The most stunning and divisive work at the festival. Yeo Siew Hua's ambitious and multidisciplinary epic features film, theatre, laser display, and Berliner Philharmoniker's gorgeous postmodern music composed by Eugene Birman.Business Times (Singapore)
An ‘expanded cinema experience’ is how the first project from the ZeMu! Ensemble is being advertised: a description that only offers a hint of the full experience. This ensemble is the most recent offshoot from the ranks of the Berliner Philharmoniker and focuses on contemporary music and multidisciplinary projects. The spectacular The Once and Futuremakes its meaning clear. The performance, with music by Eugene Birman and visual effects by Yeo Siew Hua, explores the complex relationship between humanity and earth. The creation uses film, lasers, light and AI applications to explore both the present and the future. The result is an enchanting experience, where the music covers a wide spectrum from (post)modern to pop and rock, and the images range from dystopian and utopian to downright hopeful. A matchless discourse on the complex relationships between humans, humanity, technology and the planet.