamber Orchestra created virtual reality experiences for audience members. Operas have created mixed reality experiences and governments have invested hugely in developing artistic VR experiences.

Developers of Virtual Hall® aimed to remove traditional impediments to accessing live classical music. These include geographic, financial, physical, and mental health barriers. If that’s the case, we at Ludwig Van say bring on the headsets!

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Sara Schabas

Sara Schabas is a Dora-nominated soprano, writer and yoga teacher. She has performed and created leading roles with companies including Vancouver Opera, Pacific Opera Victoria, the Dayton Opera, and Aspen Opera, and is a former member of Barbara Hannigan’s Equilibrium Young Artists. Currently based in Montreal, she is a doctoral student at McGill University — where she recently received the Wirth Vocal Prize — and editor of Art Song Canada magazine.