The ConcertLab channel on YouTube has quickly become one of my favorites. It’s an expertly produced series of live performances, with a substantial subset of contemporary classical pieces from a wide range of musicians. These videos aren’t static cameras with cuts between angles, or high-concept productions aiming for the narrative veneer of a pop music video. They are considered presentations that highlight the musicians in an elegantly stark setting with excellent sound.
Among the recent entries is the Colin Currie Quartet, a fantastic percussion ensemble, here playing “Starburst” by Scottish composer Aileen Sweeney. It’s a lightly propulsive, occasionally dreamy piece that puts the spotlight on the mallet instruments.
I was going to say that part of the appeal of the videos is how they’re all filmed as if you’re in the front row of the venue, but this video is a little different. It’s one of a new ConcertLab series that aims for a more VR-like experience, one that places the listener within the ensemble. VR glasses aren’t required. You can navigate by swiping the video, and the camera itself moves continuously.
More from the quartet at colincurrie.com and from Sweeney at aileensweeney.com.