Outside the Realm of Time — How Sebastian Kierzek Created the Visual Layer for the Award-Winning Hologram Opera at Donaueschingen Musiktage 2022
On October 14, 2022, at the Baar-Sporthalle in Donaueschingen, the world premiere of one of the most unconventional musical works of recent years took place. Outside the Realm of Time — a piece by Agata Zubel for hologram soloist and orchestra — filled the hall with the sound of the SWR Symphonieorchester, the rhythm of the SWR Big Band, and the imagery of a hologram floating above the stage, transcending the boundary between the artist's physical and virtual presence.
Sebastian Kierzek, cinematographer and video art creator from Sema Studio, was responsible for the project's complete visual layer: camera, video editing, and visual effects. The work on this hologram marked one of the apex points in Sema Studio's history.
At the festival's conclusion, Outside the Realm of Time received the SWR Symphonieorchester Prize — one of the most prestigious distinctions in the world of contemporary music.
💡 Key Takeaways (TL;DR)
Donaueschingen Musiktage — The World's Oldest New Music Festival
Founded in 1921, the Donaueschingen Music Festival is the oldest and most esteemed festival of new music in Germany and globally. Many famous composers of the 20th and 21st centuries have presented the world premieres of their works here. To be invited to participate in this festival is the highest distinction in the contemporary music environment. To be awarded — is history.
About the Piece — Time, Memory, and Proust in a Hologram
Outside the Realm of Time is a commission from Südwestrundfunk, performed for the first time during the prestigious Donaueschinger Musiktage 2022. The composition is written for hologram soloist and orchestra.
The textual layer is based on the works and thoughts of Marcel Proust. It discusses the relationship and dependency between time and thoughts. In concise, accurate, and thought-provoking sentences, reflections on the past, present, and future are presented. The piece addresses the theme of the relationship between existence and memory: under the influence of time, memories fade, and that which has passed — forgotten — ceases to exist.
The soloist is a hologram of Agata Zubel performing the vocal part in Polish. She appears in various costumes, presenting different fragments of text. The hologram and orchestra exist simultaneously in the same space — the artist is physically absent, yet her voice and image fill the hall with the intensity of a live performance.
Performers and Ensemble
SWR Symphonieorchester, SWR Experimentalstudio, members of the SWR Big Band, RAGE Thormbones, conducted by Pascal Rophé. Agata Zubel — hologram soloist. Sebastian Kierzek — video work.
Full performing ensemble:
- Agata Zubel — composition, concept, vocal performance (hologram)
- Sebastian Kierzek (Sema Studio) — camera, video editing, visual effects, hologram realization
- SWR Symphonieorchester — orchestra
- SWR Experimentalstudio Freiburg — electronic realization
- SWR Big Band — jazz section
- RAGE Thormbones — trombone quartet
- Pascal Rophé — conductor
SWR Symphonieorchester Prize
Every year, as Donaueschinger Musiktage concludes, the SWR Symphonieorchester Prize is awarded. In 2022, Agata Zubel's piece Outside the Realm of Time for hologram soloist and orchestra was honored.
The laudation emphasizes: "This is a work that matured during rehearsals in collaboration with all performers. It presents individual musicians with challenges that even transcend the boundaries of possibility, yet the joy of making music together prevails. Also, due to the theme and the methods deployed, the work is surprising and simultaneously very contemporary."
The Role of Sema Studio — Video Art at the Apex
Creating a hologram of a soloist for a live performance with a full symphony orchestra is one of the most technically and artistically demanding tasks in video art production. The material must function in real-time, synchronize precisely with the orchestra's music, and fill the stage space convincingly for thousands of viewers and critics from around the world.
Sebastian Kierzek realized the material in collaboration with SWR Experimentalstudio in Freiburg — one of the most advanced experimental music studios in Europe, possessing its own infrastructure for producing and realizing holograms for large concert halls.
Case Study:
The Music Industry: In the digital age, standing out at such a prestigious festival demands something more than standard form. How do you transport operatic art supported by hologram technology before an exacting audience of critics?
The creation of an immersive video layer featuring a hologram soloist, perfectly synchronized with the live performance of the distinguished SWR orchestra, to bring Marcel Proust's philosophical reflections to life.
The piece, and with it the visual layer from Sema Studio, was recognized with the SWR Symphonieorchester Prize and inscribed into the history of new music as a breakthrough audiovisual work.
What Does This Mean for Sema Studio Clients?
The two hologram projects with Agata Zubel — Donaueschingen 2022 and Warsaw Autumn 2023 — are not arbitrary artistic realizations. They are proof of the unique competencies that Sema Studio brings to every project demanding unconventional thinking about imagery.
Hologram technology, immersive video, and advanced visual effects are increasingly entering the corporate world: product premieres, executive events, office space installations, and investor presentations. Firms that want to stand out not only in content but in form have in Sema Studio a partner with documented experience at the highest global level.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is a hologram opera in Sema Studio's execution?
It is an advanced visual form merging a previously recorded and digitally modified soloist with an actual staging using hologram technology, reacting precisely to the live ensemble's performance.
Is this technology available for business?
Yes, Sema Studio designs similar hologram installations and immersive video for the requirements of prestigious premieres, technology fairs, and corporate brand showcases worldwide.
What support does Sema Studio guarantee for proprietary video installations?
We realize the project hybridly from A to Z — from technical conception and hardware production, through camera recording and post-production, to support with the final render on a dedicated array or projection mesh screen.
Interested in immersive video, holograms, or advanced visual effects for your firm or project? Contact us. 📞 Sebastian: +48 663 393 700 | ✉️ info@semastudio.pl