What goes on in the mind of Lincoln Center's Chief Artistic Officer Shanta Thake during a performance? See for yourself! On World Opera Day, Lincoln Center premieres Song of the Ambassadors, a groundbreaking opera in development that interweaves music, science, and technology.

The piece was conceived by K Allado-McDowell who co-wrote the libretto in a collaborative exchange with the artificial intelligence program GPT-3. Composed by Derrick Skye, the score combines traditional Ewe music from Ghana, Persian classical music, electronic music, and environmental sounds into a meditative hymn to the sun, space, and life sung by the opera’s titular "Ambassadors".

AI-generated images designed by media artist Refik Anadol are infused with real-time brainwave data from Thake and pre-selected audience members to create combined visualizations on stage alongside ceremonial set pieces and costumes designed by Marcos Lutyens and Oana Botez. The result is a powerful experience of sound healing that illuminates the pathways by which music and ritual feeds the spirit.

A panel contextualizing and illuminating the technology and philosophical inputs of the piece will precede the work, featuring Allado-McDowell, Skye, and Anadol. Moderated by Helga Davis.

Creative Team and Performers:
K. Allado-McDowell – Creator, Derrick Skye – Composer & Electronics, Refik Anadol – Media Artist, Shanta Thake – Brainist, Debi Wong – Solar Ambassador, Andrew Turner – Life Ambassador, Laurel Semerdjian – Space Ambassador, Ben Newman – Producer, Alex Khalil – Neuroscientist, Ying Wu – Neuroscientist, Mary Birnbaum – Stage Director, Michelle Rofrano – Music Director, Oana Botez – Costume Designer, Marcos Lutyens – Set Designer, Ian Smith – Sound Designer, Dave Grill – Lighting Designer, Fanny Wyrick-Flax – Flute & Alto Flute, Josh Henderson – Violin & Viola, Yuri Yamashita – Percussion

From left to right: K. Allado-McDowell, Refik Anadol, Derrick Skye, Shanta Thake, Laurel Semerdjan, Debi Wong, and Andrew Turner

If you have any questions about this event, please contact Guest Services at 212-875-5456 or [email protected].