Sky Symphony awakens the skies above the Birrarung

A symphonic sound and light installation beaming across the shimmering Yarra

For five nights only, Wednesday 11 October – Sunday 15 October, 2023, Sky Symphony illuminates and radiates across the Yarra River, Melbourne.

An imaginative and contemplative spectacle, Sky Symphony is a free, family-friendly digital art installation. The brainchild of Shaun Rigney, it marries his second symphony Portraits of the Air, and the imagery upon which it was inspired, with LASERVISION’s sound and light expertise to visually project the symphony across the Yarra.

“I was thinking about a way of presenting the music and images when I saw LASERVISION’s work on the internet. It blew my mind. They were making these astounding shows projecting lasers onto water screens. And I realised: our images are made of light and air and water … and here is a company using the same materials as their medium! I had to find a way to bring them together,” says Shaun Rigney.

To bring Shaun’s symphony to life, LASERVISION is utilsing a large water screen and a state-of-the-art projector, combined with an array of jets, lasers, lighting and audio equipment. The symphony, Portraits of the Air, was recorded by Orchestra Victoria and conducted by Nicholas Buc. Shaun Rigney remarks, “The composition … was strongly influenced by the photographs. I saw striking colours, exquisite patterns, subtle textures and moody transitions – all elements that I could translate into music.”

Sky Symphony is a part of the Melbourne Fringe program and is also made possible by the Victorian Government and City of Melbourne. Lord Mayor Sally Capp comments, “We know a consistent and exciting events calendar provides city business owners with a huge boost – pumping millions into the local economy and helping to create predictability for traders. Not only do evening activations illuminate our city, but they also electrify our night-time economy. We’re proud to celebrate homegrown creatives through our Melbourne City Revitalisation Fund, and can’t wait to see this free, family-friendly experience light up Melbourne this October.”

Sky Symphony features a 12-minute display on loop every 20 minutes. The first session begins at 8pm and the last session begins at 10:40pm. The best viewing position is located at the eastern end of Yarra Promenade, adjacent to Queens Bridge. Learn more about the installation by visiting Sky Symphony

You can follow the journey via Facebook @SkySymphonyMelbourne and Instagram @SkySymphonyMelbourne.

Sky Symphony is supported through the Melbourne City Revitalisation Fund – a $200 million partnership of the Victorian Government and the City of Melbourne.  

A moment captured at Boola Djarat Wardan (many lights across the sea) at Joondalup Festival, 2023. A nightly sound and light installation on the water by LASERVISION.

LASERVISION’s permanent water fountain installation at Merryland, Quy Nhon, Vietnam.